In the long history of
human dress, the ancient Chinese costume is the most resplendent. It is
also evident that the dress of the Tang dynasty is the most beautiful when
compared to the other characters in this costume kingdom. In 618 AD, the
Tang dynasty ended China’s split status and civil war, which lasted
hundreds of years, and became a very powerful dynasty in terms of
politics, economics, and the military. At that time, the silk industry was
developing very quickly. In addition, communications between people of
different nationalities was very extensive. During the Tang dynasty,
ancient Chinese civilization reached its heyday in the areas of fashion,
literature, art, medical science, and technology.
Historically,
China is different from other countries in the world. Its social structure
took the form of dynasties. When dynasties changed, the style of dress
immediately changed accordingly. “A dynasty’s emperor has that dynasty’s
courtiers, a dynasty’s sovereign being has that dynasty’s people, a
dynasty’s culture, a dynasty’s dress…” (From “Teaching the Fa at the
Washington, D.C. International Fa Conference” in Guiding the
Voyage). Everything in human history was created for the Fa. It is
true that the costume of the dynasty’s sovereign being of the Great Tang
Dynasty had reached the summit of perfection and surpassed all other
styles of dress in China’s history. The beauty of the Tang costume was
loved by people of many generations. In fact, this costume was purposely
given to human beings by God in order to create an instance of
magnificence in human history and to set a shining example for future
human beings. Today, amid various twisted fads and unhealthy influences,
which reflect in the culture and style of dress, people still seek the
answer to the question, “What is the future of human beings?” Things do
turn around after reaching the extreme point. During the process of
creation, maintenance, and decay, and as the immense force of
Fa-rectification sweeps through the universe, the Great Law of the
universe—“Falun Dafa”—is creating the most beautiful future for sentient
beings. Humans will regain the standards in all aspects of life: culture,
art, food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. Let us look at the style
of custom worn in the Great Tang Dynasty:
A Gentleman’s Kerchief and Round-Collar Robe
The kerchief is a cloth wrapping for the hair and was usually made of
paulownia leaves, kudzu silk, vine, and leather. It was used to maintain
the hair in a fixed shape, like a wig. The two ends of the kerchief were
ribbons that hung down naturally over the neck and shoulders. Different
kinds of ribbons were used: some were soft, some hard; some rounded, and
some square shaped. The style varied slightly from time to time depending
on the fashion at the time. The round-collar robe, which is also called a
“reunion collar,” was the costume worn by eunuchs during the Sui and Tang
dynasties. It is also called the “daily costume” since it was the main
article of clothing for males. Usually, the costume had the round collar
and clasped on the right side. There was a border along the bottom of the
robe. In everyday life, a round-collar robe shirt together with black
leather boots was very popular. This style was not only free and easy, but
also handsome and spirited. From ancient paintings such as “Walking and
Riding,” “Riding a Horse,” “Evening Banquet in Han Xizai’s Mansion,” and
“The Spring Outing of Her Lady of Guoguo,” we can see the style was
popular with both men and women. The garb of many officials in the Tang
dynasty was also in this style, and different colors were used to indicate
their official ranks. The robes for the Emperor were yellow, a style that
remained the tradition until the Qing dynasty. Generally speaking, the
costumes for officials ranked as Level 3 and higher were purple, officials
ranked as Level 5 wore red, officials ranked as Levels 6 and 7 wore green,
and officials ranked as Levels 8 and 9 wore blue. Why was the costume
style and color so important to the ancients? On the surface, ancient
people used the positions of king, minister, the nobility, and the
characteristic of humility to show the dignity of the different ranks in
society. But in fact, in the corresponding dimension of heaven, beings of
different colors have fundamental differences—different dimensions,
levels, and particles. We can say that the various colors of the social
ranks are the various manifesting forms of the different lives in our
universe.
A Lady’s Style of Apparel
For ladies, there was a short sleeve style with a short jacket and
skirt; there was also a long sleeve style with a long skirt and shawl.
There was also a variety of hairdos with names like “The Watching Fairy
Hairdo,” “The Cloud Hairdo,” and “Twin Droop Hairdo.” The costume included
the short skirt or shirt on the top, the long skirt on the bottom, with
shawl wrapped around the body, flower hairpins, and shoes with silk or
grass heels. When she went out, a lady could wear a bamboo hat. For
example, the noble lady in the painting “Pounding White Silk” by Zhang
Xuan is wearing a short skirt on top, with the waist of the skirt pulled
up to the armpit; the collar was tied with different kinds of silk
ribbons. After the high Tang period, sleeves got bigger and bigger. In the
end, the long sleeve became popular. In the ancient painting titled “A
Noble Lady with Flowers in Her Hair,” you can see the elegance and beauty
as described in poems “The Long Skirt Floating Like the Xiang Jiang River”
and “The Short Skirt Showing Part of the Breast.” Like the moving clouds,
the running water, and the elegant gestures of God, the dress and the
shawl draped around the body and fluttering along in the wind are the
perfect imitation of God. This is not just imagination, for the legs of
living beings in dimensions higher than ours are indeed vaguely hidden,
and these beings need not comb their hair —they just live in that kind of
state. In fact, the beautiful concept of “combining heaven and humans into
one” is based on the respect for and the belief in God. Only when human
beings have a compassionate heart will God reveal the truth to them. Human
beings will thus achieve wisdom, a wonderful living environment, and a
good life.
Military Costume
During the Tang dynasty, military armor was almost perfectly developed.
In one example, there is the figure of a knight in armor carved on the
stone doorframe of the Greater Goose Tower in Xi’an, Shanxi province. This
knight looks like a soldier from heaven and his weapon also looks like an
instrument of heaven. In his elaborate and colorful armor, this powerful
figure seems to illustrate how military generals were conquering the world
and safeguarding justice in the human world by following the instruction
of God. Even the gold and silver embroidered figures inside the battle
robe were mythical animals like unicorns, birds, and beasts from heaven.
All the instruments in other dimensions are intelligent. This beautiful
costume and the knight who wears it are evidently the manifestation of the
consciousness and the willed action of God.
Source URL: www.pureinsight.org/pi/articles/2002/6/10/1039p.html
Category: Chinese Culture
