Revealing the Secrets! The Crossed Collar of Hanfu, Do You Know Why It's Right Over Left?
Hello, fellow Hanfu enthusiasts! Today, I'm going to introduce the extremely charming crossed collar style in Hanfu in depth to you. Let's step into the thousand-year historical scroll of crossed collar Hanfu together and feel the unique charm of ancient times.
The crossed collar, as a classic collar type of Hanfu, bears the history and culture of the Chinese nation for thousands of years. Its history can be traced back to the pre-Qin period. In that distant era, the Chinese land had just emerged from ignorance, and the dawn of civilization was just emerging. People wore crossed collar garments, showing a simple and primitive temperament. The characteristic of the right over left crossed collar is that the left front panel is wrapped over the right armpit and tied with a sash, with the right panel on the inside and the left panel on the outside, which has become one of the important symbols of Han ethnic clothing. During this period, the materials of crossed collar garments were mostly natural fibers such as hemp and kudzu. Although they were rather plain, they had already established the important position of the crossed collar in Hanfu. People at that time lived in a world full of mystery and held a deep reverence for nature. The appearance of crossed collar garments was not only for covering the body and keeping warm, but also a response to the order of nature. The intersection of the left and right panels seemed to symbolize the convergence of heaven and earth, and the harmony of yin and yang. People wore such garments when working in the fields, sacrificing to the gods, and gathering with their clansmen. Crossed collar garments became an indispensable part of their lives.
During the Qin and Han dynasties, with the unification of the country, social stability, and economic prosperity, the crossed collar Hanfu underwent further development. The materials of the garments became more diverse, and high-quality fabrics such as silk began to be widely used. The design of the crossed collar in the Qin and Han dynasties was also more refined, with wider hemlines, smooth lines, showing a magnificent and imposing style. Men's crossed collar robes were usually paired with belts, looking solemn and majestic. Women's crossed collar ru skirts had swaying hemlines, light and graceful. During this period, the crossed collar Hanfu was not only a kind of clothing, but also a symbol of identity and status. In the imperial court, emperors and nobles wore magnificent crossed collar garments to hold grand ceremonies and banquets. In the folk, common people also wore crossed collar Hanfu. Although the materials and styles were relatively simple, they still reflected the respect and inheritance of traditional culture.
During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the country was prosperous and the cultural exchanges were frequent. The crossed collar Hanfu integrated various elements during this period, and the styles became more diverse. The Tang Dynasty was a glorious era in Chinese history. The open and inclusive social atmosphere enabled various cultures to blend with each other. Women's crossed collar ru skirts had bright colors and long hemlines trailing on the ground, fully showing the softness and charm of women. The collars of ru skirts were often decorated with exquisite embroideries and jewels, demonstrating the nobility and elegance of Tang Dynasty women. Men's crossed collar robes were also more loose and comfortable, suitable for activities such as horseback riding and archery. Meanwhile, some new crossed collar styles also emerged in the Tang Dynasty. These garments were not at least popular in China but also spread to neighboring countries, having a profound impact on the clothing cultures in East Asia.
During the Song and Yuan dynasties, the crossed collar Hanfu remained popular. However, the style became more simple and restrained. The Song Dynasty was an era with highly developed culture. People pursued a simple and natural lifestyle. The colors were mainly light and elegant, focusing on the handling of details, showing a refined aesthetic sense. Men's crossed collar robes were usually paired with turbans and boots, looking gentle and unrestrained. Women's crossed collar ru skirts paid more attention to the simplicity and smoothness of the lines, and the hemlines were no longer as wide as those in the Tang Dynasty, but more fitted. During this period, the crossed collar Hanfu, although not as magnificent as that in the Tang Dynasty, had more cultural connotations and艺术价值. During the Yuan Dynasty, due to the rule of the Mongolian ethnic group, Hanfu was affected to some extent. However, the crossed collar Hanfu still circulated among the people and integrated with the clothing of the Mongolian ethnic group.
ached new heights in terms of styles and crafts. The Ming Dynasty was the revival of the Han ethnic regime, and the crossed collar Hanfu was re-valued and developed. The crossed collar Hanfu in the Ming Dynasty was more rigorous and standardized in style, with more precise cutting and more magnificent decoration. Men's crossed collar robes were usually paired with horse-faced skirts, jade belts, etc., looking solemn and magnificent. Women's crossed collar ru skirts paid more attention to the decoration of details, showing the dignity and elegance of Ming Dynasty women. During the Qing Dynasty, although the clothing of the Manchu ethnic group became the mainstream, the crossed collar Hanfu was still retained on some special occasions and among the people. Some Han literati and folk artists still wore crossed collar Hanfu to express their adherence to and inheritance of traditional culture.
