Bathing in vibrations of winning styles

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Keeping talking about style I ask you to come and read few notes about the Hanfu which i am going to purchuse soon with my friend. It is a winning style because it preserve more than 3000 of history in its fabrics. The first hanfu (meaning clothing of the Han people, the most ancient Chinese ethnic group) was - by legend - realized by the wife of the Yellow Emperor; she used to grow silkworms and this is how she made the firs hanfu. The Japanise kimono and the Korean dress are also derivated from it.

Hanfu was regarded by Han Chinese as a very important part of their culture. The wearing of appropriate styles of Hanfu was an important part of courteous refined behaviour. Confucius considered Hanfu a very important part of Chinese ceremony and ritual and many of his quotations contain references to Hanfu.

Hanfu underwent slight or interesting transformations during the diverse dinasty periods. For example:

According to archaeological discoveries, the basic shape and style of Hanfu were already and almost completely developed during the Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century BC - 11th century BC), the first attested dynasty of China. Clothing from this period was mainly composed of two parts, the Yi (coat) on the top and the Shang (skirt) underneath. The sleeve cuff was narrow. The Yi did not have any buttons and was fixed with a broad sash tied around the waist. A Bixi hung from the waist sash was used to shade the knees.

Archeological finds show that fabrics in this period were mainly in warm colors, especially yellow and red, along with brown. There were also cooler colors like blue, green etc. Because the red and yellow dyes were made from mercury sulfide and orpiment, they were brighter than the other colors and were of stronger penetrability; hence they were more able to last unchanged until today. Modern scientific analysis has shown that dyeing and weaving methods were often used at the same time during Shang and Zhou periods. Orthochromatic colors such as red and yellow were often used to draw on the fabrics after they were woven.

It is apropriate both for women and men and today it is used a lot during official ceremonies or important meetings. Sometimes the cut is adjusted for more modern looks but I still prefer the one closer to the original. It does emanate so much dignity and sobriety, sweetness and magnificence at the same time.

In some places children wear it at school for example or during other occasions.

 

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Tags: China, clothes history, Fashion, hanfu