Way of the Dragon

Yet another oriental novelty hat

I now have 4 of these hats in different colours, they are all basically the same pattern, even the badge is the same symbol.

This style of hat I believe originates from the Chinese Qing Dynasty.

The best thing about these hats is they are cheap.

Dome Shaped Bamboo Hat

This hat was from a stall at Chatsworth Country Fair selling items mostly made of hemp, however, it did also include other items, such as this bamboo hat.

Master of Hat Fu

Sometimes I have nothing to say

at least in English

" Cōngmíng rén shuō yǒu yītiān huì xià yǔ "

" Zhǔnbèi hào zhàndòu "

Máoróngrōng de quántóu

Nón lá

A simple straw hat.

This hat is a typical Asian farmers Coolie Hat, Rice Paddy hat, Non-la, used as an evaporation cooling device when dipped in water and sun protection. 

The conical shape is mainly Vietnamese, but still worn in other Asian countries.

The bamboo in this one woven to create a raised pineapple skin texture

Chinese Style

A basic novelty Chinese style merchant skull cap see in many a Hong Kong movie

Worn also by nobles, wealthy children.

Novelty hats of this style can be found all over eBay and the like for well under £10 

Buddhist Ceremonial Hat

This is a Buddhist Lama Monk Ceremonial Hat which is worn by Lama or Monks during Buddhist ceremonies or other ritual celebration.

 It is made from brocade material over board. Its inner surface has got cotton lining.

You can see images of Dalai Lama wearing a very similar hat.

In this image the top is pointing forward but works equally well pointing backwards

Pointy Bamboo Hat

This conical bamboo hat has a nice pointy shape.

Bamboo hats of this style are designed to protect the head and face of farm workers from the sun and rain.

Other English names for the conical hat include sedge hat, rice hat, paddy hat, bamboo hat, Raiden hat and sometimes coolie hat. 

But in Malay they are called the Terendak, In China Douli which translate to Bamboo Hat, in Japan Sugegasa, the Do'un in Cambodian and there are many more regional names

Basotho hat

The Basotho Hat is the traditional hat of Losotho a country totally surrounded by South Africa, known as the Kindom of the Sky since its almost entirely situated 1000 feet above sea level.

The Hat is also known as the Mokorotlo and is the only hat to appear on a national flag, it appeared until 1986 and was linked to the royal heritage of the county.

Conical in shape and made of straw, its should have 5 rings at the top where the straw ends meet, the 5th centre ring as below joins the others together in a symbolic union.

The shape was possible inspired by shape of Qiloane mountain which is near the fortress of a early Losotho king, called Moshoeshoe I.

I have used this to represent oriental culture, which is totally wrong since its African not Asian, but it works well, since most people would not know much about its true background.

Below my hat being used during a event, by one of the crew.

Fancy Dress Oriental Hat

This is a joke shop Chinese hat based on the conical coolie hat.

The shape is authentic, but the rest as far as can tell is pure fantasy, but for the purposes of larp, fancy dress, even theatre it is instantly recognisable as oriental headgear.

You can find them all over eBay and Amazon for about a five pounds, for your quick oriental character.

They often come with a pigtails, this one did but I removed it.

Oriental Tall Hat

This hat was made by a friend as a surprise gift, I have good friends it seems.

The hat was inspired by a character in oriental movie, although I can't remember which one, probably used by some sort of official, priest or advisor.

A basic cloth hat with a stiffening material in it to allow it to stand upright, once your wearing it.

I regularly loose this hat by misjudging the height when walking through doorways.

The Incredible Wang

This woven bamboo/straw hat is from the family of oriental rice paddy or coolie hats, although as can be seen its not the typical conical style.

I've so far found it hard to obtain much information on these styles of hats so can't tell you much more, other than it provides good shade and having a chin strap is essential even in a slight breeze.

The is hat gets used by The Incredible Wang, master of Chi and full of wise words, he also makes good noodle soup.

I bought this hat from a Larp fair trader who does not seem to exist any more, at least the website link I have doesn't work and not seen them trading for a few years perhaps re-branded.

Enter the Dragon

A round Chinese wealthy merchant, scholar or nobleman's skull cap.

Sometimes called Water Mellon caps on some sellers sites. 

I wear this hat to play triad or oriental noble characters.

In the photo below I'am taking part in a larp based enter the dragon competition called Death Match.

(further photos at bottom of post)

This a fancy dress hat with a pre-attached pigtail of a style worn by Kwan Tak-hing in Enter the Dragon. Its made of cardboard then covered in fabric, their are similar fancy dress just made of fabric that sit uncomfortably on the head, this one is fine to wear.

The pigtail seems to have grown in modern copies of this hat from tassels that denoted ranks, often by expensive beads woven into the tassel or the number or colour of the tassels.

In this hat the tassel is much longer than it should be that why its more of a pig tail. 

Oriental Straw Hat

This oriental/asian hat is a kind of rice paddy/coolie hat, however they normally go to a point on the top, so I guess this is more like the Japanese Kasa Hat.

Made overly large, the word kasa can also mean umbrella.
Also this is not made of straw but bamboo.

This hat was purchased at Larp fair, but I've seen its twin for sale on ebay

Straw hats = Any type of hat made of straw or bamboo