List Of Han Chinese Clothing

A list of Hanfu, the historical clothing of the Han Chinese, in category of different clothing style. This page also addresses provides a list of garments.

Informal wear

Types include tops and bottoms, long skirt, and one-piece robes that wrap around the body once or several times (shenyi).

''Zhongyi'' (中衣), which is usually the inner garment much like a Western T-shirt and pants, can be wear along in casual.

The typical set of informal wear consists of two or three layers. The first layer is mostly ''zhongyi'' (中衣). The next layer is the main layer which is mostly closed at the front. There can be an optional third layer which is often an overcoat called a ''zhaoshan'' which is open at the front.

For footwear, white socks and black cloth shoes (with white soles) are the norm. But in the past, shoes may have a front face panel attached to the tip of the shoes.

Semi-formal wear

Generally, this form of wear is suitable for meeting guests or going to meetings and other special cultural days. This form of dress is often worn by the nobility or the upper-class as they are often expensive pieces of clothing, usually made of silks and damasks. The coat sleeves are often deeper than the shenyi to create a more voluminous appearance.

A piece of ancient Chinese clothing can be "made semi-formal" by the addition of the following appropriate items:

* Chang (裳): a pleated skirt
* Bixi (蔽膝): a cloth attached from the waist, covering front of legs.
* Zhaoshan (罩衫): long open fronted coat

Formal wear

In addition to informal and semi-formal wear, there is a form of dress that is worn only at confucian rituals, important sacrifices, religious activities or by special people who are entitled to wear them (such as officials and emperors).

The most formal dress civilians can wear is the ''xuanduan'' (sometimes called ''yuanduan'' 元端), which consists of a black or dark blue top garment that runs to the knees with long sleeve (often with white piping), a bottom red ''chang'', a red ''bixi'' (which can have a motif and/or be edged in black), an optional white belt with two white streamers hanging from the side or slightly to the front called ''peishou'' (佩綬), and a long black ''guan''. Additionally, wearers may carry a long jade ''gui'' (圭) or wooden ''hu'' (笏) tablet (used when greeting royalty). This form of dress is mostly used in sacrificial ceremonies such as '' Ji Tian'' (祭天) and ''Ji Zu'' (祭祖), etc., but is also appropriate for state occasions. The ''xuanduan'' is basically a simplified version of full court dress of the officials and the nobility.

Court dress

Court dress is the dress worn at very formal occasions and ceremonies that are in the presence of a monarch (such as an enthronement ceremony). The entire ensemble of clothing can consist of many complex layers and look very elaborate. Court dress is similar to the ''xuanduan'' in components but have additional adornments and elaborate headwear. They are often brightly colored with vermillion and blue. There are various versions of court dress that are worn for certain occasions. The practical use of court dress is now obsolete in the modern age since there is no reigning monarch in China anymore.

Those in academia or officialdom have distinctive gowns (known as ''changfu'' 常服 in court dress terms). This varies over the ages but they are typically round collared gowns closed at the front. The most distinct feature is the headgear which has 'wings' attached. Only those who passed the civil examinations are entitled to wear them, but a variation of it can be worn by ordinary scholars and laymen and even for a groom at a wedding (but with no hat).

Court dress of emperors

Court dress of officials

Court dress for women

Cloaks

File:Orange Isle 2021122691.jpg, Doupeng (斗篷), a cloak

Lower garments

Religious clothing

Those in the religious orders wear a plain middle layer garment followed by a highly decorated cloak or coat. Taoists have a 'scarlet gown' (絳袍) which is made of a large square-shaped cloak sewn at the hem to create very long deep sleeves used in very formal rituals. They are often scarlet or crimson in colour with wide edging and embroidered with intricate symbols and motifs such as the eight trigrams and the yin and yang Taiji symbol.

Buddhist have a cloak with gold lines on a scarlet background creating a brickwork pattern which is wrapped around over the left shoulder and secured at the right side of the body with cords. There may be further decorations, especially for high priests.High Priest of the Shaolin Monastery"
''Newhanfu''.

Daoists, Buddhists and Confucians may have white stripe chevrons.

Handwear

Gloves and mitts

File:Mawangdui Han Mitts (10113103185).jpg, Han mitts, Mawangdui Tomb, Han dynasty.

See also

*Hanfu
*List of Hanfu headwear
*Hanfu footwear
* Chinese academic dress
*Mandarin square
*Hanfu Accessories
*Garment collars in Hanfu
* Chinese auspicious ornaments in textile and clothing

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hanfu
Hanfu
Clothing-related lists