19th Century Han Women's Clothing | Late Qing Dynasty: 清末汉少女装

Music: 抖音《赤伶(正式版) 》

Art by ★陸曼陀★ LuDanling

A collection of Han (ethnic) women's clothing of the 19th century and turn of the century~ late Qing dynasty China. The faithful rendition of the commoners and gentry's clothing gives a vital sociological insight into this tumulus age.

The Dragon Sleeps: "Empress Dowager Cixi and Four Imperial Physicians" by Huang Zhongyang. During this period, power of the Qing imperial court resides in the hands of Dowager Empress Cixi, an arch- conservative who failed to modernize Qing China during the height of European encroachment, she presided over a deeply corrupt court over a tense realm that was primed to explode into rebellion. Her provinces were governed by wolfish sycophants- each with a private army that backs his local power. Most of all, she repeatedly underestimated the west in the age of high imperialism. While China suffered what would later be named the "Century of Humiliation" she was the helmswoman during the twilight of the Qing dynasty.

The clothing are mostly based on gaudy commoners' and gentry's clothing combined with elements of folk art and folk crafts. Behind each of the portrait contained traditional folk art elements such as kites, oil-paper umbrellas, oil-paper lanterns, shadow puppets, velvet flowers, etc. It should be noted as per the tradition of footbinding; these women would have their feet bound. In contrast to Han traditions, Manchu women's were not bound.

TWLIGHT OF THE QING DYNASTY

Change was forced at gunpoint on Qing China and what followed was half a century of strife within and without it. Sensing Qing weakness after the disastrous Opium Wars, western (and soon Japan) began a feeding frenzy to insert, snip, and carve out portions of China for their own imperial interests. 

Worse for the empire as a whole, despite many attempts at modernizing in their own terms, the Qing at large failed in this life or death undertaking. When at last the long- presiding Empress Dowager Cixi died 1908, change would have to come from elsewhere, and come with conspiracy and outrage.

19TH CENTURY HAN WOMEN'S CLOTHING | LATE QING

The low "Suzhou Braid" or "Suzhou Bun," is one of the common hairstyles for Han women in the late Qing Dynasty. It was named because it was popular in Suzhou and other Jiangnan areas in eastern China's coastal regions. It was mentioned in the novels of Lu Xun and Wang Zengqi. In the middle and late Qing Dynasty, political corruption and national power were severely weakened by external invasions and internal rebellions. The high bun in the past was no longer fashionably worn by women, and gradually developed into a low bun.

"Baby's Breath (Gypsophila) Bangs" Bangs were often worn among women in brothels during this period and- like pigtails today became associated with youth to their guests. Because of the great chaos and social upheaval of this age, many prostitutes were indeed very young. 

Peranakan beauties. Peranakans are a sub-ethnic group of south eastern chinese who migrated to the Malaysia, Indonesia in the 19th century or earlier. Their identity are distinct for their chinese-malay mix cuisine and womens clothing, use of Malay as primary language, while maintaining traditional Chinese customs. Recent DNA research among the group indicates most have South East Chinese and Malay admixture.

In the late Qing Dynasty, beaded curtains were commonly seen among southern girls.

Above: Family portrait of a Qing Mandarin official's clan. Note the beaded curtains worn by the younger women of the family. Middle: Two young girls with beaded curtains. 

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