During the Han Dynasty, Hanfu reached a pinnacle of popularity and sophistication. 260 From the Spring and Autumn period to the Han dynasty, the loose shenyi with wide sleeves was fashionable amongst the members of the royal families, the aristocrats, and the elites. In the Warring States period, the shenyi was a moderately formal style of clothing. 13 The shenyi which was representative of the Warring States period, was designed to have the front stretched and wrapped around the body several times. 16-17 Both paintings unearthed from a Chu tomb, Warring States period, 5th century BC, Changsha, Hunan Province. Sleeveless Jacket, 19th century. And as stated by the Liji, the shenyi was one long robe as opposite to the combination of a top and a bottom. The aoqun, a combination of a jacket and a skirt, is another popular style. The same chapter described the shenyi as being made of twelve panels of fabric corresponding to the twelve months and all twelve robes are cut into one clothing style.
In the early Eastern Zhou dynasty 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. The Western Zhou dynasty 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. 12 In this period, the shenyi had to conform to the certain rules and regulations which were recorded in the special chapter called Shenyi《深衣》in the Liji. However, the structure of the shenyi is made of two pieces: an upper garment called yi (Chinese: 衣; pinyin: yī) and lower garment called chang (Chinese: 裳; pinyin: cháng), which are then connected together to form a one-piece robe. However, in the Shang and Western Zhou dynasties, people prominently wore a set of attire called yichang, which consisted of a jacket called yi and a long skirt called chang. However, despite these complex regulations, the shenyi 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.
In the Qing dynasty, the Ming dynasty xiapei (long scarf) evolved into the Qing dynasty xiapei which was in the form of a sleeveless waistcoat. Guo observes regional preferences in Hanfu sales, with Southern styles from the Song and Ming dynasties proving more popular among buyers. Following the Han dynasty, the shenyi lost popularity in the succeeding dynasties until it was revived again the Song dynasty. The round collar in Song Dynasty looks more scholarly. Additionally, there was a notable reduction in the use of luxurious fabrics like silk, with cotton and wool becoming more prevalent. Remaining true to the silhouettes of traditional hanfu, Shanshui surprises us with their gorgeous fabrics instead. While the men used to wear hats with the hanfu, the ladies wore headpieces. It allows individuals to showcase their uniqueness while staying connected to a rich cultural tapestry. While some products may come at a lower price point, AliExpress boasts a range of high-quality hanfu that has been sourced from reputable Chinese brands known for their attention to detail and premium materials.
Materials which were used in this period tended to be linen; however, when the shenyi was made into ceremonial garments, then black silk would be used instead. In the morning they wore the xuanduan; in the evening, the shenyi. For ornament, while his parents and grandparents were alive, (a son) wore the dress with its border embroidered. Parcourez notre sélection de women hanfu dress : vous y trouverez les meilleures pièces uniques ou personnalisées de nos boutiques. The sleeve was joined to the body of the dress at the armpit, so as to allow the freest movement of the elbow-joint; the length of the lower part admitted of the cuffs being turned back to the elbow. The cord-like (seam) at the back descended to the ankles, as if it had been a straight line. Also, since we have no evidence of Mulan being a real person, I think it’s safe to say that the story of Mulan is a folktale or legend, and that the events described in it don’t exactly have to line up with historical events. Many young Chinese have taken a keen interest in Hanfu as a means of reconnecting with their cultural heritage.