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(; ; yr: ''sim.ui''), also called Deep garment in English, means "wrapping the body deep within the clothes" or "to wrap the body deep within cloth". The is an iconic form of
robe A robe is a loose-fitting outer garment. Unlike garments described as capes or cloaks, robes usually have sleeves. The English word ''robe'' derives from Middle English ''robe'' ("garment"), borrowed from Old French ''robe'' ("booty, spoil ...
in , which was recorded in and advocated in Zhu Xi's 《朱子家禮》. As cited in the , the is a long robe which is created when the ''"upper half is connected to the bottom half to cover the body fully"''. The , along with its components, existed prior to the
Zhou dynasty The Zhou dynasty ( ; Old Chinese ( B&S): *''tiw'') was a royal dynasty of China that followed the Shang dynasty. Having lasted 789 years, the Zhou dynasty was the longest dynastic regime in Chinese history. The military control of China by ...
and appeared at least since the
Shang dynasty The Shang dynasty (), also known as the Yin dynasty (), was a Chinese royal dynasty founded by Tang of Shang (Cheng Tang) that ruled in the Yellow River valley in the second millennium BC, traditionally succeeding the Xia dynasty and ...
. The was then developed in Zhou dynasty with a complete system of attire, being shaped by the Zhou dynasty's strict hierarchical system in terms of social levels, gender, age, and situation and was used as a basic form of clothing. The then became the mainstream clothing choice during the
Qin Qin may refer to: Dynasties and states * Qin (state) (秦), a major state during the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China * Qin dynasty (秦), founded by the Qin state in 221 BC and ended in 206 BC * Daqin (大秦), ancient Chinese name for the Roman Emp ...
and Han dynasties. By the Han dynasty, the had evolved into two types of robes: the () and the ' (). The later gradually declined in popularity around the Wei, Jin, and
Northern and Southern dynasties The Northern and Southern dynasties () was a period of political division in the history of China that lasted from 420 to 589, following the tumultuous era of the Sixteen Kingdoms and the Eastern Jin dynasty. It is sometimes considered a ...
period. However, the 's influence persisted in the following dynasties. The then became a form of formal wear for
scholar-official The scholar-officials, also known as literati, scholar-gentlemen or scholar-bureaucrats (), were government officials and prestigious scholars in Chinese society, forming a distinct social class. Scholar-officials were politicians and governmen ...
s in the
Song A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetit ...
and Ming dynasties. Chinese scholars also recorded and defined the meaning of since the ancient times, such as
Zhu Xi Zhu Xi (; ; October 18, 1130 – April 23, 1200), formerly romanized Chu Hsi, was a Chinese calligrapher, historian, philosopher, poet, and politician during the Song dynasty. Zhu was influential in the development of Neo-Confucianism. He con ...
in the Song dynasty,
Huang Zongxi Huang Zongxi (; September 24, 1610 – August 12, 1695), courtesy name Taichong (), was a Chinese naturalist, political theorist, philosopher, and soldier during the latter part of the Ming dynasty into the early part of the Qing. Biography Huan ...
in the Ming dynasty, and Jiang Yong in the
Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-spea ...
. The was also introduced in both
Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificat ...
and Japan, where it exerted influences on
Confucian Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, a way of governing, or ...
clothing attire in
Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
and Japan. The is called in Korean, it was worn by followers of Confucianism in the
Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificat ...
and Joseon period.


Terminology

The term () is composed of two Chinese characters《》which can be translated as 'deep' and《》which literally means '
clothing Clothing (also known as clothes, apparel, and attire) are items worn on the body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin sheets of materials and natural ...
' in the broad sense. Combined, the term literally means "deep clothing".


Construction and designs

The structure of the system is typically composed of upper and lower parts; it also typically comes into two styles: one-piece garment (where the upper and lower parts are connected together), and two-pieces garments (where the upper and lower parts are not connected). And as stated by the , the was one long robe as opposite to the combination of a top and a bottom. However, the structure of the is made of two pieces: an upper garment called () and lower garment called (), which are then connected together to form a one-piece robe. Thus, the differ structurally from the , which is a one-piece robe where the lower and upper part is cut in a single fabric. Moreover, a standard was also made up of twelve panel of fabric which were sewn together.


