Traditional Chinese wedding dress

Traditional Han Chinese wedding attire

Example of traditional Chinese-style wedding dress

Traditional Chinese wedding dress is a collective term which refers to all the different forms and styles of traditional wedding attire worn by the Han Chinese when performing their marriage ceremony, including the traditional Chinese marriage.[1] There are various forms of traditional Chinese wedding dress in the history of China.[2] Since the Zhou dynasty, there have national laws and rules which regulated the different categories of clothing and personal accessories; these regulations have created various categories of clothing attire, including the traditional wedding attire of the Chinese people.[3]: 3

## Types of attire

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### Attire for brides

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#### Cheongsam

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Main article: Cheongsam

Chinese bride wearing cheongsam with a honggaitou covering her face for wedding ceremony.

The cheongsam (Chinese: 旗袍), or zansae also known as qipao, sometimes referred to as the mandarin gown, traces its origins to the Qing dynasty.[4] Cheongsam was the dress for Manchu women which become popular in Hong Kong and Shanghai after the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912.[5] Nowadays, the cheongsam can also be worn as a wedding dress.[2]

#### Fengguan xiapei

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See also: Mangfu

Ming dynasty noblewomen wearing a blue embroidered xiapei over her red robe

The fengguan xiapei (Chinese: 凤冠霞帔) is a type of wedding set of attire categorized under Hanfu. It was worn in Ming and Qing dynasties.[6] The fengguan xiapei attire was composed an upper and lower garment following the traditional yichang system.[7]

In the Qing dynasty, it was composed of an ao, a type of upper garment, called mangao (Chinese: 蟒袄; lit. 'python jacket') and a qun, lower skirt, called mangchu (lit. 'python skirt').[8]

The mangao was a type of yuanlingshan fashioned in the style of the Ming dynasty which was red in colour; it used to be worn by the Han Chinese women as a court robe.[8]

The mangchu was a qun which could either be red or green in colour; it was embroidered with dragons and phoenixes on the front and back lapel of the skirt.[8] The two accessories items from which the set of attire of gained its name was the fengguan, which was a type of guan, and the xiapei (Chinese: 霞帔).[8]

The appearance of the xiapei appearance and construction differed depending on the time period: in the Ming dynasty, the xiapei was similar to a long scarf or stole in appearance; however, it became a type of waistcoat in the Qing dynasty.[8] The fengguan xiapei was sometimes adorned with the yunjian.[8] Following the wedding ceremony, married women were expected to wear the fengguan xiapei on formal occasions, however, Chinese trousers or leggings were worn beneath instead of the skirt.[8]

#### Qungua

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Main article: Qungua

A qungua , 2020

The qungua, also commonly known as longfenggua, guaqun or longfeng qungua is a set of attire which follows the traditional yichang system. It is a composed of a jacket called gua (Chinese:褂) and a long qun (Chinese:裙) which could be straight in cut[9] or have pleated sides.[10]

The tradition of wearing the qungua as a wedding dress originated in the Qing dynasty during the 18th century.[11] Initially, the qungua was sewn by the mother of the bride as soon as the bride was born due to the time-consuming process of the handcraft; it would then be given later on as the part of the bride's dowry from her family when she would get married. There are 5 different types of qungua (Guahuang, Guahou, Dawufu, Zhongwufu, Xiaowufu) which are based on the amount of embroideries which were crafted on the dress.[12] Nowadays, the qungua has been commercialized and remains a popular form of wedding dress.[12]

#### Xiuhefu

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Xiuhefu (front and backview)

Main article: Xiuhefu

The Xiuhefu (simplified Chinese: 秀禾服; traditional Chinese: 繡和服) is a set of attire which follows the traditional yichang system; it is a composed of a waist-length liling dajin ao and a long A-line qun, which looks similar to a mamianqun.[9] The Xiuhefu is typically embroidered with flowers and birds to symbolize love for whole seasons.[6]

The precursor of the Xiuhefu can be traced back to the Qing dynasty where a Qing dynasty-style aoqun, consisted of liling dajin changao and a mamianqun, was worn as a form of wedding dress during this period.[6] What is currently known as the Xiuhefu became popular in 2001 when Zhou Xun, the actress who played the role of Xiu He, wore a modern recreation version of the Qing dynasty wedding aoqun in the Chinese television drama Orange turned red (Chinese: 橘子紅了) thus gaining its contemporary name from name of the character, Xiu He.[6][13]

## Gallery

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* Fengguan (also known as phoenix coronet)

