To answer that question, we have to take a look at the Daoist practice itself. Daoism gets its core belief from the idea that one should work together with the natural flow of energy within all things. As opposed to gaining salvation from overcoming the natural world and its difficulties, Daoism works to mend the correct flow of positive energy throughout the world. One of the ways we approach this goal is by understanding that the natural world has a way of balancing itself despite our iteration. Instead, everything is viewed in a state of constant transformation through growth, destruction, and rebirth.

 

Following this idea, traditional Daoist practitioners in the old days refrained from getting their hair cut. Instead, they vouched for the natural growth of their hair to go untamed and free. Much like keeping from unnecessarily cutting branches from a tree were the Daoists in the practice to let their hair grow long.

 

Another point to keep in mind in the location of the BaiHui. The baihui is an acupuncture point on the crown of the head (where your topknot would be). BaiHui in English means 'Hundred Convergences." This is the point where energies of the body and spirit meet. This makes the BaiHui a very important point in your body for practice, especially for the internal alchemy of qigong. Through the BaiHui, being as it is the uppermost point on oneself, an individual can connect to Heaven. A balanced BaiHui is also used to help clear the senses and calm the spirit.

 

I am reminded on a story that I came across numerous times in Wudang. When asked about the meaning of the hairstyle, Master Yuan would tell about how it symbolizes a bull's nose. Looking into this I found a lot of symmetry within the iconic imagery of the bull. In one of the integral texts of modern Daoist thought is the Dao De Jing. The legendary author of this text is said to have ridden all over with his water ox. This is represented in countless artworks throughout China. In this way the ox is already close to the core of Daoist practice. Although there is a further innuendo to be gleaned from such a story. Combining a few theories, the ring in the bull's nose can be represented by the hairpin traditionally used to hold the hair together and up. This is how the bull would be led. This directly is a manifestation of the practice of cultivating one's Qi in order to connect with Heaven. We must 'lead' such energy to the BaiHui by balancing yin and yang (the cross twisting of hair and ribbon) and in turn bind our energies with that of the primordial energy of the cosmos.

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Personally, I enjoy the imagery between the branches of a tree and our own hair. Yet another way Daoism strives to relate us to the natural order of things. But it still doesn't really answer our question. In my research, I have found many contrary points on the true origin of the topknot. There are those diehards that claim Daoism is the home of this symbolic style. Yet there are others still that argue the original location was somewhere in Japan. The argument being that the topknot is just a variation of their traditional 'chonmage' hair style.

 

However, wherever the true origin comes from, I feel that the topknot has been completely adapted into the Daoist lifestyle. As martial arts became more and more prevalent in the history of Daoism, so did this functional hairstyle. Nowadays, the topknot is an iconic trait of those who practice and pray in the temples at the Wudang Mountains. Through my own practice, I have grown accustomed to having my hair tied up and out of the way during training. The topknot serves a clear purpose in this way.

 

With all this in mind, the topknot is much more than simply the 'hippie' side of Daoism. Those who spend time under a Wudang Master, as I am with my class, easily fall into this style and let our hair grow out. Falling into the natural way of things is one way to put it. There are those of us that place meaning with it, those that derive a lesson in the practice of it, those that learn it as an example of Daoist culture, and those that just use it functionally. But whatever the reason, the topknot is most definitely a trademark of those who bring, not only the Daoist beliefs, but also the practice of them into their lives. With time, these practices become as much as part of us as our ever growing hair.