Under the Eastern Sun: a History of the Asian Conical Hat

[@Tostaky777]

I had to wear it in Vietnam when I was doing construction as a volunteer. It protects so well form the sun.

[@John-ch4wv]

Every time I finish watching one of your videos I think to my self: "Well, that's it he's done every hat." And then next week there is a new video and I think: "How did I forgot that hat exists. Its so iconic." Repeat.

[@SharonPadget]

There are more hats than I ever imagined. Amazing!

[@meganw6007]

I thought just about the same, and almost took it as a challenge to think up and find ANYTHING that he hadn't yet covered, and I just sent him an email about when he'll make videos about the Kanmuri of Japan, the Gat of Korea, and the Layap of the mountains of Bhutan, and it sounds like just about the only limiting factor is that he doesn't yet HAVE one of each, to wear for the filming. Which is quite incredible, since that then means that he has every single different head piece he's done a highlight on!!

[@orion3253]

That's an awesome Spaceman Spiff picture!

[@harrietweber2520]

​@@meganw6007I'm sure the "covered" pun was unintentional 😅😅

[@TheodoreEnrique]

My family is Mexican-American, however my aunt would wear a conical hat when doing yard work!

[@painkiller2837]

As a Chinese Canadian, this is the very first time I saw of one of those in a KZbin video without any ill intention behind it. Love your channel, keep up the good work buddy!

[@vonpfrentsch]

Eloquent, fluent, articulate. As usual.

[@pacificostudios]

In the 1970 film M*A*S*H, the native "Koreans" were deliberately dressed as Vietnamese to associate the film with the contemporaneous Vietnam War, not because the filmmakers were completely ignorant of Korean culture.

[@AxelQC]

I'm sure 99% of Americans couldn't tell the difference. The "Koreans" were often played by Japanese actors speaking Japanese.

[@AlexKS1992]

@@AxelQCI recall an episode of Mako playing a Chinese officer and I recall that Mako was Japanese.

[@23Lgirl]

Most Asien in USA are from China.​@@AxelQC

[@midouban628]

In Vietnamese they called it "Nón Lá" which lit. mean " leaf hat"

[@hathistorianjc]

I hope I pronounced it correctly in the video, I speak a few languages, but Vietnamese is not one of them...

[@meganw6007]

@@hathistorianjc I think you MOSTLY got it, but, with Vietnamese, like Mandarin, being tonal languages (like Cantonese, that I think you said Natacha coached you with), it is my understanding that a rising tone for "Nón lá" would be necessary to differentiate semantically versus whatever other tones of "non" or "la" could mean, if like one were to have said something akin to ... nan nản nán nạn nắn nặn nân nén nên nền la là lả lã lá lạ lai lài lải lãi etc For a native speaker of a non-tonal language, you most likely did great!

[@jamesl9371]

Also now in Vietnam they are a very popular tourist souvenir. Often they are painted with colorful decorations. They are a brilliant design that protects from the intense sunlight and the heavy rain ☔️

[@buntyclara]

You should set up a gallery (IRL or online) displaying all these weird and wonderful things we put on our heads. Chapeau!

[@StationaryNomad361]

I came here to learn about the rice hat so that I could accurately use it in a punchline in one of my raps. Now, my inner nerd has a large appreciation for this video, and a deeper knowledge of the history of this hat. Awesome presentation!! You are clearly very passionate about what you do.

[@associationartsetculturesd7350]

A friend told me also that can protect you from some littles snakes who can fall down on your head from the trees. Because of the shape of this hat, the snake slide on it and fall down farest.

[@jamesl9371]

I’m living in Vietnam 🇻🇳 now and people wear them all the time. Especially working people outside and farmers in the rice fields

[@resolute123]

I'm sure the cultural appropriation people are screaming right now. As an Asian, I think it's awesome you cover this hat. I'm always curious how things were developed and why things came to be part of a culture. Keep up the great work! It's greatly appreciated!

[@tachiebillano6244]

Nope, we aren't "screaming" right now because the man isn't appropriating anything here. (Are you able to distinguish when a situation is a cultural appropriation? Perhaps not?) Anyway, he is imparting his knowledge of this hat's history, so why would anyone consider his demonstration of how it is worn an appropriation? Anyway, to the HatHistorian: maraming salamat sa iyo sa pagbanggit ng iyong kaalaman tungkol sa salakot. This Filipino in the Philippines thanks you.

