|
|
|
The pien-fu is an ancient two-piece ceremonial costume, including a tunic-like top extending to the knees, and a skirt reaching to the ankles; one had to wear a skirt on certain occasions in order to be properly dressed. A pien is a cylindrical ceremonial cap; pien-fu later came to refer to the whole suit of ceremonial clothes.
The long robe is a one-piece garment extending from the shoulders to the heels that was worn by both men and women.
Dark and bold colors tend to predominate in traditional Chinese garments.
|
|
|
Home | About us | Make money with the Internet | Kim Anderson Arts | Asian DVD | Asian Posters  |
The
length and colors of Chinese clothing follow set rules.
The
shen-i falls somewhere between the pien-fu and the long robe in its
construction. The shen-i was made in two sections, tunic and skirt, much like
the pien-fu; but the two were sewn together, so it is similar to the long robe
in appearance. Upon close examination, however, it more closely resembles the
pien-fu because of its very large cut and deep folds, which draped generously
over the body. This is, in fact, the origin of its name, which literally means
"deep clothing." The shen-i was the most widely worn of the three
different types; it was the "Sunday best" of the common people, and
moderately formal attire for government officials and scholars, appropriate for
both men of letters and warriors.