Traditional Chinese Dress and Clothing — Meaning, History, Culture, and Fun Facts
Traditional Chinese dress and clothing encompass the cultural attire worn by Chinese people throughout history, from royals to civilians, including hair ornaments, outfits, jewelry, and costume accessories.
Throughout history, individuals needed to wear different outfits based on family status, age, marital situation, career, seasons, special occasions, and rites.
Each dynasty also had distinct styles and regulations concerning patterns, colors, and accessories.
Therefore, beyond their artistic and aesthetic values, traditional Chinese dresses also carry significant cultural, historical, and ritual significance.
Traditional Chinese Dresses and Hairstyles of Women of the Ming Dynasty (1368 — 1644) in the Painting "Beautiful Ladies" by Qiu Ying (about 1498–1552)
Important Elements of Chinese Dress
Fun Facts About Traditional Chinese Clothing — Hierarchy, Color, and Pattern
Philosophy and Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Clothing
Traditional Chinese Dresses in Ancient Paintings Throughout History
Reformed Chinese Traditional Dress in Modern and Contemporary Times
Traditional Chinese Dresses in the painting "Beauties' Literary Gathering" by artist Zhou Wenju(about 907 — 975).
Important Elements of Chinese Dress
Generally, traditional Chinese clothing includes headdresses, jewelry, pendant accessories, and outfits.
Importance of Hair and Headdresses
In ancient Chinese culture, hair was believed to be a valuable part of the whole body given by one's parents and shouldn't be cut or hurt without any reason.
Therefore, keeping and taking good care of hair was an important tradition, as well as wearing appropriate headdresses that show one's social status.
Click to Read Ranks of Terracotta Army from Hairstyle and Ornaments
Portrait of Empress Renhuai, Zhu Lian (? — 1127), the Queen of Emperor Qinzong of Song.
Many important rites in Chinese culture include headdresses and hair.
On the Coming of Age Ceremony, one needed to tie up the hair and put on Guan or Ji; at Traditional Chinese Weddings, a significant rite was to tie a strand of the new couple’s hair together, meaning they become a whole entity since then.
Click to Read More About Traditional Hair Ornaments, and Wedding Dress and Rites
Different Types of Civilians' Fabric Hats (Guan) of the Ming Dynasty (1368 — 1644) — By Xiefang Zhuren (Dong Jin)
Jewelry and Pendant
As rituals, blessings, or aesthetic decorations, they have been essential representatives of one's social status in traditional Chinese dress culture.
Click to Read More About Chinese Jewelry and Costume Accessories
Outfit
Traditional Chinese outfits include clothes and shoes with patterns and colors that show one's social status, age, and marital situation.
Traditional Chinese Women Dress of the Tang Dynasty (618 — 907) in the Painting "Court Ladies Adorning Their Hair with Flowers" by Zhou Fang from the Tang Dynasty
Fun Facts About Traditional Chinese Dress
Strict Hierarchy
Every Dynasty in the history of China had clothing regulations of different hierarchies and various occasions, which people of every occupation and class followed strictly.
For example, regardless of how much her husband loved her, a concubine was not allowed to wear the colors reserved exclusively for the wife; similarly, a businessman, regardless of his earnings, had limited choices of colors, fabrics, and styles.
Meanwhile, nobles or ministers should wear certain costume accessories properly, regardless of whether they like them.
Besides styles, color and pattern are the two most essential elements in this hierarchical clothing system, which have been inherited quite well throughout history.
Different Colors, Styles, and Patterns of Ming Dynasty Clothing in the Painting "Spring Morning in the Han Palace" by Qiu Ying (about 1498–1552)
Colors System and Symbolism
In ancient Chinese culture, Black, White, Red, Yellow, and Cyan were believed to be the Five Orthodox Colors, which were honorable and corresponded to the Five Elements (Water, Metal, Fire, Earth, Wood) theory.
Meanwhile, specific colors were only used by royals and the ruling class, such as the exclusive use of red walls and yellow roofs in the imperial Forbidden City.
Unless the emperor primarily awards someone to wear a specific honorable color because of their exceptional accomplishments.
Clothing Colors of Wanli Emperor and Officials of Different Ranks on Xu Xianqing Huanji Tu, By Artists Yu Ren and Wu Yue in 1588 — Palace Museum
Patterns and Meanings of Traditional Chinese Dress
Around 2000 to 3000 years ago, the Book of Documents (Shang Shu) noted 12 patterns used for royal and noble clothing.
The colors and positions of those patterns changed slightly in different dynasties; however, their content and essence were well applied and preserved in millennium years of Chinese history.
Emperors and most honorable officials may use all of the 12 patterns; others would deduct the numbers of the patterns based on their social status.
Sun (Ri)
Moon (Yue)
Star (Xing Cheng)
Meaning people wearing these patterns are responsible for illuminating and enlightening all humankind.
Mountain (Qun Shan): Firm, Persistent, Steady.
Dragon (Long): Mysterious, Changeable, Unpredictable.
Fire (Huo): Bright and Promising.