[@joemungus6063]

youre not screaming because cultural appropriation doesnt exist.

[@brucelee5576]

Asian don’t care about no appropriations, it’s cool when others appreciate our culture. Also when Black or White girls sport that traditional Vietnamese dress it’s hot AF.

[@khangaroo8166]

@@brucelee5576 viennese? u mean vietnamese?

[@brucelee5576]

@@khangaroo8166 Xin lỗi Xin lỗi Xin lỗi Thanks will Edit.

[@hhvictor2462]

Very practical for tropical sun and monsoon rains.

[@QV1010]

Thank you for covering the conical hat. I have a non la which I mainly use when mowing the lawn or doing yard work in the summer when it’s not windy. I don’t want to nitpick but the more artsy and painted hats sometimes have plastic covering to cover the Hat to protect the art,same can go for traditional ones it’s up to the wearer. It’s not a practical hat for everyday but working in open area in the heat it does the job.

[@Galastel]

It would have been interesting to see the internal structure of this hat.

[@mercoid]

When I was young I would wear one of these while helping my father in the vegetable garden. It does its job well.

[@deezynar]

That hat has an excellent, functional design. The way it holds the hat above the head so air circulates between the two makes it far better in high heat than any other design. I own one, and the only disadvantage it has is that it easily gets caught by the wind. You must keep it tied on at all times. I have never worn it in rain. Mine does not look water proof, but if it was, it would be even better.

[@chuckaluck123]

Knowledge is power! Thank you for your posts!

[@sigmundwayneramos5471]

I became happy when philippines was mentioned cuz i was from there

[@resolute123]

I'd be interested in covering some customs and etiquette associated with hats. For instance, when you "tip my hat to you", where does that come from? Why is it good manners to take off our hat when we enter a building or at the dinner table?

[@hathistorianjc]

There is a sort of history behind that, I hope to do a small video on the subject one of these days. Short answer, one of the origins comes from medieval knights removing their helmets to show their face and confirm they were a friend and not about to attack.

[@tinglydingle]

He's released exactly this video today, if you haven't already seen it!

[@Uruz2012]

Wearing your hat indoors meant that you thought you might get lice. Sort of rude to your hosts, lol.

[@leo86channel]

Love your videos hat historian, I’ve been learning a lot about headgears throughout history thanks to you, but I see you’ve rarely talked about native Italian hats such as the Alpini hat or the Bersaglieri hat. I’d love to see a video by you about hats of the Italian Risorgimento. 😊

[@hathistorianjc]

Maybe one of these days when I acquire one!

[@fykskyle5526]

Woah this is a great channel idea! Pretty niche but very educational and fun

[@CardamonGH]

You are my new favourite channel! I am a absolute hat freak, with some hundred plus ones in my collection from around the world, and I wear a different hat literally every day (sometimes two). I have found actual research and info sparse and so your work could not be more appreciated! I will now binge your whole Chanel. Thank you and I hope you will keep up the good work.

[@DavidLee-df888]

Your Cantonese wasn't too bad. Perfectly understandable, if stilted.

[@markrossow6303]

t.y. !

[@thanhhoangnguyen4754]

I was waiting for this since i see it on the shako video. Thank you very much and alway love your channel. I am guessing next is the bicycle helmet. L'amour du Vietnam.

[@hathistorianjc]

Merci! From your name and picture it looks like you are Vietnamese, I hope I did your national hat justice!

[@thanhhoangnguyen4754]

​@@hathistorianjc Oh you really did my mother , grandmother and other members will please that did a great job on our national hat. Also i am guessing i am one of the few in Vietnam who fascinated on the hat history. Glad i find this channel since your Tricorn hat video. Love and alway support your channel. Also the same go for your French Kepi hat.

[@thanhhoangnguyen4754]

@@hathistorianjc Also thank for the knowledge that in WW1 that our colonial troop from Indochina wear pith helmet shape like conical hat. I thought it was the Conical Hat modified with covered Khaki. Not a pith helmet. Interesting.

