| The Chinese were always a fashionable race and | | | | right' became the conventional rule of wearing a |
| Chinese ancient clothing was largely influenced by | | | | Kimono ever since. During the Heian period (894 |
| all the dynasties which ruled it. The Han Chinese | | | | specifically), Chinese influence began dying out and |
| clothing or the Hanfu has the longest history of | | | | Chinese characters began being abbreviated in |
| clothes worn. The Hanfu rules of dressing were | | | | Japanese script. The Heian court was taken to |
| followed strictly as a mark of respect for the | | | | sensitivity of art and subtle beauty and wardrobe |
| culture. On the other hand, ancient Japanese | | | | became much more detailed. Colors, combinations |
| clothing kept changing with every dynasty that | | | | and fabric textures changed and separated |
| ruled Japan. Since the Kimono is a national dress, it | | | | themselves from Chinese influence. |
| has always been mistaken for very ancient | | | | After the Heian period, the Kamakura period saw |
| clothing worn by the Japanese people which is | | | | a number of clashes and war clans within Japan. |
| incorrect. | | | | The ancient Japanese clothing soon underwent |
| The basic design of the Ancient Chinese clothing | | | | another change and now clothes became more |
| Hanfu was largely developed during the Shang | | | | functional. The number of layers and broad |
| Dynasty. The Shang had two basic styles - the Yi | | | | sleeved clothes were shunned for more usable |
| which was the coat worn on top and the Shang | | | | clothing. Soon the imperial land split into a southern |
| whichwas the skirt worn beneath it. Buttons on | | | | and northern court and these people's lives got |
| any ancient Chinese clothing was substituted by a | | | | influenced by the soft court life. Fights resumed |
| Sash. The clothing was in warm tones. The Zhou | | | | and the gradual decadence is obvious in the |
| dynasty in western China varied in the sleeves | | | | elaborate dresses of the period. Women had |
| being narrow as well as broad. The length of the | | | | stopped wearing the Hakama and the robes were |
| skirt varied from knee length to the ankle and the | | | | lengthened to ankle level. Veils and robes over the |
| different sizes and styles created a distinction | | | | head were some strange ways experimented and |
| between the people who wore them. Ancient | | | | worn during this time. |
| Chinese clothing used minimal stitching on the | | | | Japanese ancient clothing was mainly robes and |
| garment and the use of embroidery and silk | | | | most of the patterns and designs were religious |
| sashes to design the dresses. | | | | and auspicious. Dragons were printed with nine |
| Japanese ancient clothing was majorly influenced | | | | yellow dragons and five cloud patterns. These |
| by Chinese clothing. Vigorous trade between | | | | heavily embroidered robes were won by the |
| Japan and its continental neighbors brought in | | | | emperors and were auspicious for the wearer. |
| Chinese dresses and styles into Japan during the | | | | The Cheongsam was another one piece dress |
| Han Dynasty. The Tang styles and Sui dynasty | | | | adorned by ancient Chinese women. It had a high |
| from China influenced clothing in Japan while it was | | | | neck with a closed collar and short or medium |
| developing from a collection of loose clans to an | | | | sleeves. Buttoned on sides with a fitted waist, it |
| Empire. All robes in Japan were to be worn from | | | | had slits going up from the sides and |
| left to right just like the Chinese. Right to left was | | | | complemented their figures. |
| considered barbaric in China and the 'left over | | | | |