#changsan

[seekers-who-are-lovers]

B l a c k B u t l e r & C H I N O I S E R I E ( Chinese New Year Edition )

[littlemissjediprincess-blog]

Yo dude. I have several questions regarding Chinese formal wear and the internet isn't much help, so I'd thought I'd ask you. I know that ladies typically wear a Cheongsam, but what would be the men's equivalent of that? Also, do the colors of an outfit bear significance (they probably do, but what meaning do they give?) And are there other pieces of formal wear available for ladies?? Thanks in advance :'~)

You’ve come to a good place cuz I’m obsessed with East Asian fashions lol

The exact male equivalent for a cheongsam is a changsan. Funny note is that both words derive from the Cantonese word chèuhngsàam (cheongsam is the English derivation and changsan is the Mandarin derivation), but cheongsam is exclusively for women and changsan is exclusively for men in Mandarin and English.

The look of the changsan (also known as changpao, just as a cheongsam can be called a qipao) is a long tunic with trousers and is fastened with frog clasps. It was introduced in the Qing Dynasty, when Manchu dress replaced Han Chinese hanfu. Up until the Communist Revolution in 1949, it was the preferred clothing choice for men as it could be worn both traditionally and with Western accessories.

At a glance, the changsan is nearly identical to what is called a Mao suit. I believe that the Mao suit was indeed influenced by the changsan in style, and it was intended to be the Eastern “version” of the Western suit. However, they are different: the changsan is tied to pre-revolutionary Chinese history, while the Mao suit carries distinct militaristic and governmental connotations with Chinese communism. Both were used by the common man in both formal and informal occasions, but the Mao suit was intended for the proletariat.

Due to decades of media, the changsan can be described as a “Kung fu” outfit, and I’ve seen the changsan sold as such. For obvious reasons it’s not a “Kung fu” outfit, and that spectrum of attire can be covered in another post.

On the subject of colors and their meanings, both men’s and women’s clothing carried connotations. For the changsan, a black changsam and a rounded black hat are funeral attire for a Chinese man. At a wedding, the bride traditionally wears red and the groom blue. Gold and yellow are the emperor’s and carry meanings of wealth. White is a traditional mourning color, but black is also proper for mourning.

Modern dress has a variety of colors and patterns that are traditional, non-traditional, Western, and a fusion of whatever suits the person wearing it. I believe it is essential for traditional dress to reach out to modern fashions, and ensure that a hundred years from now people are still wearing cheongsam and changsan.

As for your question about ladies and formal wear, Chinese dress offers many options. There is the cheongsam/qipao, which is Manchu. There is also the many kinds of hanfu, which is pre-Qing Dynasty. I don’t know the names of the specific dresses, as I’m more familiar with Japanese and Vietnamese dress. However, I do know of the ruqun, which is a two-piece dress with a long sleeved shirt (ru) that is wrapped left over right, and with a long pleated skirt (qun) that is tied above or just below the bust. As hanfu has been around for thousands of years and cycled through many trends and fashions, a modern Chinese woman seeking to have a unique style of formal wear may dress herself in whichever hanfu suits her.

I hope this helped! For more information, Wikipedia and blogs devoted specifically to Chinese dress will help. There are even videos that show how to put on various kinds of dress :D