Guan Li + Ji Li

Guan Li or the Coming of Age ceremony is a ceremony or rituals that marks the transition from childhood to adulthood (for men, held when they reach the age of 20). The Book of Rites, one of the Five Classics of Confucianism, says that only after the Guan Li an adolescent can call themself an adult. 'Guan Li' in itself is a combination of the words 'Guan', traditional headwear for men worn during the ceremony and the 'Ji', a hairpin for women.

The female equivalent to the Guan Li is the Ji Li, happening at the age of 15. Same premise and more or less same ceremony, but Ji Li was sometimes performed before wedding to prepare a girl for 'wifehood' so to speak.

Note that not everyone in Imperial China went through the Guan Li or Ji Li. These ceremonies were largely specific for the upper class (sons/daughters of scholars, nobility etc.) whereas peasants or merchants or whatnot had their adulthood marked with marriage or ensuring a livelihood for oneself.

Ceremony

The young man's hair would be tied into a bun and then capped with a guan or hat. Elders (often father or mentor) would grant a courtesy name (replacement name to childhood name which in itself is an alternative to one's actual name, used by close family. An example of this would be 'Little Dog', and a courtesy name 'Wise'.)

Three Cappings

The first capping (Chū Jiā) or the Cap of Aspiration (Zī Bù Guān) was a simple, black cloth cap that represented the duty of a scholar. The elder would place the cap on the young man's head before he bows in graditude.

Second Capping

The young man would then take a brief break, first walking to a side room to change into more formal attire and recieves encouragement from his attending elders. Then, he again bows and is bestowed with a leather cap representing the military and the man's readiness to serve the country as soldier, official or scholar with The Cap of Duty (Pí Biàn Guān) as part of the Second Capping (Zài Jiā)

Third Capping (Sān Jiā)

He again retreats into the side room and changes into more formal attire and granted The Cap of Nobility (Jué Biàn Guān), now symboically integrated into the moral order of Confucian belief. This is often accompanied with offerings to ancestors where the man is finally given his courtesy name.

Ji Li

The Ji Li, like the Guan Li would be held at a family home or a temple and would have her wear childish clothing (caiyi) before starting the ceremony. A respected female elder would tie her hair into a bun with a hairpin (ji) and have her change into a plain dress (ruqun) as part of the First Dressing. This symbolized leaving behind one's childhood.

Second Dressing

She would head into a side room and change into a more formal hairpin and dress, representing modesty and diligence.

Third Dressing

She would again retreat into a side room and change into even more formal and detailed attire, where the elder would give her a courtesy name to replace her childhood name. She would then be given moral instructions on how to deal with marriage and proper conduct by her elder before she would bow to her ancestors, parents and other elders to show her gratitude.