Lyla Dejesus
Traditional Chinese wedding attire is rich with heritage and tradition. Brides typically wear red, as it is the most auspicious colour in Chinese culture, symbolising happiness, luck, and fortune. The two most common types of Chinese wedding dresses are the qipao (cheongsam) and the qun kwa (qungua). The qipao is a form-fitting sheath dress with two high slits on each side and a mandarin collar, while the qun kwa is a two-piece ceremonial outfit composed of a jacket and a long skirt.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Traditional name | Fengguan xiapei |
| Other names | Qipao, cheongsam, mandarin gown, zansae, qun kwa, kwan kwa, xiuhefu |
| Description | A one-piece figure-hugging robe with a mandarin collar and two high slits on each side |
| Colour | Red, green, gold, yellow, pink, purple, blue, black, white |
| Symbolism | Happiness, prosperity, good fortune, blessings |
| Embroidered with | Dragons, phoenixes, pomegranates, peony flowers, lotus flowers, bats, goldfish, butterflies, birds |
| Worn with | Feng guan (phoenix crown), xia pei |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The history of the cheongsam
The cheongsam, also known as the qipao or mandarin gown, is a traditional Chinese dress that has been worn by both men and women, but is especially significant to Chinese females for its representation of femininity, softness, and beauty. The dress originated during the Qing Dynasty, over 300 years ago, where it was first worn by the upper-class elites, landowners, nobles, and royals. It was initially a loose-fitting outfit, but by the 1920s, it evolved into a form-fitting dress for women. The cheongsam gained international recognition when it was popularised in Shanghai and Hong Kong after the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912.
The Republican period is considered the golden age of the cheongsam, coinciding with women's liberation movements in China. Chinese feminists advocated for women's liberation from traditional roles, including the termination of foot binding and the cutting of long hair, which was associated with "oriental" beauty. They encouraged women to wear men's one-piece clothing, such as the Changshan or "Changpao", which was traditionally worn by men during the Han Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. The cheongsam is believed to have been derived from the Manchu women's chenyi or the men's changshan, although its true origin is still debated by fashion historians.
The cheongsam became a symbol of wealth and prestige in the early 20th century, worn by celebrities, high society, and students of prestigious missionary schools. However, during the 1950s and 1960s, with the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the dress fell out of favour in mainland China due to its association with the old elite. It was even considered counter-revolutionary, and those who wore it were punished. Despite this, the cheongsam remained popular in other Chinese communities, such as Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Today, the cheongsam continues to be a popular choice for Chinese wedding dresses, often in red, which symbolises happiness, prosperity, and good fortune. The dress is also worn on other special occasions and remains a symbol of Chinese culture and femininity. The Beijing and Hong Kong styles of cheongsam-making have been recognised as intangible cultural heritage, showcasing the unique blend of Eastern and Western clothing designs that have influenced this iconic dress.
Marines' Dress Blues: Wedding Attire for Retired Personnel
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Qipao, a dress rich with heritage
The Qipao, also known as the cheongsam, is a dress rich with heritage and tradition. The dress originated in China during Manchu Rule, where it was worn by Manchu women as a wide and baggy dress with a high-neck collar and a straight skirt. In the 1920s, the Qipao was modernised in Shanghai to become a form-fitting sheath dress with two high slits on each side, and it was officially made the national dress of the Republic of China in 1929.
The Qipao is a popular choice for Chinese brides, especially for tea ceremonies. The dress is often red, the most auspicious colour in Chinese culture, symbolising happiness, luck and fortune. The colour gold is also significant in traditional Chinese wedding clothing, often woven into embroidery or accessories. The Qipao's mandarin collar is its most iconic feature, with collar heights ranging from 3cm to 5cm for comfort and tradition.
In Hong Kong and other parts of southern China, brides wear a traditional two-piece dress called a qun kwa or kwan kwa in Cantonese. The qipao differs from this in that it is a one-piece robe. The qun kwa is composed of a jacket called a gua and a long Chinese skirt called a qun. The qun is typically red, while the gua was originally black, and the set is decorated with dragons and phoenixes.
Another type of traditional Chinese wedding attire is the fengguan xiapei, which was worn in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The set is composed of an upper and lower garment, with the upper garment called a mangao or 'python jacket' and the lower skirt called a mangchu or 'python skirt'. The mangao was red and worn by Han Chinese women as a court robe, while the mangchu was embroidered with dragons and phoenixes.
Chinese brides in the Tang Dynasty wore a bold colour scheme of red and green, and the wedding was full of rituals. One such ritual was called 'Cui Zhuang', where the husband's family would anxiously wait for the bride to finish her makeup and come out, inspiring many beautiful poems.
Attire Guide: South Indian Wedding Dress Code
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The importance of the colour red
There are various forms of traditional Chinese wedding dresses, with different styles and forms of attire worn by the Han Chinese during their marriage ceremonies. The traditional Chinese wedding dress is called the cheongsam, also known as the qipao or mandarin gown, and can be worn as a wedding dress. Brides who want to follow tradition usually wear a cheongsam or qun kwa for their weddings. The qun kwa is a two-piece garment, composed of a jacket and a long Chinese skirt, while the cheongsam is a one-piece robe.
The colour red is extremely important in Chinese wedding attire. In traditional Chinese weddings, red is the most celebrated colour as it symbolises happiness, prosperity, good fortune and, therefore, luck. The custom of wearing red began in the Ming Dynasty over 650 years ago and remains a popular wedding colour for traditional Chinese couples. The gua, or jacket, was originally black, while the skirt was red. However, the gua turned red in the 1960s, and the traditional black gua and red qun became the attire for the bride's mother.
