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The conical hat, sedge hat, rice hat, paddy hat or coolie hat is a simple style of straw hat originating in East and Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, China, Japan and Korea, Cambodia, Philippines, and Indonesia. It is also worn in some parts of Bangladesh and India. It has a conical shape and is kept on the head by a cloth (often silk) chin strap; an internal band of the same material keeps the hat itself from resting on the wearer's head. Conical hats are used primarily as protection from the sun and rain. When made of straw or matting, it can be dipped in water and worn as an impromptu evaporative-cooling device.
Because of its distinctive shape, it is used often in the depiction of East Asians. Recently, as part of international one day cricket matches in Australia, the conical hat has been a fashion phenomenon amongst spectators, with many decorated in Australian green and gold livery. Given that spectators are exposed for long periods in direct sunlight, the conical hat is a logical sunsafe device.
In mainland China and Taiwan, it is called dǒu lì (斗笠; literally, a one-dǒu bamboo hat, 笠帽, 竹笠). In Japan, the hat is called sugegasa (菅笠). In Korea, it is called satgat (삿갓), mostly worn by Buddhist monks.[1] While in Vietnam, the name is Nón lá (leaf hat). The conical hat varieties in Vietnam are notable for their romantic and timelessly crafted adornments. Special conical hats in Vietnam contain colourful hand-stitch depictions or words while the Huế varieties are famous for their 'poem conical hats'. These contain random poetic verses and oriental symbols which can be revealed when the hat is directed above one's head in the sunlight.
The hat switch of videogame joysticks was formerly known as coolie hat because of its resemblance to the conical straw hat. It has since been changed to hat switch to avoid any derogatory connotations.
In the Philippines, there is the native salakot, similar to the conical hat but rounder in shape- a common insignia of the Filipino people.
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