History of early development

The , along with its components, already existed prior to the
Zhou dynasty The Zhou dynasty ( ; Old Chinese ( B&S): *''tiw'') was a royal dynasty of China that followed the Shang dynasty. Having lasted 789 years, the Zhou dynasty was the longest dynastic regime in Chinese history. The military control of China by ...
having first appeared at least since the
Shang dynasty The Shang dynasty (), also known as the Yin dynasty (), was a Chinese royal dynasty founded by Tang of Shang (Cheng Tang) that ruled in the Yellow River valley in the second millennium BC, traditionally succeeding the Xia dynasty and ...
. However, in the Shang and Western Zhou dynasties, people prominently wore a set of attire called , which consisted of a jacket called and a long
skirt A skirt is the lower part of a dress or a separate outer garment that covers a person from the waist downwards. At its simplest, a skirt can be a draped garment made out of a single piece of fabric (such as pareos). However, most skirts ar ...
called . Out of convenience, the and were sewn together to form a robe; this combination then resulted into the which was developed in the
Zhou dynasty The Zhou dynasty ( ; Old Chinese ( B&S): *''tiw'') was a royal dynasty of China that followed the Shang dynasty. Having lasted 789 years, the Zhou dynasty was the longest dynastic regime in Chinese history. The military control of China by ...
. The eventually became the dominant form of robe from the
Zhou dynasty The Zhou dynasty ( ; Old Chinese ( B&S): *''tiw'') was a royal dynasty of China that followed the Shang dynasty. Having lasted 789 years, the Zhou dynasty was the longest dynastic regime in Chinese history. The military control of China by ...
to the
Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...
remaining popular; From the Spring and Autumn period to the Han dynasty, the loose with wide sleeves was fashionable amongst the members of the royal families, the aristocrats, and the elites. The loose which wrapped around the body to back and lacked a front end slit and was designed for the upper classes of society, especially for women, who wanted to avoid exposing their body parts when walking. This design of this wrap-style of was an important necessity in a period where the had yet to become popular amongst the general population. The preoccupation of the elites with layered, loose-fitting clothing also displayed their desire to distance themselves from the labourers, signalling their high status. By the
Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...
, the had evolved in forms; it then further developed in the Han dynasty where small variations in styles and shapes appeared. Following the Han dynasty, the lost popularity in the succeeding dynasties until it was revived again the
Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...
.


Zhou dynasty period

The
Western Zhou dynasty The Western Zhou ( zh, c=, p=Xīzhōu; c. 1045 BC – 771 BC) was a royal dynasty of China and the first half of the Zhou dynasty. It began when King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang dynasty at the Battle of Muye and ended when the Quanrong nom ...
had strict rules and regulations which regulated the daily attire of its citizen based on their social status; these regulations also governed the material, shape, sizes, colours, and decorative patterns of their garments. The was also shaped by the Zhou dynasty's hierarchical system based on social class, gender, age, and the situation. However, despite these complex regulations, the was still a basic form of garment which served the needs for all classes, from nobles to commoners, old to young, men to women; and people would therefore expressed their identities through recognizable objects, decorations, colours, and materials on their outer garments. Nobles would wear a decorated coat over the , while commoners would wear it alone.


Spring and Autumn period and Warring States period

In the early
Eastern Zhou dynasty The Eastern Zhou (; zh, c=, p=Dōngzhōu, w=Tung1-chou1, t= ; 771–256 BC) was a royal dynasty of China and the second half of the Zhou dynasty. It was divided into two periods: the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States. History In 770 ...
period, there were still strict rules and regulations which regulated the clothing of all social classes and were used to maintain social distinction between people of different classes. In the
Warring States period The Warring States period () was an era in ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded with the Qin wars of conquest ...
, the was a moderately formal style of clothing. The which was representative of the Warring States Period, was designed to have the front stretched and wrapped around the body several times. The wrapping-style for men and women can be seen in the ''
Silk painting depicting a man riding a dragon ''Silk painting depicting a man riding a dragon'' (人物御龍帛畫) is a Chinese painting on silk from the Warring States period (475-221 BC). It was discovered in the Zidanku Tomb no. 1 in Changsha, Hunan Province in 1973. Now in the Huna ...
'' and the '' Silk painting with female figure, dragon and phoenix patterns'' respectively Both paintings unearthed from a Chu tomb, Warring States period, 5th century BC, Changsha, Hunan Province. Materials which were used in this period tended to be linen; however, when the was made into ceremonial garments, then black silk would be used instead. It was worn by both the literati and the warriors as it was both functional and simplistic in style. The was also tied right below the waist level in the front with a silk ribbon, called () or ' (), on which a decorative piece was attached to.


Rules and regulations in the

The design features of also match the ancient
Chinese culture Chinese culture () is one of the world's oldest cultures, originating thousands of years ago. The culture prevails across a large geographical region in East Asia and is extremely diverse and varying, with customs and traditions varying grea ...
. In this period, the was also deeply rooted in the traditional Chinese ethics and morals which forbid close contacts between males and females. In this period, the had to conform to the certain rules and regulations which were recorded in the special chapter called 《深衣》in the . According to the , the ancient had to fulfill the following: The same chapter described the as being made of twelve panels of fabric corresponding to the twelve months and all twelve robes are cut into one clothing style. Moreover, the shape of the component of the is also described: These prescribed rules and regulations did not only defined the as the combination of the and together, but also prescribed the length of the in this period which had to be long enough to prevent the exposure of the skin but short enough to prevent it from trailing on the floor, and the explanation behind the function of these prescribed measurements, and the location of the belt referred as (). It also prescribed the rules on the colours and decorations of the trims based on the circumstances of its wearer: Moreover, in addition to the prescribed rules and regulations present in the chapter 《深衣》, more details can be found in the chapter 《玉藻》of the which described the as having a opening, and being a one-piece long robe with broad sleeve openings; with its circumference at the waist be three times that of the sleeve-opening and that of its hem be even larger: There are two purposes for the loose-cut design: firstly, the body shape is less visible to others; the second reason is to allow the wearer to move the body as freely as possible. The wearer's skin should be appropriately covered to meet the first purpose. The waistband should only accentuate the outline of the waist; the outline of the rest of the body should be well hidden from view. Nonetheless, the second purpose, which engages more freedom of movement for the wearer's body.


