Liuhetai healthcare pillow

Liuhetai healthcare pillow

It is said that when Empress Dowager Cixi tried to go to sleep after her arrival in Pingyao on her journey west she could not fall asleep for a long time – most likely because of the arduous journey as well as domestic disturbances and international pressures. When Pingyao officials waiting outside presented a special Liuhe – or “six holes” - Pillow from Pingyao, Empress Dowager Cixi fell asleep easily. On the second day, Cixi suddenly felt quite relaxed and happy. She asked why the pillow was named “Liuhe” and discovered that Liuhe represented the six holes in the pillow. All the holes were connected and represented east and west, and north and south, depicting a peaceful and harmonious world. Cixi was pleased and said in Chinese “Tianxia taiping, guotai minan”, which roughly means“Peaceful world, prosperous country.” Afterwards, the pillow was given the name “Tai” because of the Chinese word “guotai” in Cixi’s words, and the name “Liuhetai” has been handed down as a local characteristic of Pingyao.