Perhaps Joseph Hermans once stood exactly where you are now. He was a missionary in China for nearly 35 years. Joseph only returned home once in 1921. The story of Jijin involves someone like him. What is Jijin? The Jijin is a square hat. Catholic priests and missionaries in China wore it. They wore it during the late Ming Dynasty and the Quing Dynasty. That was from about 1615 to 1911.
In 1615, Pope Paul V allowed Jesuit missionaries to wear the Jijin. There were good reasons for this decision. Northern China could be very cold. The Jijin provided warmth. It helped missionaries avoid illness. Chinese men at the time shaved their heads. They only kept a pigtail. To have one’s head uncovered was a sign of humiliation in China. It was a sign of contempt. Chinese people always covered their heads. This was especially true in the presence of superiors. It was even true for the emperor. Missionaries adapted to Chinese customs. It was a matter of prudence. How could they ask the faithful to be uncovered before Jesus Christ? The Pope agreed to let them wear the Jijin.
Jijin are made of heavy brocaded silk. They feature a leather headband. The headband is slightly adjustable. It has ties on the open corner. One can fold up the Jijin. Just take the hook from the eye at the top.
One story tells of a Jijin. It was found in a house two years ago. The house’s previous owners had missionaries in their family. The missionary had been to China. The person who found the Jijin googled it. They could not find anything like it. They stored it away. Later, they tried again. Still nothing. But they found a website. It belonged to a collector of religious head coverings. They sent him pictures. He replied with excitement. He said it was a wonderful and valuable Jijin. He called it very rare. Finally, they knew what it was. They realized they should not keep it. It needed to be well looked after. It should be preserved for future generations. So, the Jijin was added to the head coverings collection.
Chengdu is a fabulous city. It is a great host to tourists. Chengdu is immersed in history. It is brimming with culture and art. Chengdu is the capital city of Sichuan province. In ancient times, Chengdu was called Western Capital. It had nicknames like City of the Turtle. It was also known as City of the Brocade Official. Its present nickname is City of Hibiscus. Chengdu was called the Country of Heaven. This was because of its abundant farm produces. Chengdu is also known for its spicy food. Sichuan cuisine is very popular. Dishes include spicy hot pot and kung pao chicken. Chengdu is also home to giant pandas. The panda base attracts over a million visitors each year.
As you leave Jijin, consider the journey of the missionaries. Consider the cultural exchange. Think about the preservation of history. The Jijin represents more than just a hat. It represents a bridge between cultures.