George Boyle
Traditional Chinese wedding dresses are steeped in history and symbolism. The style of dress varies depending on the region and dynasty, but they are often adorned with gold, red and yellow embroidery, and motifs such as dragons and phoenixes. The Qipao, also known as the Cheongsam, is a popular choice for brides, as is the Qungua, a two-piece set composed of a jacket and a long skirt.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Qungua, also known as longfenggua, guaqun, longfeng qungua, or qun kwa |
| Composition | Two-piece garment with a jacket called gua and a long skirt called qun |
| Colours | Red and black, or red and green |
| Embroideries | Dragons, phoenixes, pomegranates, peony flowers, lotus flowers, bats, goldfish, butterflies, and birds |
| Types | Guahuang, Guahou, Dawufu, Zhongwufu, and Xiaowufu |
| History | Originated in the 18th century during the Qing dynasty |
| Modern Popularity | Still popular as a wedding dress in China, including in Hong Kong and Macau |
| Similar Attire | Xiuhefu, cheongsam, mandarin gown, Betawi bridal dress |
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What You'll Learn
The Qungua
The tradition of wearing the Qungua as a wedding dress originated in the Guangdong region during the Qing dynasty. In the 18th century, mothers would start sewing the Qungua as soon as a daughter was born, and it would be given to her as part of her dowry when she got married. The Qungua follows the ancient traditional system of Shangyi Xiachang, which translates to upper and lower garments. The jacket, Gua, closes at the front with buttons, and the skirt, Qun, can be straight in cut or have pleated sides.
There are five different types of Qungua, which are distinguished by the amount of embroidery crafted on the dress: Guahuang, Guahou, Dawufu, Zhongwufu, and Xiaowufu. The Qungua is traditionally black and red in colour, with the black Gua and red Qun. The red Gua only appeared in the 1960s, and since then, the traditional black Gua and red Qun have been worn by the mother of the bride rather than the bride herself. The Qungua can also be decorated with other auspicious symbols such as pomegranates, peony flowers, lotus flowers, bats, goldfish, butterflies, and birds.
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The Xiuhefu
Xiuhefu, or 秀禾服 in Chinese, is a modern recreation of the Qing dynasty wedding dress. It became popular in 2001 when Chinese actress Zhou Xun wore a modern version of the Qing dynasty wedding aoqun in the television drama "Orange Turned Red" or "Juzi Hongle" in Chinese. The character she played, Xiu He, lends her name to the dress.
The precursor to the Xiuhefu can be traced back to the Qing dynasty, where a Qing dynasty-style aoqun was worn as a wedding dress. This earlier version consisted of a liling dajin changao and a mamianqun.
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The Cheongsam
The qungua, also known as longfenggua, gaaqun or longfeng qungua, is another type of traditional Chinese wedding dress. It originated in the 18th century during the Qing dynasty and is a two-piece set consisting of a jacket and a long skirt. The qungua is typically embroidered with dragons and phoenixes and is popular among Chinese couples today.
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The Qipao
In Northern China, the qipao is a one-piece frock that serves as a traditional wedding dress, while in Southern China, brides favour a two-piece dress known as the qungua or qun kwa. The qungua, which originated in the 18th century during the Qing dynasty, is composed of a black gua (jacket) and a red qun (skirt), both of which are embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, symbolising good luck and happiness. Over time, the gua also became available in red, symbolising a shift in who wore the traditional black gua and red qun, which became the attire for the bride's mother.
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The Qun Kua
There are different types of Qun Kua, distinguished by the amount of embroidery on the dress: Guahuang, Guahou, Dawufu, Zhongwufu, and Xiaowufu. The Qun Kua is traditionally sewn by the mother of the bride when her daughter is born and is later given as part of the bride's dowry when she gets married.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several types of traditional Chinese wedding dresses, including the Qipao (or cheongsam), the Qungua (or longfenggua, gaaqun, or longfeng qungua), and the Xiuhefu.
The Qipao (or cheongsam) is a one-piece dress that can be worn by brides from both the north and south of China. It is sometimes referred to as the mandarin gown.
The Qungua is a two-piece wedding dress from Guangdong, composed of a jacket called a gua and a long Chinese skirt called a qun. It is traditionally handmade and decorated with dragons and phoenixes.
The Xiuhefu is a set of attire composed of a waist-length liling dajin ao and a long A-line qun. It is typically embroidered with flowers and birds to symbolise love.
Chinese wedding dresses are typically red, gold, and yellow, as these colours are considered lucky. Red symbolises happiness, prosperity, and good fortune, while gold is seen as imperial.
