It’s not wool, that’s a wig made specifically for judges. Hong Kong was formerly a British colony. Because judges in British courts wear wigs and hoods when in session, Hong Kong has copied this British tradition.
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 cultural imprint with British characteristics in some former British colonies that have been deeply influenced by the British judicial system, such as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China.
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 they were excessive in the Middle Ages. Fatigue and illness caused judicial officials to lose their hair prematurely. In order to hide their intelligence in public, wigs became popular and became a common sight in British courts.
Some people say that judges wear wigs to express their high moral standing. Lawyers wearing wigs can cover up and protect them to a certain extent because they are worried that their defense results will not be recognized by the defendant and his family. However, this is not so much a reasonable explanation as it is made up by someone who has had issues with the lawyer. It’s a joke 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. There is a family of lawyers who have a 94-year-old antique that has been passed down for four generations and can be called a family heirloom
According to research by historians and folklorists, the British fashion tradition of wearing wigs It began around the twelfth century. At that time, it was not just the exclusive rights of judges and lawyers. People in the upper class regarded wearing wigs as a fashion and a formal dress for formal occasions or salon gatherings. Experts pointed out that the judicial profession The wigs used are different from ordinary wigs. In England, the judicial wig has three curls on each side, while the royal family only has two. Whether this represents a very subtle metaphor is unknown, but the Scots always love the English. It’s awkward because in Scotland the situation is reversed. The royal family uses three curly wigs while the judiciary only has two curls
The cost of making wigs lies in labor rather than materials because horse hair is not difficult to obtain. Production is a delicate job and there is no way to mass-produce it through machines or production lines
Producing a wig requires a skilled craftsman to spend about 44 hours of labor, including weaving and rolling. The finished product generally comes in four colors. White, golden yellow, light gray and gray are very popular in some old British colonies such as West Africa and the Caribbean, while golden yellow and gray are the most popular in the UK. Generally, a judge's wig costs more than 1,500 pounds. The pound is equivalent to about 18,000 yuan. Wow, it's not cheap, and the most common wig is no less than 300 pounds.
Most people would rather endure lice than change their wigs as often as ladies change their hats. The reason is not It’s not because you are reluctant to buy multiple wigs, but because of a saying that the longer you wear a wig, the older it gets, the dirtier it becomes, and the darker the color, which means that you have been practicing law for a longer period of time. In the judicial field, seniority and age are valuable, just like the most popular old doctors in hospitals. In a sense, wigs with older heads have become a century-old brand for lawyers to attract business, and the judge's antique wig is a sign of rich trial experience
A law student is obtaining the lawyer's qualification The best gift his family or friends gave him later was a wig made by a famous artist. Many craftsmen engaged in wig making inherited their father's business and even belonged to aristocratic families. The history of making wigs is longer than the family genealogy of some British nobles
Customizing a wig is also a process that requires patience, because the appointment period for many famous craftsmen is already several years later. Even if it can be customized immediately, your head needs to be measured with a ruler at least twelve times during the production process. This is not The craftsmen deliberately torment you but it is a requirement for exquisite craftsmanship
Of course, you can also buy a ready-made one, but after all, it is not as gentle as a tailor-made one to kiss your smart head. Not to mention that a casually bought wig is in many laws People seem to be as rude as wearing jeans to attend a solemn banquet. The British are known for their conservative spirit. This is especially true in the judiciary. The judiciary requires precision and even rigidity, emphasizing stability and balance, and is less compatible with personalized things.
Many wig maker families keep records of every wig sold, requiring the buyer to sign the record for hundreds of years.
The autographs of many celebrities can be found in these records, because many well-known politicians worked as lawyers before becoming famous
The storage of wigs is also a meticulous job. Generally, each set of wigs is equipped with a ventilated iron. Boxes or wooden boxes. Some boxes are even another independent piece of art. The value is far greater than the wig itself. In the earliest days, when lice often appeared on British heads, wigs would be sprinkled with some medicated powder to prevent lice during storage. /p>
The last issue related to China is that for a long time, most of the raw materials used in wigs, horsehair, came from China. This was also one of the Chinese export commodities in the Sino-British trade before the Opium War, except for tea. It is an important trading item because the mane of European horses is not easy to spin and breaks easily, and the mane requires constant bleaching and cleaning during the production process. Only the mane of Chinese horses can withstand various tests
Judge Wearing wigs with lawyers in court is one of the most distinctive traditions of British courts. We can also see this cultural imprint with British characteristics in some former British colonies that are deeply influenced by the British judicial system, such as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
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 they were overworked in the Middle Ages. and disease caused judicial officers to lose their hair prematurely. In order to hide their intelligence in public, wigs became popular and became a scene in British courts.
Some people say that judges wear wigs to express their high moral standing. Lawyers wearing wigs can serve as a cover-up and protection to a certain extent because they are worried that the results of their defense will not be recognized by the defendant and his family. However, this is not so much a reasonable explanation as a slander made up by someone who has had issues with the lawyer. Their joke is that 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, a wig will last a lifetime. There is a family of lawyers who have a 94-year-old antique that has been passed down for four generations and can be called a family heirloom.
According to research by historians and folklorists, the British fashion tradition of wearing wigs is approximately It started in the twelfth century. It was not just the patent of judges and lawyers. People in the upper class regarded wearing wigs as a fashion and a formal dress when attending formal occasions or salon gatherings.