Hairy: Chinese
Historically, ke-tō was used by the Japanese to describe foreigners. The "hairy" prefix was not necessarily a commentary on facial hair, but rather a way to distinguish "barbarians" or outsiders from the perceived "civilized" norms of the Japanese court, which heavily modeled itself after the Tang Dynasty. Evolution of the Term
As Japan's contact with the West increased, especially during the Meiji Restoration, the application of the term shifted: hairy chinese
Furthermore, while the term itself is largely archaic or relegated to historical slurs in Japan, the broader conversation around body hair in Chinese culture continues. For example, some regional traditions in China, such as those in the "Long Hair Village" of Huangluo, celebrate long hair as a symbol of longevity and prosperity, standing in stark contrast to the historical "hairy" pejoratives used by neighboring cultures. Historically, ke-tō was used by the Japanese to