散ざん切ぎり

noun

cutting short; cropped hair

Historical term for the short hairstyle adopted by men in early Meiji Japan, symbolizing modernization and the break from the traditional topknot. Often appears in the phrase 散切り頭 (ざんぎりあたま).

• 明めい治じ初しょ期き、散ざん切ぎり頭あたまが文ぶん明めい開かい化かの象しょう徴ちょうとされた。

  In the early Meiji period, cropped hair was seen as a symbol of civilization and enlightenment.

• 「散ざん切ぎり頭あたまを叩たたいてみれば文ぶん明めい開かい化かの音おとがする」という言こと葉ばがある。

  There is a saying: 'If you tap a cropped head, you hear the sound of civilization and enlightenment.'