This week, we look at more Ming dynasty-inspired clothing from Splendid Ming Dynasty Hall 明華堂. More pictures below the cut.
The following are some links that may help you get some background information. Please let us know in the comment section if there are any other sites you may be able to recommend for more pictures.
General Chinese Clothing Timeline
Hanfu: General Information, Hanfu List
The Japanese and Koreans wore similar clothing. How did they manage through the heat and humidity?
I’m not an expert but I believe it would probably again depend on your family situation… If you were wealthy enough to dress in layers and layers, you probably were also well off enough to spend your time indoors…
Question: How did the Chinese bear the heat in summertime while wearing long sleeves/long skirts?
As far as I know, I would imagine if you came from a family background that could afford for you to dress like this, you probably spent most of your days indoors… that probably helps some even though there was no air conditioning back then. Also, probably having your servants assist you in cooling yourself… and you probably also varied the material that you had your clothes made out of based on the seasons so while you are still wearing long sleeves and long skirts, it would probably be made of a more air-permeable material. Some parts of your house may be designed to have more shade and be more enclosed and thus cooler during the summer…
Also, if you were REALLY well off, I know that the royal family built “away palaces” and retreat palaces to escape the heat of the capital in cooler locations so your family may have emulated that…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_palace
But yes, some of these do certainly look heat-stroke inducing if its summer where you are at and you are looking at them… XD
Keep in mind that most of the clothes here are clothes for the upper class, so the women mostly stayed in doors where it’s cool. If you were working in the fields, there are ribbons to tie your sleeve up and such. Men probably just went shirtless.