The wig mystery of a British judge
In many movies or TV series, we often see British judges wearing wigs on their heads. When did such customs begin? Why do UK judges wear wigs? There are several theories about wearing wigs, one is that judges are mostly mentally heavy, resulting in extreme intelligence, and wigs are worn to cover baldness and beautify the image. Another theory is that because the white wig gives people a sense of majesty, it can highlight the image of the judge's impartiality and majesty. Another theory is that wearing wigs and black robes can hide the true face of judges, remove their selfish thoughts, and give people a sense of authority that is half-human and half-god.
These speculations add a bit of mystery to the judge's wig. Today we look at the history of wigs in Europe to understand why British judges continue to wear wigs to this day.
First, before the Renaissance, wigs had a bad fate.
1. The origin of wigs should start from ancient Egypt
Wigs have a long history, dating back to ancient Egypt (around 3,000 BC), and more than 5,000 years ago. According to legend, wigs were worn in ancient Egypt not to hide the embarrassment of baldness, as is now the case with bald heads, but the popularity of shaving heads. Shaving your head and wearing a wig was a popular fashion in ancient Egypt at the time. There are two explanations for this popular trend: one is caused by the ancient Egyptian environment, which is easy to breed parasites such as lice, and shaving the head can keep it clean; The other is due to religious beliefs, the ancient Egyptians believed that the body should be cleansed in the face of gods. Some historians have pointed out that wigs were worn not only for personal needs, but also as a symbol of status class.
2. Ancient Greece and Rome considered baldness a punishment
Wigs were later introduced from ancient Egypt to ancient Greece (800 BC – 146 BC) and ancient Rome (9th century BC). It is believed that hair loss or baldness is a curse by the devil, indicating that the person is polluted and his body is unclean. Peers also exclude these bald and hair loss people. Forced by religious authority, people with hair loss or balding naturally need wigs to cover their uncleanness and avoid exclusion. Wearing wigs even became a trend among the upper aristocracy of Rome. According to records, the Roman emperor Otto has a record of wearing wigs because of baldness.
3. The church prohibits the wearing of wigs
The weakening of the Roman Empire made wigs go all the way down. In medieval Europe, the church was in power. The church has a new interpretation of wigs. The Christian church style is strict, and there is a strict set of rules on how believers dress and the details of life. The church considers the practice of wearing wigs to be impermissible because wigs discourage believers from accepting God's gospel. In 1 Corinthians, it is emphasized, "Every man who prays or preaches with his head covered, humiliates his head.... A man should not cover his head because he is the image and glory of God. Here, hooding is interpreted as "wearing a wig." If a believer wears a wig in violation of the rules, they can even be excommunicated. The church not only discouraged the wearing of wigs, but also prescribed the hairstyles of believers, with special "monastic bald heads", similar to the Mediterranean today. The shaving ritual tends to take place on a chosen good day, where the faithful sit face to face and cut each other's hair while singing hymns. The church's ban on wigs became mainstream consciousness in Europe and continued until the Renaissance.
Second, the time for wigs to "score twice" has arrived
1. Wigs ushered in spring during the Renaissance
The wig ushered in spring during the Renaissance (14th-16th centuries). The conservative approach of the church period greatly suppressed human nature. In contrast to the repressive restraint of the church, the Renaissance advocated the liberation of nature and the encouragement of the pursuit of good things. As wigs, which were strictly forbidden during the church period, there is actually a real need for bald people and hair loss, and the same is true for beauty lovers. As a result, during the Renaissance, wigs became a trend again. According to records, Queen Elizabeth I of England is also a wig enthusiast, and she has more than 80 wigs in her private collection.
2. Wigs become an appendage of monarchy
The Renaissance, which accelerated the struggle between the church and the crown. In the process, the clerical power gradually weakened, and the monarchical consciousness developed rapidly in Europe. Wigs also became a representative of court culture, an appendage to the consolidation of monarchical power, closely associated with political authority. Court culture emphasized hierarchical order and included various forms of red tape. The rulers tried to create a hierarchical order from the cultural level, create a servant class, try to materialize and consolidate their royal power from the external form, so that the differences between different classes can be seen from the outside, resulting in an insurmountable gap. Based on this need, wigs soon became an appendage to monarchy. Because wearing a wig can make a very big difference between people before and after, giving people a clear difference in image appearance. According to records, King Louis XIV of France (Sun King) was a faithful promoter of wigs, externalizing power to the greatest extent possible. Every morning, the Sun King decides which wig to pick. At the same time, the courtiers were summoned to receive lectures, and various figures such as senior ministers, marquises, and ministers came to meet them in order of rank, and completed the private dressing process in front of the courtiers. Among them, the curly long wig became the favorite of the Sun King with its graceful and luxurious appearance, and also became the representative of absolute royal power. The courtiers, in order to cater to the king's preferences, followed suit. Since the curly long wig belonged to the king, the courtiers chose wigs that matched their status. Wigs give real representations of power and hierarchy.
