First of all, it should be emphasized that Chinese judges do not wear special hats. This habit is only found in some common law countries.
The wearing of wigs by judges and lawyers in court is one of the most distinctive traditions of British courts. We can also see this British characteristic in some former British colonial areas that are deeply influenced by the British judicial system. cultural imprint, such as China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Why do British judges and lawyers wear wigs? Many people who study history have put forward various explanations, but it is difficult to convince everyone.
Some people say that in the Middle Ages, overwork and disease caused judicial officials to lose their hair prematurely. In order to conceal their "extreme intelligence" in public, wigs became popular and became the custom in Britain. A scene from the courtroom.
Some people say that judges wear wigs to show their high moral standing, while lawyers wearing wigs can conceal and protect them to a certain extent because they worry that the results of their defense will not be recognized by the defendant and his family. recognized. But this is not so much a reasonable explanation as a joke made up by people who have had issues with lawyers to discredit them. Because according to a recent survey, 57% of lawyers are dissatisfied with wearing wigs and want to take them off. The reason is that these wigs made of horsehair are very expensive and unhygienic. Generally, one wig needs to be used. Once upon a time, there was a family of lawyers who owned a 94-year-old antique that had been passed down for four generations and was considered a family heirloom.
According to research by historians and folklorists, the British fashion tradition of wearing wigs began around the twelfth century. At that time, it was not just the preserve of judges and lawyers, but was also worn by people in the upper class. Wigs are regarded as a fashion, a formal dress for formal occasions or salon gatherings, and a symbol of social status.
The fashion of wigs began with King Louis XIII of France, especially in the 17th century, and many industries also used it as a symbol. However, the French Revolution and the American Revolutionary War cleaned up the muddy water. The revolutionary party changed customs and swept away all signs of status and class. Now only the court systems of the United Kingdom and a few countries maintain this habit. Judges in the United Kingdom, as well as judges in former Commonwealth countries and regions, including Hong Kong, wear a shawl wig on their heads, lawyers wear small wigs, and both judges and lawyers wear legal robes, usually black. The court opening under this kind of decoration gives people a very ceremonial feeling. It is said that by putting on black robes and fake laws, a judge can hide his true colors, get rid of his selfish thoughts, and become the embodiment of the rule of law and the embodiment of truth, goodness, and beauty.