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What is hanfu?

Updated: 4/26/2024
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11y ago

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The Hanfu or 漢服 literally means the traditional clothing of the Han Chinese people. The Hanfu changes with each passing dynasty, much like a natural progression (At least until the advent of the Qing Dynasty).

Generally, the Chinese Hanfu consists of a piece of clothing with loose lapels, open upper garments, skirts ("chang" or 裳), long loose sleeves, collars that are diagonal with the left side of the clothing crossing over the right side, with Belts and sashes that are used to secure the garments around the waist.

A Hanfu can consist of two or three layers. The first layer of clothing is mostly the zhongyi (中衣) which is much like modern-day T-shirt and pants. The next layer is the main layer of clothing which is closed at the front. There can be an optional third layer, an overcoat called a zhaoshan which is open at the front. More complicated sets of Hanfu can have many more layers.

There are also accessories with tassels, pendants , cloth pouches, cloth purses and other ornaments, which are commonly hung from the belt or sash, known as pei (珮).For footwear, the common man wear long white socks and cloth shoes (with white soles), but in the past, shoes may have a front face panel attached to the tip of the shoes.

The Chinese also commonly wear Headpieces (Men) and Hairpieces(Women) that separates them from other cultures. There are different varieties of Hanfus for different professions in China, be it peasant, artisan, soldier, scholar, monk,priest, merchant or even Royalty. The Hanfu also have a formal, semi-formal and informal versions for ceremonies and daily life.

Common Misconceptions: The Qipao or Cheongsam is NOT the costume of the Han Chinese. It is the ethnic costume of the Manchu, although with some influence from Hanfu. The Manchu-ruled Qing Dynasty forced the Qipao (and the "infamous" pigtail) upon the Chinese Majority. The Qing dynasty lasted for around 300 years, which is a reason why majority of the Chinese have forgotten the Hanfu or mistaken the Qipao for their ethnic dress This is a result why the Hanfu movement started in the current era.

Fun Titbit: The Hanfu can be considered the precursor to the Hanbok, aó đầm and the Japanese Kimono. China in the past is the Superpower of the East. Many non-Chinese within the Chinese sphere of influence are interested in adopting Chinese culture (Writing system etc.) and court dress (Considered the most civilised and trending clothing at the time). Indeed, the Kimono in particular, share many similaries to the Hanfu, especially in the previous dynasties.

Please see the related links below for examples of the Chinese Hanfu, comparisons between the Hanfu and Japanese Kimono, and much more.

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1w ago

Hanfu is a traditional style of clothing worn by the Han Chinese people for thousands of years. It typically consists of a cross-collar robe with wide sleeves, a sash, and a skirt or pants. Hanfu is often characterized by its intricate designs, vibrant colors, and intricate accessories.

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Related questions

What is a hanfu?

Silk Robe


What material do they use to make Hanfu?

banboo


What did ancient Chinese people wear?

Traditional Chinese clothing was called hanfu


What is the difference between hanfu and kimonos?

The Kimono received significant influence from the Chinese Hanfu. This is especially evident when you take a look at Earlier Dynastic Hanfu. In the past, the Japanese and many other Asian Kingdoms adopted the Chinese court dress code, a testament to the power and cultural appeal that Imperial China have at the time. However, you must understand that the Chinese Hanfu undergo changes as different dynasties come and go (Much like modern-day fashion). During the Qing Dynasty, the Hanfu was banned from use and the Qipao is forced upon the Chinese (As well as the ridiculous Pigtail). The Hanfu disappeared as memories of it begin to fade with the Cultural Revolution. As a result, modern-day Hanfus may or may not have the same Historical accuracy. Some may even have used measurements from the Japanese Kimono or Korean Hanbok as most of the Chinese have forgotten their Hanfu. Appearance-wise: The Japanese Kimono and the Hanfu share wide sleeves and a right lapel, as well as an overlapped collar. They are both T-shaped when placed on a flat surface and are traditionally made from silk (Royals or Privileged), satin weaves or cotton (Peasant). They also have different versions for different occasions; Weddings, funerals, Religious Ceremonies and Celebration. However, the Chinese Hanfu is traditionally and usually wore with a "Crown" or a Headpiece. For the women, there is often a one-piece undergarment worn with the hanfu, whereas the Japanese traditionally wore an inner Kimono (Hiyoku). The Chinese also have different Hanfu styles in the past to indicate one's profession, be it peasant, scholar, soldier, merchant, artisan or of Royal lineage. The sash that the Japanese women wear in their kimono is higher than that of their Hanfu counterparts. The Hanfu also include accessories, from pouches to decorative items. Care and Maintenence: The Japanese used to practise Arai Hari, the taking apart and resewing of the Kimeno(Silk) for washing purposes. The Chinese do not practise this custom due to their higher abundance of silk.


