鬘 (mán) - Man — refers to a decorative headdress, hair & often used in Buddhist texts and classical literature

鬘Tone 2

mán ｜ 21 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

鬘 · mán

Man — refers to a decorative headdress, hair ornament, or garland of flowers worn in the hair;

often used in Buddhist texts and classical literature to describe beautiful hair adornments.

Man — refers to a decorative headdress, hairoften used in Buddhist texts and classical literature

Usage highlights

Floral headdressJeweled headdressBodhisattva's crownHair ornamentPearl garlandHeavenly adornment

Synonyms

  • 簪— hairpin
  • 钗— hair clasp
  • 冠— crown, headdress

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She wore a floral garland in her hair (花鬘).
  • The dancer's hair was adorned with jewels (宝鬘).
  • In Buddhist art, bodhisattvas often wear elaborate headdresses (菩萨鬘).
  • Ancient court ladies decorated their hair with pearls and jade (珠玉鬘).

Collocations

  • Floral headdress(花鬘)
  • Jeweled headdress(宝鬘)
  • Bodhisattva's crown(菩萨鬘)
  • Hair ornament(鬘饰)
  • Pearl garland(珠鬘)
  • Heavenly adornment(天鬘)

Idioms

  • As beautiful as a floral crown(如花鬘之美)
  • Adorned with jeweled garlands(宝鬘庄严)
  • Heavenly maidens scattering flowers(天女散花鬘)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Frequently appears in Buddhist scriptures and art to describe the ornate headdresses of deities and bodhisattvas.
  • Used in classical Chinese poetry and literature to depict beautiful hair decorations, particularly of women.
  • In ancient India, wearing flower garlands (mālā) was common, and this cultural practice influenced Chinese Buddhist terminology.

FAQ