HAN DYNASTY
In Chinese history, Han
consisted of two dynasties: the Western Han (206 BC - 24 AD) and the Eastern
Han (25 - 220). During the period there were 24 emperors on the throne. Many
were excellent contributing to the prosperity of the country with Emperors Gaozu,
Wen, Jing and Wu among them. Historical dress of the Han ethnic people is known as Hanfu or Han Chinese Clothing, also sometimes known as Hanzhuang, Huafu, and sometimes referred in English sources simply as Silk Robe or Chinese Silk Robe.
In the Han dynasty, a man’s rank and status was indicated by the style of his crown. In the Han dynasty, a woman wore a short jacket and a long skirt, and a decorative belt hung down to the knee. A man always dressed in a short jacket, trousers in the style of calf’s nose, with a short cloth skirt outside. This style was the same for everyone — workers, farmers, businessmen, and scholars.
In the Han dynasty, a man’s rank and status was indicated by the style of his crown. In the Han dynasty, a woman wore a short jacket and a long skirt, and a decorative belt hung down to the knee. A man always dressed in a short jacket, trousers in the style of calf’s nose, with a short cloth skirt outside. This style was the same for everyone — workers, farmers, businessmen, and scholars.
The Western Han dynasty also known as the “dark style”, where black is the preferred colour. Court dress in this period was black and when performing sacrificial ceremonies, the formal dress was edged with red. Characteristics of clothing in this time are square sleeves, sloping necklines, red clothes, red shoes and cicada-like hat. Clothes worn by high ranking officials and ordinary people basically have the same style. The only way to identify the position or rank of a person in the society is by the colour and the quality of the materials used in his clothing.
During the Eastern Han dynasty,
red became the colour that is most respectful because it symbolizes the “fire
virtue” of the Han Dynasty. The government officials of this period wore
clothes with colours that conform to the season, according to the Five Elements
theory. When spring begins a ceremony is held at the eastern suburbs and
clothes as well as carriages were grey-green in colour. When summer begins, a
ceremony is held at the southern suburbs and the preferred colour was red. When
autumn begins, the preferred colour was yellow and when winter begins, the
preferred colour was black.
There were two categories for
clothing in the Han Dynasty. They were either the Shenyi (or long coat
developed in the Western Han Dynasty) or the Yijin (which makes up the front of
the jacket/gown and can be made up of one or two pieces). It’s been said though
that a few people wore the Shenyi during the Eastern Han Dynasty.
The Shenyi system featured a cicada- shaped hat, red clothes and twin diamond-shaped collar. Peope at that time also wore jade articles and red shoes.
The Shenyi system featured a cicada- shaped hat, red clothes and twin diamond-shaped collar. Peope at that time also wore jade articles and red shoes.
Jade dress
In the Han Dynasty, the Chinese believe that jade can prevent the human body from rotting. As a result, the bodies of the emperor and the nobility applied to jade dress to prevent them from rotting. The cloth is like body armor made of jade and thin boards and tied neatly with a fine gold thread. In 1968, Chinese archaeologists found the first two pieces of jade dress full of very valuable materials in Mancheng County in north China's Hebei Province.
Jade dress is made of small blades of thin jade each in the form of a square, long rectangle, trapezoidal and triangular. On each side there is a small hole jade blade. Jade blades are tied with fine gold thread through the tiny holes. Jade dress is made up of 5 parts, namely head scarves, shirts, pants, gloves and shoes. Jade dress is a length of about 2 meters, 2,498 blades made of thin jade with gold thread about 1,100 grams of weight.
Jade dress is made of small blades of thin jade each in the form of a square, long rectangle, trapezoidal and triangular. On each side there is a small hole jade blade. Jade blades are tied with fine gold thread through the tiny holes. Jade dress is made up of 5 parts, namely head scarves, shirts, pants, gloves and shoes. Jade dress is a length of about 2 meters, 2,498 blades made of thin jade with gold thread about 1,100 grams of weight.
Military clothes
The Han military clothing basically is similar to that of Qin dynasty. All soldiers and officers will wear Chanyi and trousers. The Chanyi were in fact a form of middle clothing known as Shenyi.
The caps/crown of a Han dynasty soldier was basically a turban-based crown with outer cover. During eastern Han period, military officers usually added a Sha Guan (a type of crown) onto their turban.
In Han military clothing, an officer will usually strap himself with 2 belts, 1 leather belt and 1 silk belt. A Han warrior usually wore a boot known as "Lu", which has a rounded head and flat bottom, crescent shape head forms.
The caps/crown of a Han dynasty soldier was basically a turban-based crown with outer cover. During eastern Han period, military officers usually added a Sha Guan (a type of crown) onto their turban.
In Han military clothing, an officer will usually strap himself with 2 belts, 1 leather belt and 1 silk belt. A Han warrior usually wore a boot known as "Lu", which has a rounded head and flat bottom, crescent shape head forms.
Reference:
1. Makam Raja Dinasti Han dan Pakaian Jed [Internet]. Beijing (China): China Radio International,CRI; 2009 August 21 [cited 2013 April 4]. Available from: http://malay.cri.cn/621/2009/08/20/123s101904.htm#.
2. Hanfu-Traditional Han Chinese Clothing [Internet]. China: Wenhousecrafts; 2007 April 2 [cited 2013 April 4]. Available from: http://wenhousecrafts.com/2007/april/hanfu.htm.
3. Han Dynasty Clothing [Internet]. Totally history; 2012 [cited 2013 April 4]. Available from: http://totallyhistory.com/han-dynasty-clothing/.
4. Yang Lu. Chinese Clothing-Five Thousand Years' History [Internet]. [cited 2013 April 25]. Available from: http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/yanglu/ECC_CULTURE_CLOTHING.HTM.