![]() ![]() No respectable male adult would appear in public without some kind of head covering, whether a soft cloth cap for informal wear, or a stiff, black silk or horsehair hat with "wing" appendages for officials of the civil service. The rite of passage of a boy to manhood was the "capping ceremony," described in early ritual texts. Throughout their history, the Chinese used textiles and clothing, along with other cultural markers (such as cuisine and the distinctive Chinese written language) to distinguish themselves from peoples on their frontiers whom they regarded as "uncivilized." The Chinese regarded silk, hemp, and (later) cotton as "civilized" fabrics they strongly disliked woolen cloth, because it was associated with the woven or felted woolen clothing of animal-herding nomads of the northern steppes.Įssential to the clothed look of all adults was a proper hairdo-the hair grown long and put up in a bun or top-knot, or, for men during China's last imperial dynasty, worn in a braided queue-and some kind of hat or other headgear. After the Chinese Revolution of 1911, new styles arose to replace traditions of clothing that seemed inappropriate to the modern era. The story of dress in China is a story of wrapped garments in silk, hemp, or cotton, and of superb technical skills in weaving, dyeing, embroidery, and other textile arts as applied to clothing. The yi and the shang were sewn as one piece although they were cut separately.Chinese clothing changed considerably over the course of some 5,000 years of history, from the Bronze Age into the twentieth century, but also maintained elements of long-term continuity during that span of time. The one-piece clothing was called shenyi (deep robe) and can be traced back to the late Zhou Dynasty (1046–221 BC). The yi refers to any open cross-collar garment worn by both sexes, where the right side was wrapped over the left, and the shang refers to any skirt worn by both sexes, highlighted by a belt hanging from the side. ![]() This two-piece clothing is said to date back to legendary Huangdi's reign (2697–2597 BC). The top-bottom clothes, consisting of an yi (衣 upper garment) and a chang (裳 lower garment) were the earliest form of clothing recorded in Chinese documents. Generally, traditional Chinese clothes had two basic forms: top-bottom clothes and one-piece clothes. The 2 Basic Forms of Traditional Chinese Clothes In later years, linen, cotton, and silk were the prominent materials.ĭuring the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), according to the government's policy of physiocracy and restriction of business, businessmen were forbidden to wear silk clothing, even if they were rich.Īlmost every dynasty had its own unique clothes, some of which were really exquisite beyond compare. As agricultural development increased, more clothing material appeared. MaterialĪt the very beginning, the ancient Chinese only covered their bodies with leaves. Compared to men's clothing, women's clothing had more ornaments, items, and styles. Women's clothing was more diverse than clothing for men. Besides that, white clothing was normally worn at a funeral.įor example, for women, only an empress or official wives could wear true red while the color was prohibited to concubines. The mass people mostly wore red at weddings. Red, bright yellow, and purple always exclusively belonged to the emperor and the imperial family. People normally wore light colored clothing in daily life. In addition, the overall harmony of the outfit was also emphasized. Traditional Chinese clothes usually adopted a straight cut and were loose in shape. ![]() It varied historically, regionally, and through the social hierarchy. Traditional Chinese clothing was the outcome of people's aesthetic tastes and social customs. There were no fashion shows in ancient China. Zhongshan Suit 5 Key Variations in Traditional Chinese Clothing Nowadays, people seldom wear Hanfu except on special occasions, such as festivals and wedding ceremonies, or by young girls who want to show off or taking photos. It also had a far-reaching influence on neighboring Asian countries, such as Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. It then became the national clothing of the Han ethnic people. Until the Han Dynasty, the Hanfu was adopted and vigorously promoted by the ruling class. It was constantly improved throughout several dynasties. Legend traces it back to over 4,000 years ago when Huangdi's consort, Leizu, made cloth with silk. The Hanfu ('Han clothing' - the majority of Chinese are of Han ethnicity) is the oldest of China's traditional clothes. Hanfu - The Most Traditional Chinese Clothing The Hanfu, Zhongshan suit (Mao suit), Tang suit, and cheongsam (qipao) are the four most distinctive types of traditional Chinese clothing. The 2 Basic Forms of Traditional Chinese ClothesĤ Well-Known Traditional Chinese Clothes Types.5 Key Variations in Traditional Chinese Clothing. ![]()
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