[@kzm-cb5mr]

In the Philippines, most ethnic groups have their own variations of the hat, with different names as well. In Tagalog region where I live, we call it salakot, but it is further distinguished into several types depending on the shape. The ones I've gathered were "humhom" (the stereotypical conical hat), "pinawikan" (slightly rounded hat without a point), while "sawing" and "takukoy" were both wide and flat but abruptly becomes pointed towards the center, it is also only used by women according to the salakot hat maker that I conversed with. All of these types can also be "initlog", which means instead of having the typical circular shape, they are slightly elongated, and "malapad" which means it's wider than the usual. Inside the hat is the "baat", which is some sort of crown where the head is fitted, it's a weaved rattan. Another component is the "buklod" which are rattan rings attached together, it serves as the chin chord. Other regions also have their own styles, but I don't know much about it.

[@tinolangmanowk8258]

In the Kapampangan speaking regions, we call it "Turung". It's made with Nipa palm leaves which we call "Sasa", and the shape is similar to the Vietnamese Non La (which is a simple conical shape). It's the common hat of the commonfolk but makers nowadays are very rare. The only other variant we have that I know of is the one worn by native soldiers and indio principalias during the colonial period, which we call "Tangkulug". It's made of carabao horn with silver inlays and is slightly elongated towards the back and front, kinda like the "initlog" u have described :)

[@jankrusat2150]

@@tinolangmanowk8258 I own one of the cone shaped hats, which I have seen being used by fishermen and farmers (both genders) on Camiguin island off Mindanao.

[@TranHungDao.]

Started in Vietnam but it expanded through south east asia first before China. Vietnam traded a lot of Indonesia and Philippines. Culture gets transferred from country to country creating new beautiful things.

[@roringusanda2837]

😮these are my FAVORITE hats!!

[@sirfox950]

And another close call on the hat tipping. Still didn't miss, though

[@hathistorianjc]

It was a bit more complicated with the chin strap :p

[@Pumkin_Bronson]

the starting is quite nice XD you pronounce it correctly

[@Maple_Syrup]

I haven't been to Vietnam in years, but my hat has done its great duty protecting me from the Sun to this day Great video!

[@h.r.howard]

Bought one off the jungle website many years ago. Wear it when mowing the yard (few acres).

[@nurmihusa7780]

The ancient Greeks and Romans had similar straw hats - you can see them on the “classical” Tanagra figurines. Brilliant design really.

[@tumao_kaliwat_napulo]

There are various names for that hat in the philippines but in filipino, we call it *"salakot"* and in our place which speaks cebuano, we call it *"purong"*

[@PineappleOnPizza69]

in Waray we call it "sadok"

[@JJ-si4qh]

I live in Vietnam. Lots of people wear these hats all the time

[@spaghettiking7312]

What a practical hat. Wish I saw it being worn more.

[@chonconnor6144]

Quite the niche content you've hung your hat on, very enjoyable and interesting for the most part and always well researched.

[@kijekuyo9494]

I love these hats, but I have found it nearly impossible to find one for sale in person with the inner skull frame. I even tried in Taiwan with no luck.

[@roringusanda2837]

Have you tried Vietnam or the Philippines?!

[@kkwun4969]

look up bamboo hat on google, youll find one. Theres even regional varients that are made slightly differently.

[@meganw6007]

At the very end when you "tipped your hat to us," you looked sweaty!! It looks like you released this video 1e September 2023, so may have recorded during the summer, but dang, well done, "getting into character" by filming the video about a hot, humid climate's hat, IN a hot and humid experience! Next-level video making 💪

[@edi9892]

Would you make a video on the turban too? It's technically not a hat, but close enough... The one thing I've noticed is that Europeans will always associate it with Indians and Muslims, but the one they'll use in art and movies is mostly worn by Sikhs... However, the Shemagh may be worn like a turban and in Europe, we had the Chaperone, which could be worn like one... Not to forget the Fez and some helmets that had a band wrapped around them...