Why do British judges still wear wigs to this day?
1. The acquaintance of English judges and wigs
The wig trend in continental Europe came to Britain via the English Channel. Although there were various styles in England during the time of Queen Elizabeth of England, it was Charles II who really made wigs popular in Britain. This was because the restoration of Charles II symbolized a compromise between the Round Head Party, which opposed the king, and the royalist Knights. The round-headed party has short hair, and the royalists all have long hair. In order to ease the rivalry over hairstyles, wigs could disguise their positions well and were introduced in the UK. Wigs differ in texture, workmanship, and fineness. Everyone has the right to choose a wig that matches their identity.
However, the cost of owning a wig is not affordable for a person at the bottom. Wigs naturally became the rights of the aristocracy, the upper class, and could distinguish status ranks well. Lawyers, judges, doctors and other professions that are the elite of society naturally have enough money to buy a wig that matches their status, and will not be absent from this trend. This is also the acquaintance of English judges with wigs. In the early days, the hair color of English judges was usually black or other hair color, and later gradually changed to white, distinguishing it from other nobles.
2. Wigs are linked to occupations
Wigs were once worn by the country, but after the 18th century, wigs were not as sought after as before. This has a lot to do with the Enlightenment thought movement of the time. The Enlightenment revered nature and believed that wearing wigs was a symbol of conservatism and despotism, in line with feudal dictatorship. Free thinkers express their expression of feudalism and autocracy by freeing their hair. Some people also show that wearing wigs for a long time will cover the head, which is not conducive to blood circulation, and wigs are also easy to breed bacteria and make people sick. Wigs have gradually faded out amid various criticisms, but they have found their own value in the field of professional clothing. By the end of the 18th century, wigs had become very cheap in England. It is necessary for the boss to customize work clothes for workers, and wigs are accessories that can distinguish professionals from ordinary people well. Wigs are then associated with specialized occupations as a sign of a specific profession. In addition to the good differentiation of wigs, wigs are also given authority and professionalism to professionals. Naturally, wigs also became the head of the line for British judges. It is said that in the English legal profession, the dirtier the wig, it means that the person has worked for a long time, has experienced, and is therefore more respected and respected. This is why British judges love white wigs. Because the older you get, the whiter your hair becomes. The more experienced the judges are, the more this will be highlighted. White wigs create an ageing, seasoned effect.
3. Why do British judges still wear wigs?
The fact that a wig has fallen from a fashion fad, to becoming an ornament for a particular profession, does not indicate that it has been able to shine in the field of professional clothing. While the European aristocracy gradually forgot the wig, its group of judges also abandoned. While judges across Europe gave up wigs, British judges did not. The United States under his rule later became independent and abandoned wigs. In this way, the British judge looks a little unconventional. When British judges did not wear wigs in the early days, square scarves were the official headdress of British judges. Only then the trend of wigs hit and gradually replaced square scarves. In fact, when British judges used scarves, they were already obsolete items after the last round of fashion. The legal community originally carried a conservative and stereotypical image for professional reasons, and naturally walked slowly in the face of fashion trends. The wigs worn today are like square scarves of the past.
With the progress of the times, British judges have gradually simplified legal ceremonies. In 2007, the Chief Justice of the United Kingdom abolished wigs in courts in England and Wales, with only criminal judges continuing the tradition of wearing wigs. Wigs have played a variety of roles in the currents of history, and at the same time have been given different meanings. If you can see judges wearing wigs in film and television dramas, this has gradually become a historical remnant. Now, the wig is washed away, returns to its original point, exercises its original value in its original appearance, and is walking in the history of the past with us, adding a little brick and a little tile to the future history.
Bibliography:
"Wigs from Ancient and Modern Times"
In the Name of Holiness, Solemnity, and Authority: Wigs and Robe in Western Courtrooms
"Why Judges Wear Wigs"
Text/Wenshi Wangwang
