shinobu-wage; mid-18th century women's hairstyle with a chignon and small side rings
Historical term for a specific women's hairstyle from the mid-Edo period. The name comes from the resemblance to the 忍ぶ (shinobu) fern, with the side rings suggesting the plant's shape.
Women with shinobu-wage hairstyles are often depicted in ukiyo-e prints.
At this museum, you can see a reproduction model of an Edo-period shinobu-wage hairstyle.
Standard kanji spelling for this historical hairstyle term.
Alternate spelling using the verb 忍ぶ, making the etymology more transparent.
The name 忍髷 (shinobu-wage) likely derives from the 忍ぶ (shinobu) fern, whose shape the side rings of the hairstyle resemble. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but the term is firmly associated with mid-18th century women's fashion.