[@markrossow6303]

bought a Made in Vietnam one in S. Korea Summer 1987 & brought it back to college in Seattle... also a "disposable" ₩100 monsoon umbrella -- trasparent blue sheet plastic over bamboo frame -- traditional furling mechanism & all !! used it as a lampshade until 1999 -- N0 Clue where the hat went (never wore it; only hung it on the wall)

[@Devtrek]

Ooh, for one of your next hat can you do...uh... That Confucian rectangular mortar board with tassels?

[@de__vito1251]

very interesting. thank you very much ✌

[@Dr.K.Wette_BE]

Very interesting ! 👏

[@harriettanthony7352]

Hey Ho! These hats also make fine carrying baskets

[@Sukamiya]

Also used widely in Indonesia, worn by the likes of farmers to street workers. Definitely rarer to see nowadays, but I still see local street cleaners wear it everyday. It's called as Caping (soft C like the cha in "char"), the conical shape is the default one but other kinds of straw/bamboo/grass hats would colloquially be called Caping + a unique name (usually the tribe/place the hat is known for); for example, there's Caping Buyuk with a flat top not too dissimilar from Thailand's Ngob hat. I didn't know it have that kind of baggage in the west, but as a South East Asian it's a very nostalgic hat personally.

[@PineappleOnPizza69]

our construction workers who work outside in Philippines especially in provinces prefer to wear it but due to Labor laws they have to wear plastic helmets.

[@timurbrave]

Thank you!

[@widowrumstrypze9705]

I always wanted a conical hat growing up, but my Dad said that it would trigger my Uncle's PTSD from him serving in Vietnam.

[@Duron0]

It is worth noting that very similar hats were developed independently in late medieval Europe as well. While researching medieval straw hats, I've encountered images of hats just like the ones described in the video, or at least similar. It shows that if something is a good design, it is bound to be reinvented multiple times! If anyone wants to find those images, try and look in a manuscript labelled as BNF Latin 9333 Tacuinum sanitatis. It has many illustrations portraying everyday life in late medieval Germany, as well as some of the images of the straw hats I mentioned.

[@rayman17578]

You should do one of these on the Mao cap

[@jusufagung]

Actually, it is not of Vietnamese origin. The conical hat can be found in Java, Sumatra and most Indonesian islands which are not influenced by Chinese or Vietnamese culture. That hat is specifically used in paddy fields to protect you from the sun heat. The Javanese conical hat can be 80 cm in diameter to a metre so the shade can cover not only your face but also your upper body.

[@Sukamiya]

It's independently developed in many places like Africa and even medieval Europe. Vietnam might be the first to have it in their historic records and it's also the source of spreading for many other Asian countries, so while it's possible that Indonesia made the hat on their own, it's also not entirely impossible that Indonesia is one of those countries influenced by Vietnam (highly likely since Malaysia and China also got it from them).

[@marcoscastillorojas6126]

Hola soy fan desde chile yo tambien tengo una colección de sombreros, as el del gorro de mapache o coonskin cap saludos desde chile

[@marcoscastillorojas6126]

Ya se que el sigente es el casco de ciclista pero me gustaria el de mapache yo tengo uno

[@hathistorianjc]

Hola! Voy a veer que puedo hacer en el futuro!

[@raztaz826]

Ashigaru hat in Shogun II Total War. Japanese musketeer hat in Age of Empires III

[@abcdefghijkl5381]

Une vidéo sur les différentes casquettes allemandes de la ww2 ?

[@namazuki-sq5jf]

another great video as usual i don't know if you saw my reply on my last comment on the sombrero video but the hat I'm planning to make a video on is the gebirgsjäger hat i seen one in the background of some of your videos it's going to take a while to make it because i want it to be a animated video so I'm trying to learn how to animate first and i plan on making the video about the whole uniform not just the hat i do own a official military gebirgsjäger hat from 1975 i just want it to be animated it's more fun that way for me

[@hathistorianjc]

Sounds like a cool project!

[@SeamusYap-ik3px]

fun fact the language he spoke was cantonese spoken in south china

[@ramamonato5039]

In Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, we have a traditional hat belonging to Malay tribal groups, standing high on the head, looking like the tip of a classic pen. It is made of cloth. You have not discussed this in your video. Moreover, we have the "peci" or "kopiah", a black Malay hat.