= Cultural significance and symbolism

= In the chapter 《深衣》of the , the making of the will match the compass called (), the square called (), the plumb line called (), and the
steelyard balance A steelyard balance, steelyard, or stilyard is a straight-beam balance with arms of unequal length. It incorporates a counterweight which slides along the longer arm to counterbalance the load and indicate its weight. A steelyard is also known as ...
called (). These four tools have normative connotations in : The , , and generally refer to the rules and standards people should follow; the defines the ability to balance all the advantages and disadvantages and result in the best solution. In appearance, rounded cuffs of the to match the compass; squared neckline to match the squareness, the seams at the back part of the drop down to the ankle to match the straightness, and steelyard balance the bottom edge to match evenness. The terms "squareness," "straightness," and "evenness" can be used to describe both the physical properties of objects and the moral qualities of people. These wordplays tie the physical properties of tools to virtues. Every part of has the attributes of an instrument, which gives the text multiple moral meanings. The also explains how the helps construct its wearer's character through the symbolic relationship between the tools, virtues, and each part of the . The circular shape of the cuffs allows the user to raise his arms while walking, allowing him to maintain correct comportment (). The straight seams worn in the rear () and the square neckline worn in the front () are intended to straighten one's approach to political issues. The bottom edge is meant to seem like a steelyard balance to calm one's thoughts and focus one's aim. The back seam of the is first linked to the physical characteristics of "straightness" in the and then to the moral trait of "straightness." When attention to political matters, the wearer of the will be straight in the sense of becoming "upright" the design of the square-shaped neckline indicates "making correct" correspondence to the wearer's role performance. The evenness of the bottom edge is supposed to be able to keep the wearer's thoughts "even" in the sense of "balancing," allowing him to focus on a single goal. emphasizes how each part of represents a moral trait, such as selflessness, straightness, and evenness. Nevertheless, the chapter 《深衣》also emphasizes the body effects on wearers. The body concealing and physical movement freedom are two significant reasons why was made in this design. Body mobility is brought up again in , which says that the cuffs are created round to allow the wearer to cultivate his physical comportments (), not because roundness indicates a certain moral quality. In early Confucian ethics, having refined body comportment is regarded ethically significant. The allows the user to cultivate a person's comportment while also cultivating one's character by allowing a broad range of body mobility. The also implies that the symbolic meanings of the which may be sensed by the wearer's body, in addition to being accessed cognitively and mentally. Both the Chinese verbs "to carry" () and "to embrace" () employed regarding the straight seams and square-shaped neckline frequently indicate a close bodily relationship between its subject and object. These two words are widely used to describe how the human body moves. The text implies that the wearer's body carries and embraces the straightness and squareness. Therefore, it can be sensed through the tactile sensations when the contacts the wearer's skin. Moreover, the evenness of the bottom border of the may be sensed when the wearer stretches it with his hands or when his thighs naturally meet it while walking. The users of may need to walk smoothly and firmly to keep its bottom edge even. The design of the also encourages its wearer to use their bodies in a certain way. The fact that the text alternates between explaining the moral characteristics that the represents and discussing how it links to the wearer's body indicates that the design of has considered both the physiological and psychological- cognitive effects it has on its wearer.


Mid-warring states period

By the Mid-warring states period, however, the rules and regulations started to disintegrate. This can be observed in the tombs, where a lady, who was a member of the class, was buried sometimes around the year 340 – 278 BC with twelve long robes which were all cut in the approximate style of ' whether they were padded with silk floss (), single in layer () or lined (). The forms of these ', however, were not standardized and show variations in cut and construction. Moreover, some of the textiles and decorations used in making those robes were against the rules and regulations for her ranks and violated the rules which were stipulated in the . The ' found in the tombs had a straight-front which falls straight down.


Transition from Warring States period to the Han dynasty

The grew in popularity during the transition period from the
Warring States period The Warring States period () was an era in ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded with the Qin wars of conquest ...
to the
Western Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a war ...
; and with its increased in popularity, the shape of the deviated further from its earlier prescriptions. During the
Qin Qin may refer to: Dynasties and states * Qin (state) (秦), a major state during the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China * Qin dynasty (秦), founded by the Qin state in 221 BC and ended in 206 BC * Daqin (大秦), ancient Chinese name for the Roman Emp ...
and Han dynasties, the dominated the connection method of the upper and lower parts and became the mainstream choice.


