Dorgon, as a regent of the Qing dynasty, recognized that to solidify Manchu rule over the largely Han Chinese population, cultural integration was vital. The issuance of the edict demanding that all Han Chinese men shave their foreheads and wear their hair in a queue was part of a broader strategy to promote the visibility and significance of Manchu customs. The queue served not only as a hairstyle but as a symbol of loyalty to the new ruling power. This decree was integral in a series of efforts by the Qing dynasty to assert its identity in a newly conquered land, ensuring that the Han populace visibly represented their submission to Qing authority. The act of enforcing the queue became a powerful cultural and political statement, marking the physical presence of Manchu rule in everyday life.

Implementing this edict, Dorgon prompted a cultural shift that deeply resonated among the Han people. While many complied, the queue also became a point of contention and resistance among those who saw it as an oppressive symbol of foreign domination. Despite the resistance, the regulation of hairstyles was one of the many steps the Qing dynasty took to forge a united front among its diverse subjects. Overall, the introduction of the queue was emblematic of the Qing dynasty’s complex relationship with the Han people, highlighting both the imposition of Manchu identity and the evolving dynamics of power.

This forcible change in hairstyle underscored the sense of identity the Qing sought to cultivate within its empire, drawing lines between the ruling class and the ruled. Over time, the queue became associated with the Qing dynasty's power and identity, ultimately playing a role in how both Han Chinese and Manchus viewed themselves and each other within the empire’s shifting social hierarchies.