China ‘hair-shaving’ ritual for newborns uses stones, coins, red eggs, symbolising future success

A unique yet traditional “hair-shaving” ritual practised in mainland China and Taiwan involves shaving a newborn’s head when they are about one month old, followed by applying a mixture of egg yolk and onion juice to their scalp.\nIt symbolised that the child would grow up intelligent and had the potential to become an official in the future.\n\nThe hair-shaving ritual, rooted in traditional Han Chinese child rearing customs, dates back to the Western Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) and was once also popular in Taiwan.\nFor boys, the hair was typically shaved on the 24th day after birth and for girls, on the 20th day or at the one-month mark. In some regions, the baby’s eyebrows were also completely shaved.\n\nIn most areas, the “full-month haircut” ceremony is organised by the baby’s maternal grandmother’s family. They prepare gifts and arrange the venue, while the maternal uncle usually serves as the host.\nIn some parts of Shandong province, eastern China, if the uncle was unable to attend, a garlic mortar is placed beside the baby to symbolise his presence, because the Chinese word for mortar, jiu, sounds similar to “uncle”.\n\nThe shaving is performed by a designated and highly skilled barber as the task requires great care and technique.\nDuring the hair-shaving ritual, 12 small stones, 12 copper coins and twelve red eggs are placed in a basin of water. The number 12 symbolises a complete cycle, conveying the idea of wholeness and continuity.\n\nAfter the baby’s head is shaved, a red egg is gently rolled across the infant’s head three times to symbolise the removal of misfortune and evil.\nNext, a mixture of egg yolk and spring onion juice is applied to the baby’s scalp. In Chinese, the word for spring onion is a homophone for cleverness, signifying hopes that the child will grow up intelligent and wise.\n\nIn some regions, the shaved hair is thrown onto the rooftop, while in others, it is to be carried away by the wind.\nFollowing the haircut, the baby is carried out to receive blessings from visiting friends and relatives, marking the infant’s formal integration into the family’s lineage.\n\nFolk belief holds that frequently shaving an infant’s hair helps it grow thicker and darker, symbolising vitality and good health. Thin, yellowish hair is often viewed as a sign of poor nutrition or weak health.\nTraditionally, it is also believed that such rituals can enhance a child’s intelligence and even bring future success, such as becoming a government official.\nToday, many parents choose to preserve their child’s lanugo hair by crafting it into a calligraphy brush, turning it into a meaningful gift to commemorate the child’s birth.\n