Pingyao Liuhetai Pillow

Pingyao Liuhetai Pillow

　　Nestled within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient city of Pingyao, steeped in the profound culture of Shanxi merchants, also emerges a multitude of folk treasures: the enigmatic courtyard homes of former banking houses, exquisitely polished lacquerware, richly flavored Pingyao beef, and a delightful variety of hundred kinds of snacks... And then there’s the uniquely shaped, comfortable, and health-promoting folk marvel—Pingyao’s specialty, the Liuhetai pillow.

　　　　The Liuhetai pillow goes by several names. Originally called the Six-Hole Pillow, it was also dubbed the Confucius Pillow due to the holes. Because its outer shape resembles ancient Chinese coins, it’s also known as the Coin Pillow.

　　It emerged during the height of the Qing Dynasty’s banking houses (piaohao), featuring six interconnected holes. The six holes symbolize Heaven, Earth, East, South, West, and North, representing the pinnacle pursuit of the banking industry at that time: integration and connectivity across the world. (The fusion of pillow and banking house undoubtedly indicates that the Liuhetai pillow was closely tied to the banking elite and served as a status symbol at the time—a unique phenomenon in all of China.)

　　　　In 1864, Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty traveled westward and stayed overnight in Pingyao. After sleeping on the Liuhetai pillow, she found it novel and comfortable, and bestowed upon it the name “Tai” (meaning “peace” or “well-being”). From then on, the Liuhetai pillow has been passed down through history.

　　The Liuhetai pillow features a unique shape, moderate firmness, adjustable height, and fully interconnected holes. It prevents pressure on the ears, face, and back of the head, maintaining optimal breathability and eliminating any sense of oppression. While sleeping and turning over, the temples and neck acupoints receive gentle massage, effectively promoting blood circulation in the head. As a result, users feel comfortable, relaxed, calm, and beautified, which helps them fall asleep quickly. Upon waking, they feel refreshed and revitalized.

　　　　Today, based on traditional craftsmanship, the Liuhetai pillow has scientifically and reasonably developed a series of new products. The pillow shapes have expanded from the original six-hole design to include ten-hole, twelve-hole, eighteen-hole, thirty-six-hole, baby pillows, ingot-shaped pillows, and embroidered pillows, offering a variety of styles. Pillow sizes have also evolved from standard ergonomic dimensions to taller and extra-tall options, and custom-made pillows can be tailored to meet the needs of customers with different body types.

　　　　The pillow filling has also evolved from a single type of buckwheat hull to various medicinal herbs known for their health and therapeutic benefits. There are chrysanthemum pillows for refreshing vision, silkworm excrement pillows for improving digestion and spleen function… as well as those with cassia seeds, tea leaves, and other ingredients, plus a range of herbal sachets with diverse efficacies.

　　　　The pillow fabric has expanded from premium velvet to include the latest eco-friendly, high-quality colored cotton materials.

　　　　Today’s Liuhetai pillow is not only a genuinely effective aid for improving sleep quality but also a collectible folk art piece. It makes for a thoughtful health-promoting gift for family and friends and serves as a travel souvenir rich in unique cultural meaning.

　　　　The Pingyao Liuhetai pillow has become one of the irreplaceable specialty products in Pingyao’s Jin merchant cultural tourism offerings.

　　　　With the rapid development of the ancient city’s tourism industry, the Liuhetai pillow is bound to shine even more brightly, allowing more people to share in its benefits alongside the people of Pingyao.