Why do we say someone is being 'pig headed' when they are being stubborn??

Question

Why do we say someone is being 'pig headed' when they are being stubborn??

Answer 1

This expression dates back to the Middle Ages and the Southeast Asian country that is now known as Indonesia.

There is a legend of a king who had incredible powers over the forces of nature, life and death. He could supposedly enter a meditative state and while in that state, actually have his servant lop off his head and then put it back on without ever disturbing him.

When the king wanted to show off his power to all his dignitary friends, he would have his servant lop off his head with a very sharp sword. Then, they would all watch as his head mysteriously reattached itself to his shoulders.

One day, however, the servant cut off the king’s head with a little too much force and his head rolled into the river and washed away. The servant was frantic and did not know what to do. He saw a nearby pig and thought, “That will work,” and used the pig’s head instead. This is obviously not a good bedtime story for little ones.

When the king came to, he was upset. I'm sure you can understand why. He had his servant killed and then moved his royal residence to a high tower where he lived the rest of his life. He declared an edict that when anyone was around the tower they were never to be allowed to look up. They had to keep their eyes on the ground lest they look upward and see the pig-headed king.

Over the course of the next few centuries, this phrase eventually came to refer to anyone before whom others must grovel. This is someone that others must never question, but instead, must just stay quiet and keep their eyes on the ground so no one will get hurt.

It became an expression for prideful condescension where all others must recognize that the king – pig-headed that he was – was far above anyone else. He was, after all, the king. Even though in reality, he was just an extremely unattractive and unhappy man

boring but accurate answer ;)

Answer 2

Because pigs are very stubborn, and pretty ignorant!

LOL I read the post below and I had to laugh.  That article was copied from the internet and is totally untrue (a myth). Pigs are stubborn animals and that's where the term came from period!  Can you imagine any expression that would have come from such a story and passed down from centuries?  It is ridiculous what people will believe!!