Top 10 Garments That Were Popular in Ancient China

Ancient Chinese clothes were more than just garments to cover the body. They were the symbols of prestige and the embodiment of culture, and essential to show a person’s social status. The rich and poor dressed very differently in ancient China. Poor people wore hemp backpacks which were durable, loose fitting, and comfortable for working in the fields. On the other hand, rich people’s clothes were made from silk, dyed with specific colors and could be turned into fancy designs.

Lower-class people could be punished for wearing silk clothing. The color of a person’s clothing was also a badge of identity in ancient China. An emperor could only dress in yellow, and during the Shu dynasty poor people were only allowed to wear blue and black. When the Mongols conquered China, they brought cotton with them, and the use of cotton for clothing begin in the Yuan dynasty.

Chinese fashion evolved with time, but ancient Chinese clothing was very limited. So, without further ado, here is a list of the top 10 traditional pieces of ancient Chinese clothing:

Top 10 Garments That Were Popular in Ancient China