December 2007
Asian Court Rotation
During the Qing dynasty, the Han Chinese—who were the majority population and the indigenous ethnicity of China—became subjects of the Manchu conquerors. Although the Manchu rulers decreed that everyone adopt Manchu dress, Han Chinese women were permitted to continue wearing the two-piece garment of a coat and a skirt, instead of the Manchu one-piece robe. The Han skirt consists of a pair of identical satin “aprons.” Each apron is composed of a larger, straight panel, flanked by a series of pleats. Most of the decorations and embroidery are concentrated in the lower three-quarter portion of the skirt, where the designs will be visible when worn with the coat. The straight panel, which hangs at the center in both front and back, is often the most heavily decorated. The pleats of a Han skirt can be narrow and deep, with embroideries, ribbons, and bells adorning the edges and hems. These decorations on the edges not only enhance the garment, but also affect the way the skirt moves.
Last Updated: 7/8/2008