'China has great礼仪, hence called Xia; has beautiful服章, hence called Hua.' China has been known as 'the country of clothing and crowns' since ancient times. Ancient Chinese clothing culture was built in a relatively closed external environment, through the integration and endogenous development of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and other cultural forms, constructing a unique cultural system.
Pre-Qin to Han: Simple and Elegant Deep Garments
Confucius said: 'Substance over form is rustic; form over substance is ornamental. When form and substance are balanced, then one is a gentleman.' As early as the pre-Qin period, gentlemen needed not only internal cultural and moral cultivation but also external elegant and proper behavior. Clothing not only reflected people's appearance but also reminded people to have matching言行举止.
Deep garments were通用服装 for both men and women during the Qin and Han periods. The 'Book of Rites' has extensive records of the deep garment system. Deep garments connect clothes and skirts to wrap the body, cut separately but sewn together, using different colored fabrics as edges, named for 'deep body coverage' and雍容典雅.
Wei and Jin: Elegant and Unrestrained, Flowing Sleeves
The Wei, Jin, and Northern-Southern Dynasties were a special period. Political turmoil, frequent wars, and large-scale ethnic migration produced a group of 'alternative' celebrities who wore wide clothes and high-toothed clogs,熏衣剃面, and powdered faces, with slender figures looking like immortals. This不修边幅, 解衣当风 formed a unique scenery in ancient clothing culture, showing the distinctive Wei-Jin demeanor.
Tang: Splendid and Colorful Prosperous Clothing
Tang Dynasty clothing actively absorbed and integrated foreign clothing culture while inheriting the traditional Hanfu system. In terms of style, a new 'robe system' or 'tongcai system' appeared and became popular, combining Western Region clothing characteristics. In terms of color, the Tang Dynasty established a等级分明的服色制度, deepening the political order color expression in Huaxia clothing.
Song: Narrow and Slim, Elegant and Graceful
Ancient China had strict clothing systems, and the Song Dynasty was no exception. During the more than 300 years of Song history, clothing style also shifted from the wide and open Tang and Five Dynasties to the narrow and slim, elegant and restrained, forming清雅俊逸的风格特征.
Ming: Fine and Elegant Dignified Style
Ming Dynasty clothing inherited Zhou and Han while drawing from Tang and Song, with very obvious era characteristics. In style, it was端庄传统而不失华美艳丽; in production, it was工艺精湛且款式繁多. The Ming Dynasty also established a series of clothing systems, from the Son of Heaven to commoners, with穿着规格, 用料, and纹饰 all having讲究.