What did women in ancient china wear?

they wore Hanfu up untill 1644, which are pretty silk robes. Hanfu are not to be confused with kimono's which were and are (sometimes) still worn by women in Japan.People often get Chinese and Japanese culture mixed up, but the are very different.


What is Chinese clothing traditional clothing traditional for?

The traditional costumes of China are Hanfu and Qipao. In fact, in China, there are a lot of people wearing Hanfu, Cheongsam,Ruqun and so on. Hanfu has seen a revival in recent years, and more and more people are interested in traditional Chinese culture.


How is hanfu made?

The rich wore silk. The poor wore ramie and hemp. After 200 B.C. cotton was used by the poor as clothing.


What is the national costume of Taiwan?

The answer is hanfu.The full name of Hanfu is "the traditional costume of the Han nationality", also known as Huafu, Han clothing, etc. Hanfu is a kind of national costume, and the "Han" in Hanfu means the Han nationality. Each ethnic group has its own clothing system and clothing characteristics, such as Miao costume, Mongolian costume and so on. As the main ethnic group among the 56 ethnic groups, the Han nationality naturally has its own clothing. In the course of thousands of years of development, Han costume also has a perfect system and distinctive characteristics.The full name of Hanfu is "the traditional costume of the Han nationality", also known as Huafu, Han clothing, etc. Hanfu is a kind of national costume, and the "Han" in Hanfu means the Han nationality.It is believed that clothing must develop along with the society, and clothing is only a part of the system of human society, and social form and people's aesthetic appreciation are progressing continuously. In my opinion, we must respect and inherit traditional and national things, but more importantly, we can make traditional things better adapt to modern life through our own strength, so that more people can see it, touch it and fall in love with it! The purpose of the revival of Hanfu is to evoke our national identity and convey traditional culture, rather than to highlight ourselves, let alone to be used as a tool to attack others! Each ethnic group has its own clothing system and clothing characteristics, such as Miao costume, Mongolian costume and so on. As the main ethnic group among the 56 ethnic groups, the Han nationality naturally has its own clothing. In the course of thousands of years of development, Han costume also has a perfect system and distinctive characteristics. However, due to historical reasons, the inheritance of hanfu has been forcibly suspended for hundreds of years, coupled with the strong impact of modern western fashion, people's memory of hanfu has become blurred


What are the traditional clothes of china?

Most people would think of Hanfu, from the Han dynasty or the modern qipao. However, China is very vast and so clothing differs from region to region.


What country wears a Hanbok?

Hanbok is a korean traditional clothes derived from Chinese traditional clothes called Hanfu. Han means Chinese people, and bok means clothes in Korean.


What part of Korea did the hanbok come from?

Hanbok is a korean traditional clothes derived from Chinese traditional clothes called Hanfu. Han means Chinese people, and bok means clothes in Korean.


What is the name of Chinese traditional clothing?

Well, okay REALLY ancient clothing is known as Hanfu (which literally means Han Dynasty clothing). After the Han Dynasty there was the Qing Dynasty and that's when Qipao and Changshan became popular.I advise you to use wikipedia and look up these terms to figure out which style of clothing you are looking for. My guess is that you're thinking about the Qipao and Changshan since that's the style most people associate with 'traditional' clothing.wikipedia isn't always trustworthy so look on other sights aswell