Qin dynasty

In the
Qin dynasty The Qin dynasty ( ; zh, c=秦朝, p=Qín cháo, w=), or Ch'in dynasty in Wade–Giles romanization ( zh, c=, p=, w=Ch'in ch'ao), was the first dynasty of Imperial China. Named for its heartland in Qin state (modern Gansu and Shaanxi), ...
,
Qin Shi Huang Qin Shi Huang (, ; 259–210 BC) was the founder of the Qin dynasty and the first emperor of a unified China. Rather than maintain the title of " king" ( ''wáng'') borne by the previous Shang and Zhou rulers, he ruled as the First Empero ...
abolished the -system of the Zhou dynasty and implemented the -system specifying that third ranked officials and above were required to wear made out green silk while commoners had to wear which were white in colour. This system adopted by Qin Shi Huang laid the foundations of the -system in the succeeding dynasties.


Han dynasty

The
Western Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a war ...
also implemented the -system, which featured the use of a cicada-shaped hat, red clothes, and a collar in the shape of 《》, and garments which were sewn in the -style with an upper and lower garment sewed together. The was also worn together with the and shoes as a form of formal attire in the Han dynasty while in ordinary times, attire and the attire were born by men and women respectively. By the Western Han Dynasty, the shape of the had deviated from the earlier versions as it can be found in the tomb of the same period belonging to Lady Dai. The had evolved into two types of robe: the (), which is also known as "curved gown" in English, and the ' (). These two robes differed from each other based on their front opening and the way their lapels overlapped: the would curve and wraps the dress to the back while the front opening of the would fall straight down. The directly evolved from the wrapping-style which was worn in the pre-Qin period and became popular in the Han dynasty. The ' was more luxurious than the as it required approximately 40% more materials than the ; and therefore the presence of more amount of wraps in ' indicates that the robes are more increasingly more luxurious. Moreover, the in this period, regardless of its cut, could also be padded, lined, or unlined. More examples of unearthed archeological artefacts of made of diverse cuts and materials from the tomb can be found in Museums, such as the (), the (), and (), found in the
Hunan Museum The Hunan Museum () is the provincial museum of Hunan, China. It was built in 1951 and opened to the public in July 1956. It is located in the provincial capital Changsha at No. 50, Dongfeng Lu next to the Revolutionary Martyr's Park. It spans a ...
. According to the by Yang Xiong dating from the
Western Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a war ...
, the (), also called (), (), and () depending on its geographical location, was called in ancient times. There were also gradual changes but clear distinctions in the form of the between the early and late period of the Western Han dynasty. In the early Western Han, some women wore body-hugging which was floor length with wide and long sleeves, long enough to cover the hand. Others wore ' with a flowing extended panels which would create a tiered effects at the back. Moreover, the design of the was closely related to the evolution of the Chinese trousers, especially the . A form of ', known as or () or (), also became popular in the Han dynasty. However, when the first appeared, it was considered to be improper to use it as a ceremonial garment; it was also improper to use it outside of the house, and it was also improper to wear it at home when receiving guests. The disrespectful nature of wearing ' at the court was even recorded in the . Reasons why the wearing of was considered improper in those circumstances might be related to the wearing of the ancient , which were trousers without crotches; and thus, this form of ' might not have been sufficiently long to cover the body which was a disgraceful act from its wearer. In the chapter 《急就篇》by
Shi You Shi You (, 48–33 BC) was a Chinese calligrapher, eunuch, and writer of the Han dynasty, who served as Director of Eunuch Attendants () under Emperor Yuan of Han. He authored the dictionary ''Jijiupian The ''Jijiupian'' is a Chinese character ...
also dating from the Western Han dynasty in the , the set of attire called () consisted of a trousers called () which was covered by the (), the was a short and tight knee-length robe instead of being long in length. A () was a form of Chinese trousers with crotches as opposed to the . With time, when the became more popular, the ', which was shorter and easier to put on than the ; the ' then started replacing the which had been long enough to cover the . The , however, were only popular for some people of certain occupations, such as warriors, servants, and the lower class, in the Han dynasty and was not widely used by the general population as it was not easily accepted by the traditional etiquette of the Han culture. Therefore, the was never able to replace the ; moreover, the design of the ancient had also evolved with time becoming long enough to cover the thighs, with some parts even covering the upper parts of the hips, such as the which was especially designed for women in the Western Han dynasty court. By the middle of the Western Han dynasty, the became nearly obsolete; and by the late Western Han dynasty, the were straight rather than spiralled. In the Eastern Han dynasty, very few people wore .


