[1][2]: 487 [3] In Chinese opera, the lingzi not only decorative purpose but are also used express thoughts, feelings, and the drama plot.

[2]: 487 It is suggested that the use of lingzi originated from the wuguan (Chinese: 武冠; pinyin: wǔguān; lit.

[3] Similar headgear decorated with pairs of lingzi worn the military can be seen in paintings dating to the Ming dynasty.

[note 1][5] By the Han dynasty, a wuguan decorated with pheasant feathers became known as heguan (Chinese: 鶡冠; pinyin: héguān; lit.

[8]: 293  The heguan was possibly itself derived from the hufu-style guan adopted by King Wuling through hufuqishe policy.