History of Hanfu

Features: The deep-robe system (shenyi) forms; clear separation of upper garment and lower skirt (yishang).

Styles: Deep robes, wide sleeves, right-over-left closure, floor-length garments.

Cultural aspect: Clothing strongly shaped by ritual and hierarchy.

Qin: Continued Zhou traditions; favored black as the formal color.

Han: The Hanfu system is formally established; foundational “Han-style” aesthetics emerge.

Styles: Quju and zhiju robes, large-sleeve robes, ruqun (for women), deep robes widely used.

Culture: Emphasis on grandeur, wide robes, and elegant draping.

Features: A shift toward refined, airy, and free-spirited aesthetics—the famous “Wei–Jin elegance.”

Styles: Ruqun become more common; banbi (half-sleeves); long silk ribbons; men’s clothing becomes lighter.

Innovations: Flowing sleeves, slim waistlines, and shawls (peibo) for women.

Sui: A transitional period unifying previous dress systems.

Tang: The golden age of Hanfu—vibrant, diverse, cosmopolitan.

Women’s styles: Qi-xiong (high-waisted) ruqun, chest-high skirts, banbi, peibo, round-collar robes (influenced by foreign cultures).

Colors/Patterns: Bright, bold, diverse; influenced by active cultural exchange.

Features: Aesthetic turns to elegance, simplicity, modesty.

Women’s styles: Beizi becomes iconic; skirts and ruqun remain but simpler.

Men’s styles: Straight robes, deep robes, round-collar garments become standardized.

Culture: Scholarly, minimalist, refined visual identity.

Features: Multi-ethnic integration; Mongol customs influence Han clothing.

Styles: Round-collar robes become universal; narrower sleeves; straight silhouettes; some women’s clothing retains Song elements.

Culture: Court and official attire heavily influenced by steppe traditions.

Features: Restoration and strengthening of Han clothing traditions.

Women’s styles: Ma-mian skirts fully develop; beizi remains popular; stand collars appear more often.

Characteristics: Balanced colors, structured patterns, formal and complete ritual clothing system.