Shenyi

The shenyi was the dominant form of Chinese dress worn from the Zhou dynasty to the Han dynasty.[7][8] The shenyi is a one-piece style which was first developed in the Warring States Period and was further developed into the Han Dynasty robe.[9]

At that period, the style of clothing was deeply rooted in the traditional Chinese ethics and morals which forbid close contacts between males and females.[10] In the Book of Rites, there is a special chapter which details the making of the shenyi,[11] the Book of Rites which stipulates that the shenyi is "one long robe; that it have broad sleeve openings; that its circumference at the waist be three times that of the sleeve-opening and that of its hem be even larger; that it have a youren opening; and so on".[12] The shenyi is also tied right below the waist with a silk ribbon, called dadai or shendai, on which a decorative piece can be attached to.[13] Twelve robes excavated from a Mashan tomb belonging to an anonymous lady who died sometime between 340-278 B.C. were all cut in the approximate style of shenyi whether they were padded with silk floss (mianpao), single in layer (danyi) or lined (jiayi).[14]

The shenyi grew in popularity during the transition from the Warring States period to the Former Han dynasty and its shape deviated further from its earlier description.[15] In the Han dynasty, the shenyi had wide sleeves and evolved into two types of robe: the qujupao (also known as "curved gown") and the zhijupao (also known as chan or yu or "straight gown" in English).[16] The qujupao (曲裾袍) was a long robe; its right front piece was cut as a triangular front piece that crossed in front of the body and has rounded under hem.[17][18] The qujupao would curve and wraps the dress to the back[19] and the contrasting or decorative edging of the robe would create a spiralling effect when encircling the body,[20] while the front opening of the Zhijupao (直裾袍) would fall straight down.[21] Although the Zhijupao was popular in the Han dynasty, it was not allowed to be worn as a ceremonial wear, for wearing outside of the house or for receiving guests at home.[22] Examples of shenyi worn in the Han dynasty can be seen in the archeological artefacts excavated from Mawangdui tomb in museums.[23][24][25] Of note, there have been gradual changes but clear distinctions in the form of the shenyi between the early and late period of the Western Han dynasty .[26] For example, the quju-style shenyi became nearly obsolete by the middle of the Western Han dynasty; and by the late Western Han dynasty, the garments were straight rather than spiralled.[27]

Shenyi in later dynasties directly descended from the shenyi worn in earlier dynasties, like Han Dynasty. Shenyi originally is made of ramie cultivated in China. Ramie fabric needs to be bleached and produced 45 to 60 centimeters wide textile.

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. A wide sash (大帶) is tied in the front.

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  Structure of shenyi
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• Hanfu
• List of Hanfu