The qipao, or cheongsam, is another type of Chinese wedding dress that originated during Manchu Rule. The original dress was wide and baggy with a high-neck collar and a straight skirt. In the 1920s, the dress became more form-fitting with two high slits on each side and was made the national dress of the Republic of China in 1929. The qipao is often red, but it can also be pink, white, purple, blue or green.
The Xiuhefu is another type of Chinese wedding attire that follows the traditional yichang system. It is composed of a waist-length liling dajin ao and a long A-line qun, or skirt. The Xiuhefu is typically embroidered with flowers and birds to symbolise love.
The qungua is a two-piece ceremonial wedding set of attire composed of a jacket and a long Chinese skirt. It is decorated with dragons and phoenixes, pomegranates, peony flowers, lotus flowers, bats, goldfish, butterflies and birds. The qungua is traditionally handmade and originated in the 18th century during the Qing dynasty.
Divvying Up Grandma's Wedding Dress
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Qun kua, a traditional two-piece
Qun Kwa, also known as Qungua, is a timeless and elegant traditional two-piece Chinese wedding dress. It is composed of a jacket called "gua" and a long Chinese skirt called "qun". The Qun Kwa is a popular choice among couples nowadays. The jacket is usually red in colour, while the skirt is black. The gua is decorated with Chinese auspicious symbols, and the skirt is typically straight in cut. The Qun Kwa is traditionally handmade and is embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, symbolising happiness, luck and fortune. The Qun Kwa is also known as longfenggua (traditional Chinese: 龍鳳褂; simplified Chinese: 龙凤褂), or longfeng qungua (traditional Chinese: 龍鳳裙褂; simplified Chinese: 龙凤裙褂), or guaqun (Chinese: 褂裙; Jyutping: gwaa3 kwan4).
The Qun Kwa is a traditional Chinese wedding gown that is embroidered with gold and silver threads. It is a two-piece garment embellished with auspicious patterns and motifs such as dragons, phoenixes, peonies and more. The Qun Kwa is also called a "skirt and jacket", with the top being the "Kwa", a brocade jacket, and the bottom being the "Qun", a long skirt. The Qun Kwa is typically only worn once on the wedding day to signify that the bride will only be married once. It is believed that the bride should try on the jacket and skirt separately and not wear the complete set until the wedding day.
The Qun Kwa is different from the cheongsam, which is a one-piece robe that can be worn anytime. The cheongsam is also a popular choice for Chinese brides and can be worn as a modern or traditional wedding dress. It is a figure-hugging dress that originated in the Qing dynasty and became popular in Hong Kong and Shanghai after the fall of the dynasty in 1912.
The Qun Kwa has a rich history and cultural significance. In the 18th century, Chinese mothers would start sewing the Qun Kwa as soon as a daughter was born. It would then be placed as part of the daughter's bride dowry when she got married. The Qun Kwa follows the ancient traditional system of shangyi xiachang (Chinese: 上衣下裳; upper and lower garments).
The Qun Kwa is typically accessorised with gold bangles, which are traditionally gifted to the bride by her family and in-laws. The bride usually wears her hair up when donning the Qun Kwa, representing her transition into a married woman.
Spring Wedding Guest: Layering Ideas for Your Dress
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Xiuhefu, a modern recreation
The Xiuhefu, a modern recreation of a traditional Chinese wedding dress, is a stunning choice for brides who want to blend cultural traditions with their unique style. Xiuhefu, which translates to ""embroidered harmony dress", is a set of attire that follows the elegant and timeless yichang system of dressing.
The Xiuhefu typically consists of two pieces: a waist-length liling dajin ao, or upper garment, and a long A-line qun, or skirt. The ao, with its shorter length, allows for a glimpse of the intricate embroidery on the qun, which is typically adorned with flowers and birds symbolising love and the changing seasons. This two-piece ensemble provides a beautiful canvas for incorporating traditional colours and motifs while expressing one's personal style.
Brides seeking a modern interpretation of the Xiuhefu can experiment with colours beyond the traditional red, gold, and yellow. A Xiuhefu in a monochromatic palette, such as white or black, can be a bold statement while still honouring the cultural significance of the dress. Alternatively, a touch of modernity can be added with unique details like black silk or orange embroidered flowers, as seen on some modern qipaos.
To further personalise the Xiuhefu, brides can play with different silhouettes. A figure-hugging qipao, or cheongsam, is a popular choice for those wanting a sleek and modern look, while a qun kwa, or kwan kwa in Cantonese, offers a timeless and comfortable two-piece alternative. For brides who want to blend Western and Chinese styles, a Western-style bridal gown in red, with gold embroidery and a mandarin collar, can be a beautiful tribute to Chinese heritage.
The Xiuhefu, with its versatility and rich cultural symbolism, offers a world of possibilities for modern brides. Whether it's a pop of colour, unique embroidery, or a creative silhouette, the modern recreation of this traditional attire is a beautiful way to celebrate one's wedding while honouring China's rich cultural heritage.
Full-Length A-Line Wedding Dresses: A Guide to Finding Your Dream Gown
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There are several types of traditional Chinese wedding dresses, including the cheongsam, qun kwa (or kwan kwa in Cantonese), qipao, and xiuhefu. The fengguan xiapei was worn in the Ming and Qing dynasties, while the qungua became popular in the 18th century during the Qing dynasty.
The traditional colour for a Chinese wedding dress is red, symbolising happiness, luck, and fortune. Gold and yellow are also considered lucky colours and often feature in embroidery or accessories. More modern interpretations may include other colours such as pink, white, purple, blue, or green.
Traditional Chinese wedding dresses are typically made of silk.