History of later development


Song dynasty

In the
Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...
,
Neo-Confucian Neo-Confucianism (, often shortened to ''lǐxué'' 理學, literally "School of Principle") is a moral, ethical, and metaphysical Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianism, and originated with Han Yu (768–824) and Li Ao (772–841) in t ...
philosophies determined the conduct code of the scholars which then had a great influence on the lives of the people.
Zhu Xi Zhu Xi (; ; October 18, 1130 – April 23, 1200), formerly romanized Chu Hsi, was a Chinese calligrapher, historian, philosopher, poet, and politician during the Song dynasty. Zhu was influential in the development of Neo-Confucianism. He con ...
and his Neo-Confucian colleagues developed a new cosmology, moral philosophy, and political principles based on intellectuals and elites sharing responsibility for the dynasty's management. The Neo-Confucians also re-constructed the meaning of the , restored, and re-invented it as the attire of the Neo-Confucian scholars in order to distinguish themselves from other scholars who came from school of thoughts. Some Song dynasty scholars, such as
Sima Guang Sima Guang (17 November 1019 – 11 October 1086), courtesy name Junshi, was a Chinese historian, politician, and writer. He was a high-ranking Song dynasty scholar-official who authored the monumental history book ''Zizhi Tongjian''. Sima was ...
and
Zhu Xi Zhu Xi (; ; October 18, 1130 – April 23, 1200), formerly romanized Chu Hsi, was a Chinese calligrapher, historian, philosopher, poet, and politician during the Song dynasty. Zhu was influential in the development of Neo-Confucianism. He con ...
, made their own version of the scholar gown based on the , while other scholars such as Jin Lüxiang promoted it among his peers. In his 《朱子家禮》, Zhu Xi described the style of the long garment in considerable detail. However, the shenyi used as a scholar gown was not popular in the Song dynasty and was even considered as "strange garment" despite some scholar-officials appreciated it. Zhu Xi himself hesitated to wear it in public due to the social stigma which were associated to it; Zhu Xi was also accused for wearing strange garments by Shi Shengzu, who also accused Zhu Xi's followers of defying the social conventions. Sima Guang, on the other hand, had the habit to wear the shenyi in private in his garden. According to philosopher and ancient scholar Lü Dalin (1044–91), noblemen and scholars used the shenyi for informality and ease, whereas commoners wore it as formal clothing. The garment was worn by court officials, noblemen and noblewomen, palace ladies, scholars and their wives, artisans, merchants, and farmers. It was the traditional informal attire of the ancient nobility. The robe became the formal clothing of commoners in the ancient Chinese world, reversing this reasoning. The Song Neo-Confucians praised the robe not only for its elegance and simplicity but also because it represented an essential political function. In the Song dynasty, the shenyi was made with white fabric.


Ming Dynasty

In the
Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last orthodox dynasty of China ruled by the Han peo ...
, in line with the attempt of the Hongwu Emperor to replace all the foreign clothing used by the Mongols of Yuan, with the support of the Chinese elites who had supported the military campaigns against the Mongols. The Ming dynasty court thus gave many court commissions to the scholars who then helped enshrine Neo-Confucianism which was exemplified by Zhu Xi's 《朱子家禮》as the orthodoxy of the Ming dynasty leading to the sudden rise in popularity of the Confucian shenyi. This form of shenyi had suddenly become a popular form of robe for the scholars in 1368 and also became the official attire of the scholars. Moreover, the shenyi had become a symbol of status and Han ethnicity as it was devoid of all foreign influence and also denoted Chinese intellectual pride and superiority. File:Shenyi5.jpeg, Ming man wearing shenyi File:人物肖像1.jpg, Ming man wearing shenyi. File:Ming man wearing shenyi.jpg, Ming dynasty man wearing shenyi File:Artifact hanfu11.jpg, Ming dynasty Shenyi.


Transition period between the Ming and Qing dynasties

The scholar robe's shenyi was a significant topic during the transition period between the Ming dynasty and the Qing dynasty. Huang Zongxi chose Huang Runyu's research version to serve as his contrast. According to Huang Zongxi's research, the scholar's robe shenyi represented the transfer of literati political values instead of dynastic politics and imperial orthodoxy. He said that the scholar's robe's style and function exactly matched the "great implication" (da yi) of literati values. Identifying the specific portion known as ren is the main distinction between these two versions. Ren was casually marked in the center of Huang Runyu's rendition and referred to the entire front piece, folding over the other side. The robe's expanded bottom, known as xuren, was fashionable throughout the Ming dynasty and can be seen in numerous Ming paintings. On the other hand, Huang Zongxi called ren the collar on the right folding to the left. This definition of ren is narrow and particular, referring to the collar that runs from the neck to the ground. The phrase xuren (continuing the ren) in Records of Rituals refers to the continuance of the collar. Xuren is no longer a name for a robe portion but rather a description of how ren is tailored, according to Huang Zongxi.


