| Kach'e | |
 | |
| Korean name | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 가체 |
| Hanja | 加髢 |
| RR | gache |
| MR | kach'e |
Thekach'e (Korean: 가체;Hanja: 加髢) is a traditionalKoreanwig worn by women. Historically,kach'e were expensive accessories worn only by women of high social standing, alongsidekisaeng. They were decorated withsilk objects,gold,jewels,silver,coral,jade, and other expensive materials. Certain decorations were reserved for royalty.
Historically, women of high social backgrounds andkisaeng worekach'e, with larger and heavier wigs considered to be more aesthetically pleasing. Due to the expense of purchasing a newkach'e, some lower-class families took up to 6–7 years preparing a newkach'e wig for their new daughter-in-law.[1]
Use of thekach'e flourished inGoryeo, theThree Kingdoms,Balhae, theGaya confederacy, andGojoseon.Kach'e were known for their relatively heavy weight, totalling around 3–4 kilograms (6.6–8.8 lb) with accessories; one record reports an incident where a heavykach'e wig led to the death of a 13-year-old bride, as the heavy wig compromised her neck as she was getting up to greet her father-in-law entering the room.[2]Kach'e were banned by the government in 1788.[2]
In the 19th century,yangban women began to wear thejokduri, a small hat that substituted for thekach'e. However,kach'e were still popular inkisaeng circles and traditional weddings.
