Ancient Chinese clothing: culture and more

China, a rapidly developing nation today, has a history stretching back more than 5,000 years. These 5000 years can be found in ancient writings. In fact, ancient China was one of the most cosmopolitan civilizations. This is evident in the various components that make up their culture. A rich culture was represented in the clothes and dresses of ancient China.

As a nation, it is more of a conglomeration of varied tribes over many years.

According to history, China was unified under a great empire in 221 BC. C. Chinese civilization was always advanced. Even in ancient times, the daily routine comprised the subsistence tasks of pottery, baking, and agriculture with the manufacture of silk. In fact, most of the ancient Chinese clothing for the elite was made of silk. Over the centuries these routine interests evolved into the pursuit of science and philosophy.

Since the culture was quite rich, a distinctive language developed. Although there are currently up to 12 regional language groups, Chinese was the language spoken in ancient China since the Han Dynasty.

The people of ancient China believe in the command of heaven. They worshiped many different gods, including the gods of the weather and the sky along with a higher god who ruled over all other gods known as Shang Ti. The Chinese, as a race, worship their ancestors believing that when they died, they also became gods.

Such was the prevailing situation in ancient Chinese civilization. The effect was also seen in the ancient Chinese clothing of the common man. Right attraction was seen as the ultimate expression of Chinese culture and identity, differentiating them from “inferior” foreign neighbors while making social and gender distinctions within their society. Ancient Chinese clothing had a specific cultural meaning, with properly dressed bodies reflecting order and control and unadorned bodies and feet serving as visible signs of disorder and dangerous discontent with the individual who risked association with strange barbarians.

During the Sui dynasty in 500 AD, the emperor declared that only the rich could wear colors, while the poor had to wear blue or black. Later this changed completely, but the rule of dressing appropriately to show stability in a personality prevailed. It was a real case of clothing that makes the man.

Aside from the type of dresses in ancient Chinese clothing, the symbols indicated on them are an equally important indicator of the wearer’s social position. The symbolism denotes social position, moral messages, and also historical and legendary accounts.

Symbols on ancient Chinese dresses indicate the status of the person who had worn the garment. For example, the number of dragons on a robe indicates a higher or lower official of the imperial court.

There are some typical symbols found in ancient Chinese clothing.

The Sun, the Moon and the Constellation, The Rock or the Mountain, The Fu, The Dragon, The Ax Head, The Florida Creature, The Water Plant, The Sacrificial Vessel, The Flames, The Grain, Crane, Geometric Patterns , Motif of bats, butterflies and water. All of these twelve imperial motifs mean various things. Only an emperor could wear dresses with the twelve symbols. A senior official could wear clothing with a maximum of eight symbols.

The work was so spectacular that it is a good thing that these restrictions are no longer in effect today.