Asian Fashion >> Chinese Culture
Ancient Chinese Clothing Accessories
China is an ancient country with a very rich heritage. The thousands
of years of history have laid a rich basis for the lives of its
inhabitants today. While some of the ancient Chinese myths and
cultural traditions have been forgotten or are no longer observed,
many of them are still remembered and incorporated into everyday
life. Taking a look into the cultural traditions of
China can reveal
a lot about the way that the people live. One of the most
interesting bits of Chinese lore can be found in what is known as
the Jade Culture. Jade was a very fashionable emblem of ancient
Chinese Culture. From very ancient times, during the Western Zhou
Dynasty, jade has been used as a decoration that used to hang from
the sash holding the Hanfu (a garment that was a part of the
Ancient
Chinese Clothing) closed. Jade was important in China not only
because of its beauty, but also for its virtue and cultural
significance. According to Confucius, jade had 11 virtues, some of
which include beauty, purity and grace. Jade is of two types, soft
jade, known as nephrite, which is native to China, and hard jade
(jadeite) which was imported from Burma starting in the 1200's.
One of the most recognizable symbols of china is the dragon. A
derivative of the serpent, it had a scaly body and five claws. It is
a symbol of auspicious power and has been even
Chinese Folklore.
This symbol is very obviously found in
Ancient
Chinese Clothing
particularly on imperial robes. The rulers considered themselves
descendants of the dragon and so the scenes pertaining to dragons on
their clothes were indicators of their power. Traditionally, the
Chinese being an agriculture-based nation are very dependent on
water. So, the dragon is associated with the weather and is the
bringer of rain and water in China. The dragon is also the
embodiment of the yang (male). The female counterpart is known as
the Fenghuang.
Some of the other popular motif designs are willow trees,
chrysanthemums, cranes and bamboo. These are depicted on pottery,
paintings, vases and of course clothes. Imagine owning a piece of
Ancient
Chinese Clothing complete with rich and elaborate patterns
that once belonged to the rulers of this splendid civilization.
No Chinese object is complete without a depiction of at least one of
the four favorite plants - the bamboo, the Chinese plum,
chrysanthemum and orchid. Of these, the bamboo is used in the most
versatile manner. From tableware -
chopsticks and utensils - to
flutes to paintbrushes and even hair accessories.
Combs made of bamboo, ivory, jade and other materials further
enhanced the ensemble of Ancient Chinese Clothing of women. Headgear
in ancient times included hats for men and hairpieces for women.
Traditionally, the Chinese wear their hats indoors as well as
outdoors unlike their Western counterparts. This is mainly because
most hats are too impractical to take off and carry around.
Fashion of ancient China has constantly evolved through the various
dynasties. For example, during the Sui Dynasty in the 500 AD, the
emperor declared that only the rich people could wear colors while
the poor people had to be dressed in blue or black.
Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply
defined, specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his
research he provides relevant, unbiased information to his readers
based on his discoveries and/or personal experiences.
About the Author:
One of his latest ongoing projects can be viewed at http://www.ancientchinaclothing.org
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