The crossed collar Hanfu not only has a profound historical background but also has a unique aesthetic sense. The design of the crossed collar not only conforms to the principles of ergonomics but also has aesthetic value. The intersection of the left and right panels can fit the body well, keeping warm and comfortable. Meanwhile, the lines of the crossed collar are smooth, which can modify the lines of the neck and face, making the wearer more beautiful and attractive. The colors and patterns of the crossed collar Hanfu are extremely rich and diverse. Different colors and patterns imply different cultural connotations and emotional expressions. Whether participating in traditional activities or wearing it in daily life, the crossed collar Hanfu can make you the center of attention. It is not only a kind of clothing but also a form of cultural inheritance and expression. Wearing the crossed collar Hanfu, it seems as if you have traveled through time and returned to that ancient and beautiful era.
Now it's time for answering questions. So why is the crossed collar of Hanfu right over left instead of left over right? This has a great deal to do with traditional Chinese concepts. Firstly, in ancient China, in most cases, "right" was considered noble. For example, in terms of official positions: "right" symbolized a higher status. For instance, during the Qin and Han dynasties, the "Right Chancellor" had a higher status than the "Left Chancellor". The Right Chancellor assisted the emperor in managing government affairs and was often more relied on by the emperor. In the imperial court, the standing order was also with the right side being more respected. Regarding seat arrangements: on occasions such as banquets, the seats of guests were arranged with the right side being more respected. As recorded in "Records of the Grand Historian - Biographies of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru", Lin Xiangru's position was "to the right of Lian Po" at the Mianchi Meeting, which indicated that Lin Xiangru's status was higher than Lian Po's.
Secondly, in ancient times, people used to identify their ethnic identity through wearing right over left crossed collar garments. In ancient times, there were differences in clothing cultures between the Han ethnic group and surrounding ethnic minorities. Many northern ethnic minorities' clothing was usually left over right, while the Han ethnic group used right over left as one of the characteristics to distinguish their own ethnic clothing from that of other ethnic groups. This difference became more prominent during the process of cultural exchanges and ethnic integrations. The Han ethnic group adhered to the tradition of right over left in order to maintain the independence and distinctiveness of their own culture. Therefore, right over left crossed collar is a typical characteristic of Han ethnic clothing, a symbol of cultural inheritance and ethnic identity.
It embodies the inheritance of the Han ethnic group's own culture by the Han people and carries the historical memories of thousands of years. During the long process of historical development, this characteristic of Han ethnic clothing has remained relatively stable. People identify their ethnic identity by wearing right-over-left crossed collar garments, strengthening their sense of ethnic identity.
In addition, right-over-left crossed collar also includes the symbol of ancient etiquette norms and the manifestation of the concept of yin and yang: In the ancient Chinese etiquette culture, the right-over-left crossed collar holds an important position. The ancients paid great attention to the details of etiquette. As an important part of etiquette, the way of wearing right-over-left crossed collar garments reflects a kind of order and norm. It was strictly observed in various ceremonial occasions, such as sacrificial ceremonies, court assemblies, wedding ceremonies, etc., to show respect for the ceremonies and the maintenance of the traditional etiquette system. The manifestation of the concept of yin and yang lies in the fact that traditional Chinese culture is rich in the concept of yin and yang. Right-over-left crossed collar is considered to embody the idea of yin-yang balance to a certain extent. Left is regarded as yang, and right is regarded as yin. The design of right-over-left crossed collar enables yin and yang to blend and coordinate with each other, conforming to the traditional philosophical concept.
Distinction of Cultural Differences: In ancient times, there were differences in clothing cultures between the Han ethnic group and surrounding ethnic minorities. Many northern ethnic minorities' clothing was usually left-over-right, while the Han ethnic group used right-over-left as one of the characteristics to distinguish its own ethnic clothing from that of other ethnic groups. This difference became more prominent during the process of cultural exchanges and ethnic integrations. In order to maintain the independence and distinctiveness of its own culture, the Han ethnic group adhered to the tradition of right-over-left crossed collar.
Moreover, due to the influence of traditional Confucian culture in ancient China, these habits have been passed down from generation to generation and deeply rooted in the clothing culture of the Han ethnic group. There is a strong sense of following the established etiquette norms and cultural inheritance. Therefore, right-over-left crossed collar as a traditional way of dressing has been continued.
Come and put on the crossed collar Hanfu together to feel the ancient charm that has traveled through thousands of years! Let each of us find the Hanfu that suits us from thousands of years ago, and let the crossed collar Hanfu shine with even more brilliant glory thousands of years later.