This study aims to comparatively analyze tre-meori (up), gache-meori (big and fancy
hair decoration) and eonjeun-meori (up in braids in a circle around women’s heads)
hairdos following the prohibition of gache hairstyle via a theoretical review of previous
studies, related records and artifacts in order to help researchers and the general public
have a correct understanding of gache, which has recently gained attention thanks to
the popularity of historical TV shows. Gache-meori refers to all hairdos (tre-meori,
gache-meori and eonjeun-meori) which use gache (a large braided wig). Tre-meori,
gache-meori and eonjeun-meori are all similar in the use of gache. In terms of
differences, a hairdo is created by combing the hair in ways that follow the certain
rules of gache-meori and eonjeun-meori while there is no particular rule in creating a
hairstyle in tre-meori. In addition, gache-meori is not a common noun that refers all
hairstyles that use gache. Instead, it is a proper noun with its own hairdo. This study is
significant in that it has enhanced understanding of the names of traditional Korean
hairdos through comparative analysis of tre-meori, gache-meori and eonjeun-meori
following the prohibition of gache hairstyle in the mid Joseon period. It is hoped that
the results of this study would be used as basic data in studying traditional Korean
hairstyles.