In the old days, the Chinese believes that your body is a gift from your parents and you must not damage any part of it. That includes cutting your hair. That's why people had long hair in the old days.
《孝經》有云「身體髮膚受之父母，不敢毀也，孝之始也」。 所以古時的人不論男女都會留著長髮，髮簪就變成綰定頭髮的物品。 在女性方面，它更是裝飾品和顯示身份的象徵。 少女在十五歲時要行成年禮，稱之為「及笄之年」。從少女到成年要開始綰髮髻，而笄就是一枝用來綰髮的長針，類似髮簪。
Hair sticks were used for practical and decorative purposes, as well as to show your social status. Females from wealthy families would wear hair sticks made of precious materials such as gold and embellished with precious stones. Those less well off would wear hair sticks made of silver, wood, or copper.
富戶人家女性的髮簪會鑲上名貴珠寶， 平民百姓就用其他質料如白銀，竹或銅等等。
I have a hair stick at home that used to belong to my grandmother. I'm not sure how old it is, but my grandmother was born at the beginning of the 20th century, so I'm guessing it's not far off from a century old if not over. The hair stick is 9 cm long, made of copper, and has a simple engraving on it.
近年已很少人再用髮簪，就算要綰髮髻也會用 橡皮圈或各式各樣的夾子，方便得多。我家裡有一枝髮簪，嚴格來說應該是笄，因為它很簡單。這枝笄是我嬤嬤的遺物（香港人稱爸爸的媽媽為嬤嬤而不是奶奶）。我不知道它實際上有多舊，嬤嬤在上世紀初出生，所以沒有一百年也一定超過一個甲子喔。
I don't think it's worth anything, monetary wise. But to me, it's one of the most precious possession. Every time I wear it, I think of the days I used to spend with my grand mother when I was a young child. It's like she's with me again.
這枝笄用銅做，雕了簡單的圖案，長9厘米，並不值錢。但它的價值在於一份真摯的感情。綰在頭髮上， 彷如回到兒時跟嬤嬤一起的日子。