* Honggaitou

* Xiapei

* Yunjian

* Tuanshan

* Wedding picture at Xizhou, Yunnan, China

* Manchu bride in her wedding clothes, c. 1871

## See also

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* Hanfu
* Ruqun

## References

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1. ^ Yang, Feng gang; Tamney, Joseph B. (2012). Confucianism and spiritual traditions in modern China and beyond. Religion in Chinese societies. Leiden Boston: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-21239-8.
2. ^ a b "Top 5 Styles of Traditional Chinese Dress & Clothing - 2022". www.newhanfu.com. 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
3. ^ Hua, Mei (2011). Chinese clothing (Updated ed.). Cambridge, United Kingdom. ISBN 978-0-521-18689-6. OCLC 781020660.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
4. ^ "Traditional Han Chinese Marriage Customs". www.chinatoday.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
5. ^ "A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding the Qipao Traditional Chinese A". Jinza Oriental Couture. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
6. ^ a b c d Li, Yuling (2019). New meaning in traditional wedding dresses – Xiu He Fu and Long Feng Gua – in contemporary China [Master's Thesis]. Cultural Centre, University of Malaya (masters). pp. i-102.
7. ^ 董志成. "A current of culture - Chinadaily.com.cn". epaper.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
8. ^ a b c d e f g Garrett, Valery M. (2007). Chinese dress : from the Qing Dynasty to the Present. Tokyo: Tuttle Pub. ISBN 978-0-8048-3663-0. OCLC 154701513.
9. ^ a b JNTT (2020-07-30). "SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT". The Red Wedding. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
10. ^ "Chinese Wedding Gown (Qun Gua)". Queensland Museum Collections Online. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
11. ^ "To Have And To Embroider: The "Long Feng Gua" Wedding Tradition | US-China Institute". china.usc.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
12. ^ a b Si, Yuye (2020). "To Have And To Embroider: The "Long Feng Gua" Wedding Tradition". china.usc.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
13. ^ "Xiu He Fu | Traditional Chinese Wedding Costume". Jin Weddings. Retrieved 2021-06-05.

## External links

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* v
* t
* e

Traditional Han Chinese clothing

Characteristics|

| Garment and neckline (list)|

* Jiaoling youren
* Mandarin collar

|

Fastening|

* Pankou
* Chinese button knot
* Zimukou

Styles|

* Baoyi bodai
* Shangjian xiafeng
* Fuyao
* Hufu
* List of hanfu

Textile decoration and craft|

* Diancui
* Chinese knotting
* Chinese embroidery
* Chinese auspicious ornaments in textile and clothing (list)
* Xiangyun
* Lishui (sea-waves)
* Mandarin square
* Chinese ornamental gold silk
* Goldwork
* Chinese patchwork

Belief system and social movement|

* Confucianism
* Taoism
* Wufu
* Wuxing (Chinese philosophy)
* Yin and Yang
* Hanfu movement

Sumptuary laws|

* Tifayifu

Related rituals|

* Guan Li
* Ji Li (ceremony)

Garments|

| Set of attire|

* Ruqun
* Tanling ruqun
* Qixiong ruqun
* Qungua
* Xiuhefu
* Mianfu
* Bianfu
* Tongtianguanfu
* Xuanduan
* Diyi
* Zaju chuishao fu
* Shanku

|

Upper garment|

* Ru
* Yi
* Shan
* Ao
* Chang'ao
* Baijiayi
* Daxiushan
* Bijia
* Banbi
* Dahu
* Beizi
* Pifeng
* Hechang
* Shuitianyi
* Yuanlingshan

Robe|

* Shenyi
* Zhiju
* Quju
* Paofu
* Daopao
* Zhiduo
* Yuanlingpao
* Fanlingpao
* Panling Lanshan
* Longpao
* Mangfu
* Tieli
* Yesa
* Zhisun
* Feiyufu

Inner and undergarment|

* Dudou
* Hezi
* Moxiong
* Maweiqun

Lower garment|

* Ku
* Qun
* Baidiequn
* Mamianqun

Religious clothing|

* Daojiao fushi

Headwear (list)|

| Guan|

* Mianguan
* Fengguan

|

Futou|

* Tang official headwear
* Song official headwear

Mao|

* Humao
* Damao
* Liangmao
* Weimao

Jin|

* Fujin
* Wangjin

Hairpin|

* Chinese hairpin
* Buyao

Comb|

* Shubi

Veil|

* Honggaitou
* Mili

Footwear (list)|

* Xiuhuaxie
* Tiger-head shoes
* Lotus shoes

Accessories (list)|

| Head|

* Lingzi

|

Neck|

* Yingluo
* Yunjian
* Fangxingquling

Shoulders|

* Pibo
* Xiapei

Chest|

* Yajin

Waist|

* Yaoqun

Lap|

* Bixi

Ribbons and knots|

* Lào zi

Portable|

* Hebao
* Xiangnang (fragrant sachet)
* Hu (ritual baton)
* Fu (tally)
* Yufu (fish tally)
* Yudai (fish bag)
* Folding fan
* Tuanshan

Jewellery|

* Longevity lock
* Yupei
* Jinbu

Influenced clothing|

| Traditional clothing|

* Kimono
* Hanbok
* Ryusou
* Vietnamese clothing

|

Performance costume|

* Xifu
* Guzhuang

Cosmetics|

* Huadian

* List of Hanfu

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* China
* Fashion

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