[@zeeqwan6477]

Would be very interesting to see him cover the songkok and the tanjak/tengkolok

[@ramamonato5039]

@@zeeqwan6477 "Songkok"! I have ever heard that name before, but I do not remember well. Perhaps, it is the synonym to "peci", "kopiah". Usually, people going to mosque wear those black Malay hat.

[@bedstuyrover]

Similar hats are worn in west Africa; thereto rice is grown. The people of West Africa, enslaved in the American south, were selected for their rice cultivating skills. Considering that trade routes existed between Africa and Asia for millennia, I wonder if there’s a relationship.

[@csnoorbd]

In Bengal it was used by farmers as we. ❤ Watched from Noakhali, Bangladesh 🇧🇩

[@Sajasta]

Can you do the history of KNIL's bamboo hat next?

[@lexuannhi]

I can tell, the hat you have is a different version of the Vietnamese "Non La". The Non La is very light, yet it protects you from the rain as well as the scorching sun. It also help beautiful young girls to hide their faces from hungry young men as a fashion called "mac co", or being shy. It adds another hidden beauty to the girls. As I can recall, the Non La would last only a season or two at most. But it's cheap to replace. Vietnamese rarely leave their houses without it. The next time you visit Vietnam, if you're lucky enought to encounter a lady trying to hide her face from the Non La, you must check her out. She could be a knocker in waiting.

[@khangaroo8166]

a knocker? that just sounds weird.

[@MoonLight-eo4fm]

Ilike asian conical hat in Indonesia conical hat Asian name is topi caping

[@KeiPalace]

my daughter wears a 'weimao' which is a similar to this, much wider and flatter, sometimes with a conical shape, other times a flat disc sitting on the head with a hole opening leaving the top of the head bare, often worn with a long veil, developed in the Tang dynasty, you'll find this in many Chinese dramas as well as many video games and animations. It's quite popular with younger people in the hanfu revival movement.

[@theredbar-cross8515]

It's a far superior design vs. the pith helmet. It's lighter, covers more area, and much better ventilation. Also cheaper to make. I've worn both and there's no question which one is better, even if the pith helmet does look more handsome. I guess the Europeans didn't wear it because it would have made them look too much like the local Asians that they looked down upon...

[@annettemalaski1967]

I love being educated about cultural aspects. At least I will not offend now.

[@RjWolf3000]

It would seem most straw hats started as baskets. Carrying goods on ones head is common across many cultures and in one direction or the other the basket was likely empty and probably fairly protective.

[@Mydrich]

In Siberia in winter I wear ushanka, but in summer I wear this conical hat from China, because the weather changes from -40 to +40 degrees by Celsius

[@jamesl9371]

Your strap doesn’t look right. They usually have something like a ribbon strap

[@1joshjosh1]

I brought one back for my mother on my trip from Vietnam as a joke. She actually wears it gardening because it protects so well from the sun and doesn't weigh much.

[@Eshanas]

There’s a structure underneath it? Like a sort of cylinder to rest it on the head?

[@hathistorianjc]

Yes, a sort of wicker skullcap that fits around the head, sort of like in a hard hat

[@TheFreeThought]

Interesting that you have a Missouri flag

[@laurentdevaux5617]

More a caricature than a reality, at least in China, where this kind of hat is mostly made for the tourists. There are straw hats in China but generally not of this shape, which is much more typical of Vietnam. But stereotypes are often very resistant and hard to fight... By the way, it seems the few words you said to introduce this new episode sound like cantonese, or I'm wrong (I speak Pekinese mandarin, and I didn't understood well, so I guess it was cantonese 😂) ?

[@hathistorianjc]

It was cantonese, I have a friend who speaks it and helped me

[@jcmartinez7527]

Did you watch the video?

[@danyv8207]

​@@hathistorianjcit have very similar hats in non Cantonese province anyway, and it's surely cause it's a place where it have tea farming production if you see this I can found the place

[@laurentdevaux5617]

@@jcmartinez7527 Not till the end, too busy today

[@pickinduck]

I think that currently the most AWESOME hat in the movies is the extremely large straw hat that is seen worn by the villain(s) in the 1986 movie Big Trouble in Little China staring Kurt Russell. Could you do an episode on it? Have you done any polls to see what hats people like the most in movies?

