The Tang Dynasty (618-907) was an extremely important period in Chinese history, when politics, culture, economy and society reached their peak. Against this backdrop, the hanfu of the Tang Dynasty also underwent a remarkable evolution, becoming one of the richest and most diverse periods in ancient Chinese dress culture. Tang Dynasty hanfu not only absorbed the influence of foreign cultures, but also made many innovations in color, style, material and production techniques.

1、Characteristics of Tang Dynasty Dress

The hanfu style of the Tang Dynasty can be summarized as “broad, gorgeous and layered”. Compared with the previous generation, the clothing of the Tang Dynasty paid more attention to comfort and freedom, especially men's clothing was more loose. On the other hand, women's hanfu were characterized by gorgeousness and rich layers, emphasizing the curves of the body and a sense of nobility.

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2、The Evolution of Male Clothing in the Tang Dynasty

Men's clothing in the Tang Dynasty was looser and more comfortable in overall design than in the previous Sui and Han Dynasties. Common garments were:

• Robes: The basic garment often worn by men in the Tang Dynasty was the wide robe, especially for official business and formal occasions. Robes had wide cuffs and long hemlines.
• Straight collar and cross-neck: Unlike previous dresses, Tang Dynasty garments were mostly designed with cross-necks or straight collars, making them easier to wear.
• Belt decoration: Tang Dynasty men often wore belts, especially for nobles or high officials. The belts not only played a role in fixing clothes, but also served as decorations, often with ornaments, daggers and other objects hanging.
• Official Clothing and Symbols: Official clothing in the Tang Dynasty was clearly differentiated, with officials wearing different colors according to their different official positions. High-ranking officials wore purple or red clothes with special decorations and embroideries.

3、The Evolution of Women's Clothing in the Tang Dynasty

Tang Dynasty women's clothing can be said to be one of the peaks of the development of ancient Chinese clothing. Tang Dynasty women's clothing design is more layered, dress more gorgeous, bright colors, highlighting the curves of the female body and noble temperament. Common women's clothing are:

• long skirt and cross-necked clothes: Tang Dynasty women usually wear long skirts, skirts are often multi-layered design, outside is a wide cross-necked blouse, inside a more fitted clothes.
• Skirts and decorations: Tang Dynasty women's skirts are often tied with belts, which are elaborately decorated. Women liked to wear gold and silver ornaments, jade, jewelry and other decorations, reflecting their noble status.
• High buns and hair ornaments: Tang Dynasty women had very complicated hairstyles, usually putting their hair in high buns with gorgeous hair ornaments. Common hair ornaments include gold and silver hairpins, jade hairpins and flower ornaments.
• Color and Material: Tang Dynasty women's hanfuwere colorful, often in bright colors such as red, purple and gold. Commonly used materials are silk, silk cloth, etc. These materials make the hanfumore glossy and noble.

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4、Cultural impact of dress

The Tang Dynasty not only absorbed a great deal of Central Asian and Western cultures, but also had a profound influence on foreign cultures in terms of dress. In particular, exchanges with the Silk Road led to the fusion of Central Asian and Western elements in the Tang Dynasty's dress styles. For example, the wide-sleeved, long-skirted designs common in Tang Dynasty women's clothing were influenced by Central Asia. At the same time, Tang clothing also had a significant impact on neighboring countries, such as Japan and Korea, where Tang clothing and decorations were imitated and popularized.

5、Institutionalization and Hierarchization of Dress in the Tang Dynasty

There was a clear hierarchy of dress in the Tang Dynasty, especially among officials and nobles. The state regulated what kind of clothing officials of different ranks should wear, and clothes of different colors, materials and decorations represented different social statuses. For example, the emperor's clothing was represented by the dragon robe, which had a dragon pattern on it, symbolizing the emperor's dignity. Ordinary people wore simpler clothing.

6、Historical Remains of Tang Dynasty hanfu

Tang Dynasty clothes were not only widely popular in the society at that time, but also left a profound influence on the hanfu culture of later generations. In particular, many styles and details of hanfu can be seen in paintings, carvings and hanfu relics of the Tang Dynasty. The design of women's hanfu, the exquisite embroidery techniques, and the rich decorations of the Tang Dynasty influenced the development of hanfu in later periods such as the Song and Yuan Dynasties.

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Insumary

The evolution of clothing in the Tang Dynasty not only reflects the prosperity and diversity of the society at that time, but also shows the openness and tolerance of the clothing culture. The looseness and splendor, layering and exquisite decorations of Tang Dynasty hanfu reflect people's pursuit of beauty and absorption of diverse cultures at that time. The unique style of Tang Dynasty hanfu had a profound influence on the hanfu culture of China and even East Asia.