Historically, ke-tō was used by the Japanese to describe foreigners. The "hairy" prefix was not necessarily a commentary on facial hair, but rather a way to distinguish "barbarians" or outsiders from the perceived "civilized" norms of the Japanese court, which heavily modeled itself after the Tang Dynasty. Evolution of the Term
By the 19th century, the term began to be applied more frequently to Europeans and Americans. In this context, it referred to the perceived physical differences of Caucasians (who often had more body hair than East Asians) and their status as the "new" foreigners who were displacing China's traditional role as the primary "other". hairy chinese
Refers to the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), which was the pinnacle of Chinese influence in Japan. Over time, "Tō" became a metonym for China itself and, eventually, a broad term for "foreign" or "overseas". Historically, ke-tō was used by the Japanese to
While initially a descriptive or administrative category for outsiders, it gradually evolved into a derogatory slur used to emphasize the "otherness" or "uncivilized" nature of foreigners. Cultural Significance Today In this context, it referred to the perceived