[@binhe6500]

he was sweating in rain making this video while wearing the very same hat

[@quimicoz]

I have always wondered if the asian conical hat is connected to the Wok, the asian conical cooking utensil...

[@alittlebitgone]

Also common in Peru

[@SusanHukel-rm4lg]

Isn't it obvious how infinitely practical such a hat would be,especially for who predominately wore them? It's a cultural thing,so the people it is indigenous to should be proud to wear it,as people in the U.S.A. wear cowboy hats.

[@toddjones5742]

common sight in the fields of Thailand. I keep trying to get one, but my head is too big.

[@walangchahangyelingden8252]

I most associate this hat with Vietnam. But, I do know countries nearby wear it too. My ancestors are quite a long ways away, they would wear animal fur as a coat; But, headwear was for protecting against the cold. Yes, we lived in more hilly & / or mountainous areas.

[@risingstar9903]

Because it’s origin is from Vietnam. Then its popularity then spread across Asia.

[@derekdekker9685]

I have seen very similar hats in Philippines and Indonesia.

[@sharpskilz]

This hat would be perfect for northern europe (like Scotland where I live) .. a shame it would be considered ridiculous/eccentric.

[@elyzsabethahne2116]

I love this hat. To me, it looks elegant and chic, as well as being very practical shielding the face from the Sun. Although it may/might be construed as being politically incorrect and/or racially insensitive for a blonde caucasian woman to wear this hat, I'd feel very honoured to do so.

[@hathistorianjc]

I always feel as long as you're doing it with respect and for practical purposes, no reason you shouldn't be able to.

[@AI-hx3fx]

Sad they threw away my collection of such hats, which included variations of our people's own salakót as well as a few from elsewhere.

[@SYEDFURY]

Do a video on Turban.

[@AcktongueBaby]

As a Floridian who goes to Disney World, specifically EPCOT, I kinda cringe when I see these hats in the park. It just doesn't feel right...but after watching this video...even if those who purchase don't understand its history...it's ok =)

[@tcxnt5442]

In fact, the most stereotypical hat that associated with ethinic Han Chinese male throughout many centuries before the Manchu rule was the "Futou"(or Putou), a kind of scarf worn by common peasants that was usually black. To the extend that the design of the hat in the costume of the emperor and most of the Chinese official hats were based on it. Sadly it was all being discarded by the Manchu rulers in the 17th century.

[@Rick-Nundigger]

... Pourquoi les Chasseurs Alpins Italiens portent un Chapeau de type tyrolien avec une plume d'aigle sur le côté ...??? 🤔🇮🇹🌿

[@KeithPrince-cp3me]

Obviously the Viet legends refers to extraterrestrial visitation, the hat shape inspired by a UFO.

[@YanestraAgain]

What I wonder about is why India, the country knows pouring rain too has never developed a had cover like that.

[@brucelee5576]

Dude you could have gotten a more gangsta hat than that ! My Grandma gots you beat she has the super size hat.

[@samthesaxman4487]

How abouut one on the Trilby?

[@liran547]

Do a Qing Dynasty warm hat（暖帽）

[@jangelbrich7056]

Like No. 1000

[@normandiebryant6989]

There are two similar-looking Viet letters: "D" (pronounced like an English "Y") and "Đ" (pronounced like an English "D"). The traditional áo dài (5:51), the Viet ladies' slit-dress with long loose pants underneath, has the "D" with no stroke so it's pronounced "Oww Yai", not "Oww Dai". Confused? That's good. It was your countryman that gave us the confusing Vietnamese alphabet :D

[@markbrinton6815]

I always associated it with Viet Nam

[@sambathea9365]

❤🎉I’m Into U🎉❤

[@danyv8207]

It have a lot of version of asians conical hats you forgot one used by Chinese farmers tea productor

[@troygaspard6732]

It works great at the beach, not so much on a construction site.

[@PineappleOnPizza69]

they cant wear it at construction sites due to Labor and OSH standards. If a labor officer saw a worker wearing one the head engineer or safety officer will be in trouble

[@kyirui2]

Radien wins! Flawless victory

[@nelsonnoname001]

Welcome to the rice fields!