Tourists adorned with the Three Knives hairstyle stroll through the three lanes and seven alleys area of Fuzhou, Fujian province. [Photo provided by Hu Dengxiang/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Fuzhou's Three Knives, a centuries-old hairstyling tradition, has seen a revival after its inclusion in the city's recent eighth batch of intangible cultural heritage projects.

The tradition dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and symbolizes courage and resilience. Originally used by local women to secure their hair bun and defend themselves against encroaching Japanese invaders, the hairpins had a knife-like appearance and jutted out from the bun in multiple directions. The tool evolved to represent patriotism, filial devotion and self-respect.

The revival of the cultural treasure was highlighted during the 2024 National Holiday's makeup cultural event named "Visit Fuzhou and pin your fortune". Tourists visited historic sites to experience the hairstyling process and don the hairpins.