Come Out Of The Closet! The Cheongsam Is Not The ONLY Traditional Chinese Outfit

Cheongsam

We all know this one. Cheongsam, which is also known as Qipao, evolved from the Manchu women’s changpao (‘long gown’) of the Qing Dynasty. The Manchu ethnic people were also called the Qi people by the Han people; hence their long gown was named qipao (‘Qi gown’).

And if you didn’t know, there is no law on whether or not it’s acceptable to wear a cheongsam if you are not Chinese. It comes down to the spirit in which you wear a garment – and whether that spirit communicates respect versus condescension!

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Tang Suit

The Tang suit often refers to a type of Chinese jacket rather than the clothing of the Tang Dynasty (618–907). It is a duijin (对襟, a kind of Chinese-style jacket with buttons down the front) with a Mandarin collar (a band collar) and “frog” buttons (knobs formed of intricately knotted cord).

And nowadays, Tang suits have become a kind of formal dress worn on some special occasions, such as Chinese New Year, wedding ceremonies, or important events.

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Modern Hanfu

The Hanfu is the oldest of China’s traditional clothes. Legend traces it back to over 4,000 years ago when Huangdi’s consort, Leizu, made cloth with silk. It was constantly improved throughout several dynasties.

Until the Han Dynasty, the Hanfu was adopted and vigorously promoted by the ruling class. It then became the national clothing of the Han ethnic people. It also had a far-reaching influence on neighboring Asian countries, such as Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.