ETYMOLOGY

The evolution of this term reflects China's digital folklore in microcosm:

Historical Roots: Yuan Dynasty laws forced sex workers' families to wear green scarves. By Ming era, 'green hat' became slang for marital betrayal, notably in 17th-century novels.

Digital Renaissance: World of Warcraft players in 2009 mocked PVP losers with 'getting green-hatted', boosted by Kung Fu Panda memes. The 2016 divorce scandal of actor Wang Baoqiang saw #GreenHatGuy trend with 2.3B views.

Gen-Z Reinvention: Young netizens subvert the stigma through 'cuckold chic' culture:

'My wife shook hands with her idol - I wear this green hat proudly!' (Bilibili comment)However, dark derivatives like 'green hat detection' services (spyware for spouses) spark ongoing privacy debates.

Example: 'My teammate used my account to flirt with girls - never saw this green hat coming'