Late 19th century to early 20th century

In the 19th century, some members of the gentry class still regarded the shenyi as a Chinese symbol and as having a proper status in society. The Catholic missionaries in the 19th century who visited China perceived Chinese religions (being constituted of the sanjiao) as a degeneration of "true monotheism", widespread superstition, and idolatry while the Protestant missionaries perceived them as being religions with corrupted priesthood, mindless ritualism and idolatry in the Buddhist and Taoist worship. The missionaries also viewed Christianity as being a higher civilizing force than Confucianism. However, this view was not accepted by all the Chinese people, such as Kang Youwei and Cheng Huanzhang. Kang Youwei, who was an influential advocate of reforms in late Qing dynasty to the
early Republican period Early may refer to: History * The beginning or oldest part of a defined historical period, as opposed to middle or late periods, e.g.: ** Early Christianity ** Early modern Europe Places in the United States * Early, Iowa * Early, Texas * E ...
, rejected the idea that Confucianism was defective when compared to Christianity. Kang Youwei thus wrote a controversial book in 1897, called 《 孔子改制考》(lit. 'Confucius the Reformer'), in which cited the (儒服, lit. 'Confucian robe'). Cheng Huanzhang, who was the founder of the ''Confucian Religion Association'' (''Kongjiao hui 孔教會)'' in 1912 and also established the ''zongsheng hui'' (宗圣会) in Gaoyao in Guangdong, aimed to bring advocates together for the restoration of Confucian texts to the educational curriculum and the official recognition of Confucianism as China's national religion. Thus, in the written by Cheng Huanzhang also wrote the , where he argued that the was the clothing attire worn by the Confucianism religion priests. He also listed 12 attributes which were associated with the religiosity of Confucianism: one of these attributes was about , which according to him, was a specific form of attire consisting of the Confucian shenyi and a cap which had been designed by Confucius for his followers to wear. However, despite the support of the prominent literati following the opening of the ''Kongjiao hui'', which had also become the most illustrious and influential organization of its time, the parliament voted to not accord an official recognition to Confucianism as a ‘religion’ in both 1913 and 1916; the parliament gave official institutional status to five religions: Buddhism, Daoism, Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam, and excluded Confucianism.


21st century

The reappeared in the 21st century in China. The ancient-style shenyi in the form of both qujupao and the zhijupao reappeared and is worn by both men and women. In 2003, a man named Wang Letian wore a DIY on the streets. File:兩漢服人hanfu.jpg, alt=, Modern qujupao (left) and modern zhijupao (right) styled based on the designs of the ancient shenyi. File:Chisurichang3.jpg, alt=, A modern design of the qujupao called ''xiao quju'' (小曲裾), a shorter version of the qujupao shenyi. File:Liyueyanchu.jpg, Processions of women wearing qujupao and ''xiao quju'' (小曲裾), 2011 File:Hanfu 1.jpg, alt=, From left to right: Modern lanshan, Confucian shenyi, Confucian shenyi, Zhiduo, Confucian shenyi; designs based on their ancient counterparts.


Types and styles


'-style


Standard

The was a robe which was long enough to cover the ankles of its wearer; it has an overlapping front lapel which closed on the right side in a style called ; however, its right front piece was cut as a triangular front piece that crossed in front of the body and has rounded under hem. The would curve and wraps the dress to the back of its wearer allowing the contrasting or decorative edging of the robe would create a spiralling effect when encircling the body. The collar of the was deliberately made in such ways to prevent any part of its wearer's body from being exposed. File:Lacquer painting from State of Ch'u (楚國), discovered in Ching-mên city (荊門) 01 (Cropped).jpg, alt=, Floor-trailing qujupao with narrow trim, large belt, and large and loose sleeves, Warring States Period File:Xin Zhui 1.JPG, alt=, Floor-length qujupao with narrow decorative trim, Western Han dynasty File:Han Yang Ling 32.JPG, alt=, Floor-trailing qujupao with broad decorative trim, tomb of Han Yang Ling, Western Han dynasty. File:Han Yang Ling (qujupao).JPG, alt=, Floor-length qujupao with broad decorative trim, tomb of Han Yang Ling, Western Han dynasty. File:Juan Silk Skirt, Hunan Museum, picture2.jpg, alt=, Unearthed quju shenyi


Another version of the is (); this version of the can typically be found in the tomb No.1 of the Western Han dynasty. The is characterized by overlapping curved front lapel which is elongated enough to spiral around the entire body. It typically has a silk belt which is tied closely around the waist and hips to prevent the garment from loosening; the position of the belt depends on the length of the garment. The can have narrow sleeves or broad and loose sleeves. File:Xin Zhui 6.jpg, alt=, with broad and loose sleeves, Western Han dynasty. File:Shenyi.svg, alt=, Modern illustration of the (front view) File:Mawangdui Painted Figurines (10112638664).jpg, alt=, with narrow sleeves, tomb, Western Han dynasty


'-style


Standard

The front opening of the would fall straight down instead of having a curving front. File:Han zhiju.jpg, Floor-trailing zhiju ', Mashan tomb, mid-Warring States period. File:直裾素纱襌衣, 2018-09-28.jpg, alt=, Zhijusushadanyi with broad and loose straight sleeves, Mawangdui tomb, Western Han dynasty File:Han Yang Ling (zhijupao).JPG, alt=, Zhijupao, tomb of Han Yang Ling, Western Han dynasty


