Neck Rings and Illusion of Elongation
- Neck rings are worn in some African and Asian cultures to create the illusion of an elongated neck.
- The weight of the rings twists the collarbone and upper ribs, causing the appearance of a longer neck.
- The vertebrae do not actually elongate, but the space between them may increase.
- Girls start wearing neck rings before puberty to allow their bodies to adjust.
- These coils can weigh up to 11 pounds (5kg).
Role of Tourism
- Tourism in Myanmar encourages the use of neck rings as they are a popular attraction.
- Neck rings become a cultural display for tourists visiting the region.
Kayan
- Kayan Lahwi women of the Kayan people start wearing neck coils from a young age.
- The length of the coil gradually increases, reaching up to twenty turns.
- The weight of the coils deforms the clavicles, creating the impression of a longer neck.
- Small Kayan girls wear brass collars from age two to five to slowly deform the collarbone and upper ribs.
- The alternative, an accelerated process at around age twelve, is painful.
Ndebele
- The South Ndebele people of Africa wear neck rings as part of their traditional dress.
- Only married women are allowed to wear the rings.
- The rings, called 'dzilla,' are made of copper or brass and stacked in multiples of three.
- Metal rings are also worn on other parts of the body, not just the neck.
- The rings are given to a wife by her husband and are not removed until the husband's death.
Related Concepts
- Foot binding
- Genital cutting (disambiguation)
- Genital modification and mutilation
- Body modification
- Stretching (body piercing)
- Body piercing
Neck ring Data Sources
| Reference | URL |
|---|---|
| Glossary | https://harryandcojewellery.com.au/blogs/glossary/neck-ring |
| Wikipedia | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neck_ring |
| Wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4993060 |
| Knowledge Graph | https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/0g_zmc |