Ancient Japanese Clothing
Ancient Japanese history includes alternating periods of isolation and
revolutionary influences from the rest of the world. As early as the Jomon
period from about 14000BC to 300 BC, Japan had a hunter-gatherer lifestyle;
wooden stilt houses, pit dwelling, and agriculture. Weaving was still
unknown and the ancient Japanese clothing consisted of fur. However, some of
the world's oldest pottery is found in Japan, along with daggers, jade,
combs made form shell and clay figures.
The period thereafter to 250 BC saw the influx of new practices like
weaving, rice sowing, iron and bronze making influenced by china and Korea.
Chinese travelers describe the men 'with braided hair, tattooing and women
with large, single-piece clothing.' Initially ancient Japanese clothing
consisted of single piece clothing. The ancient and classical Japan begins
from the middle of the 3rd century to 710. An advanced agricultural and
militaristic culture defines this period. By 645, Japan rapidly adopted
Chinese practices and reorganized its penal code.
The peak period of ancient Japan and its imperial court is from 794 to 1185.
Art, poetry, literature and trade expeditions continued with vigor. Warlords
and powerful regional families ruled ancient Japan from 1185 to 1333 and the
emperor was just a figure head. By the Japanese Middle Ages, Portugal had
introduced firearms by a chance landing of their ship at Japanese coast;
samurai charging ranks were cut down; trade with Netherlands, England and
Spain had opened up new avenues. Several missionaries had entered Japan as
well.
Distinct features of the lifestyle, ancient Japanese clothing and women is
difficult to decipher for the simple reason that it is super-imposed by the
Chinese culture. Ancient Japan readily adopted other cultures and practices
and most of its own culture is lost among these adaptations.
Ancient Japanese clothing was mostly unisex, with differences being in
colors, length and sleeves. A
Kimono tied with an Obi or a sash around the waist was the
general clothing and with the advent of western clothing are now mostly worn
at home or special occasions. Women's obi in ancient Japanese clothing would
mostly be elaborate and decorative. Some would be as long as 4meters and
tied as a flower or a butterfly. Though a Yukata means a 'bath clothing',
these were often worn in the summers as morning and evening gowns. Ancient
Japanese clothing consisted of mena and women wearing Haori or narrow
paneled jacket for special occasions such as marriages and feasts. These are
worn over a kimono and tied with strings at the breast level.
The most interesting piece of ancient Japanese clothing is the ju-ni-hitoe
or the 'twelve layers' adorned by ladies at the imperial court. It is
multi-layered and very heavy and worn on a daily basis for centuries! The
only change would be the thickness of the fabric and the number of layers
depending on the season. Princesses still wear these on weddings.
Since the Japanese people don't wear footwear inside their homes, tabi is
still worn. These are split -toe socks woven out of non-stretch materials
with thick soles. Clogs have been worn for centuries in ancient Japan and
were known as Geta. These were made of wood with two straps and were
unisexual. Zori was footwear made of softer materials like straw and fabric
with a flat sole.
Ancient Japanese clothes, culture and footwear are slowly regaining their
popularity with the western world. There is an honest curiosity in knowing
more, wearing kimonos or using silk fabrics with beautiful floral prints
from the 'land of the rising sun'.
Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply defined,
specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his research he
provides relevant, un-biased 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.ancientjapaneseclothing.org
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