Confucian shenyi

The in later dynasties directly descended from the worn in earlier dynasties The was originally made of
ramie Ramie (pronounced: , ; from Malay ) is a flowering plant in the nettle family Urticaceae, native to eastern Asia. It is a herbaceous perennial growing to tall;
cultivated in China. Ramie fabric needs to be bleached and produced 45 to 60 centimetre wide textile. Similarly to the worn from Zhou to Han dynasties, the shenyi designed in Song dynasty followed the same principles. The ''yi'' (衣, blouse) and ''chang'' (裳, skirt) of the shenyi is sewn together. The upper part is made up of 4 panels of ramie fabric, representing four seasons of a year. 2 panels are fold and sewn to cover the upper body. Another 2 panels of ramie fabric are sewn onto each side of the yi as two sleeves. The lower part is made up of 12 panels of fabric sewn together (十二片縫合), representing 12 months a year. Its sleeves are wide with black cuff. It is also tied with a wide belt called ''dadai'' (大帶) is tied in the front. According to the Japanese scholar Riken Nakai's shenyi template, there are four design features of the Shenyi dressing: upper and lower connections, square collar, length to the ankle, and additional coverage. In the
Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...
, the shenyi was made with white fabric. File:Matteo Ricci 2.jpg File:An artist's great-granduncle, Ming Dynasty2.JPG File:Imperial Encyclopaedia - Ceremonial Usages - pic351 - 大帶.png, Illustration of dadai belt, from the Chinese encyclopedia ''
Gujin Tushu Jicheng The ''Gujin Tushu Jicheng'' (), also known as the ''Imperial Encyclopaedia'', is a vast encyclopedic work written in China during the reigns of the Qing dynasty emperors Kangxi and Yongzheng. It was begun in 1700 and completed in 1725. The wor ...
'', section "Ceremonial Usages".


Diyi

The
Diyi (; ), also called known as () and (), is the historical Chinese attire worn by the empresses of the Song dynasty and by the empresses and crown princesses (wife of crown prince) in the Ming Dynasty. The also had different names based on its co ...
was a set of attire which was worn as ceremonial clothing; a shenyi was also part of the diyi.


Influences and derivatives


Korea

In
Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
, the shenyi is called simui (). It was introduced from China in the middle of Goryeo; however, the exact date of its introduction is unknown. The simui was worn as an outer garment by the
seonbi Seonbi or sŏnbi were scholars during the Goryeo and Joseon periods of Korea who served the public without a government position, choosing to pass up positions of wealth and power to lead lives of study and integrity. Those who chose to serve the ...
. The seonbi in Joseon imitated the clothing attire designed by Zhu Xi, i.e. the shenyi and the literati hat. The seonbi, who valued the simui greatly, embraced it as a symbol of Confucian civilization, and continued to publish treatise on the simui starting from the sixteenth century AD. The simui also influenced other clothing, such as the cheollik, the nansam, and
hakchangui The Hakchangui () is a traditional type of Korean clothes (hanbok 한복) used by scholars as school uniforms in the 17th-century and 18th-century. It was introduced from the Chinese hakchang during the Joseon period in the 17th and 18th centur ...
. The simui is white and in terms of design, it has wide sleeves and is composed on an upper and lower part which is attached together (衣裳連衣; Uisangyeonui) at the waistline; the lower part has 12 panels which represents 12 months. It is a high-waist robe and a belt (大帶; dadae) is tied to the simui. There were also various forms of simui which developed in the Joseon. File:Joseon-Portrait of Seo Jik-su.jpg, Korean Confucian scholar Seo Jik-su , , Korean Confucian scholar Jeong Yeo-chang File:Yun Jeung.jpg, Korean Confucian scholar
Yun Jeung Yun Jeung or Yun Chǔng (1629–1714) was a Confucian scholar in Korea during the late period of the Joseon dynasty. He was known as being a progressive thinker and for his opposition to the formalism and ritualism in the predominant philosophy o ...
File:Korea-National.Treasure-110-Yi.Jehyung-portrait-NMK.jpg, Korean Confucian scholar
Yi Je-hyun Yi Je-hyeon (Hangul: 이제현, Hanja: 李齊賢; 28 January 1288 – 24 August 1367) of the Gyeongju Yi clan, was a Goryeo politician, Neo-Confucianism scholar, philosopher, writer and poet. He was the follower and successor of Baek Yijeong, a ...
File:Korea-Portrait of Song Gab-jo Joseon.png, Korean Confucian scholar
Song Siyeol Song Si-yeol ( ko, 송시열, Hanja: 宋時烈; 30 December 1607 - 19 July 1689), also known by his pennames ''Uam'' (우암) and ''Ujae'' (우재) or by the honorific ''Songja'' ( ko, 송자, Hanja: 宋子), was a Korean philosopher and politic ...
File:Park Ji-won.jpg, Korean Confucian scholar Park Ji-won File:Korea-Portrait of Kwon Sangha-Joseon.jpg, Korean Confucian scholar
Kwon Sang-ha Gwon Sangha (1641 - September 2, 1712) was a politician and Confucianism, Neo-Confucian scholar of Joseon Dynasty. He was a member of Westner party (서인, 西人) and the second head of the political faction Noron (Korean political faction), Noro ...
File:Heo Mok 2.jpg, Korean Confucian scholar
Heo Mok Heo Mok (Hangul: 허목, Hanja: 許穆; 10 January 1596 – 2 June 1682) was a Korean calligrapher, painter, philosopher, poet, and politician during the Joseon Dynasty, who came from the Yangcheon Heo clan. He was most commonly known by the p ...
File:Kim Jong-jik.jpg, Korean Confucian scholar Kim Jong-jik File:Han Ho 01.jpg, Korean Confucian scholar Han Seok-bong File:Joseon-Portrait of Heungseon Daewongun-02.jpg,
Heungseon Daewongun Heungseon Daewongun (흥선대원군, 興宣大院君, 21 December 1820 – 22 February 1898; ), also known as the Daewongun (대원군, 大院君), Guktaegong (국태공, 國太公, "The Great Archduke") or formally Internal King Heungseon Heon ...


