Longhua (collar) explained

Pic:慈禧隆裕瑾妃.jpg
Piccap:Qing Empress dowager (left) and Empress (middle) wearing longhua collar, Qing dynasty,1900.
P:Lónghuá
T:龍華
S:龙华
C2:龙华领巾
P2:Lónghuá lǐngjīn

Longhua (龍華) were white, scarf-like collars worn by Manchu women in the early to mid-Qing dynasty. It was worn all year around when robes without collar were worn.[1]

History

Robes and jackets in the Qing dynasty were generally round-necked.[2] Clothing with high collars or neckbands already existed since the late Ming dynasty, however, in Qing, high collar clothing were only worn on an occasional basis.[2] Detachable collars were therefore produced and sold separately from the garments.[2] They were then used for decorative purposes, for keeping its wearer warm and in formal official attire.[2] During the late Qing, the high collar was eventually integrated to both the clothing of the Chinese and the Manchu as standard features.[2] With the rise of collars in garments, longhua slowly disappeared in use.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Inner Beauty of Chinese Traditional Costumes . ChinaCulture.org.
  2. Book: Finnane, Antonia. Changing clothes in China : fashion, history, nation. 2008. Columbia University Press. 978-0-231-14350-9. New York. 92–93. 84903948.