Archive for category Chinese Clothing
Dragon Robe
Posted by sharon in Chinese Clothing on June 26th, 2009
In Chinese culture, the dragon represents power. Therefore, it was associated with Chinese emperors as early as the Zhou Dynasty (11th century-256 B.C.) when emperors began to wear robes with the figures of dragon. However, they were named as dragon robes until the Qing Dynasty.
The figure nine and five was associated with the dignity of throne in ancient China. Therefore, a dragon robe is embroidered with nine yellow dragons, on the front, the back, before or behind knees, shoulders and lining of the chest. The upper class were permitted to wear the robes decorated with three, four or five clawed dragons according to their ranks.
The end of the Qing Dynasty brings an end to the dragon robes. Fortunately, we still can appreciate them in some museums now, having a glimpse of the supreme dressmaking technique in ancient China.
the Lightest Silk Clothing
Posted by sharon in Chinese Clothing on June 20th, 2009
With 1.60 meters long, long-sleeved and as light as 48 grams, the plain voile Buddhist garment which was unearthed from Tomb No.1 of Mawangdui Han Dynasty Tomb is the lightest silk clothing in chinese history.
It is light as the mist and as fine as gossamer. Since it was so light, the upper class of that time always wore more than 10 pieces of this kind of clothing for formal occasions.
However, this masterly craftsmanship has been lost. Researchers spent 13 years on the research of a duplicate of the same weight.
Hanfu
Posted by sharon in Chinese Clothing on May 6th, 2009
Hanfu or Han Chinese clothing, also known as Silk Robe in English, refers to the clothing worn by the Han Chinese people, the predominant ethnic group of China, for millennia until the establishment of the Qing Dynasty in 1644.
Han Chinese clothing are cross-collar, right lapelled, waist-hugging, tied knots and in some cases, complete with belt hooks and other accessories. The style of clothing is elegant and unrestrained.
Due to the ancient culture exchanges, many traditional costumes of East Asian countries, such as the Kimono in Japan and the traditional Korean dress, etc. have been influenced by Hanfu. However, under the rule of Qing Dynasty, all the people were strictly forced to wear the Manchurian style of dress and that largely eliminated the traditions of wearing Hanfu.
Nowadays, the charm of Hanfu is rediscovered and a movement called “Hanfu Movement” has been launched by some Chinese people who are passionate about traditional culture.
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