Japan

The early
Tokugawa period The or is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional ''daimyo''. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characterize ...
in Japan, some Japanese scholars, such as Seika Fujiwara and
Hayashi Razan , also known as Hayashi Dōshun, was a Japanese Neo-Confucian philosopher and writer, serving as a tutor and an advisor to the first four ''shōguns'' of the Tokugawa ''bakufu''. He is also attributed with first listing the Three Views of Japa ...
, who self-proclaimed themselves as followers of
Zhu Xi Zhu Xi (; ; October 18, 1130 – April 23, 1200), formerly romanized Chu Hsi, was a Chinese calligrapher, historian, philosopher, poet, and politician during the Song dynasty. Zhu was influential in the development of Neo-Confucianism. He con ...
wore the Confucian and gave lectures in it. Seika Fujiwara, was usually perceived as the patriarch of the Japanese Neo-Confucian movement during the Tokugawa period. Seika used to be a
Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
monk before turning to
Confucianism Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, a way of governing, or a ...
and probably renounced Buddhism in the year 1594. According to his biographer and follower, Hayashi Razan, Seika even appeared in front of
Tokugawa Ieyasu was the founder and first ''shōgun'' of the Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan, which ruled Japan from 1603 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was one of the three "Great Unifiers" of Japan, along with his former lord Oda Nobunaga and fello ...
in 1600 dressed in the Chinese-style Confucian and which were prescribed for rituals by Zhu Xi; this event also marked the beginning of the popularity of Confucianism in Japan.


Vietnam

In the Le dynasty, there were some ancient statues left behind, showing Confucian scholars wearing shenyi. But shenyi was not only worn by Confucian scholars; it was also commoners. Until the
Nguyen dynasty Nguyễn () is the most common Vietnamese surname. Outside of Vietnam, the surname is commonly rendered without diacritics as Nguyen. Nguyên (元)is a different word and surname. By some estimates 39 percent of Vietnamese people bear this ...
, shenyi was still seen in a number of photos. File:Thượng thư Vũ Miên.jpg, Vietnamese Confucian scholar
Vũ Miên Vũ Miên ( vi-hantu, 武檰; 1718 - 1782), was a notable historian and official from the 18th century to pre-19th century in Vietnam's history. Vũ Miên was born in 1718 in former Xuân Lan village, currently known as Ngọc Quan thorp in Lươn ...
File:Tượng 1 vị Hậu Phật, niên đại khoảng tk 17-18.jpg, Le dynasty man wearing shenyi File:Một_bức_tượng.jpg, Le dynasty man wearing shenyi


Similar looking garments

*
Daopao (), also known as () when used as a during Chinese opera performances, and () when it is blue in colour, is a traditional form of in and is also one of the most distinctive form of traditional clothing for the Han Chinese. The was one of t ...
*
Paofu (), also known as () for short, is a form of a long, one-piece robe in , which is characterized by the natural integration of the upper and lower part of the robe which is cut from a single fabric. The term is often used to refer to the and the ...
* Tieli * Zhiduo


See also

*
Hanfu ''Hanfu'' () is the traditional styles of clothing worn by the Han Chinese. There are several representative styles of ''hanfu'', such as the (an upper-body garment with a long outer skirt), the (an upper-body garment with a long underskirt ...
*
List of Hanfu A list of Hanfu, the historical clothing of the Han Chinese, in category of different clothing style. This page also addresses provides a list of garments. Informal wear Types include tops and bottoms, long skirt, and one-piece robes that wrap a ...
*
Panling lanshan Panling lanshan (盤領襴衫), also referred as lanshan (襴衫), is a traditional Chinese attire for men. It is a specific form of round collar robe, known as yuanlingpao, which is characterized with the use of hem, called hanglan (横襕), ...


Notes


References


External links

{{Types of Han Chinese clothing Chinese traditional clothing