Give the People

Han Dynasty clothing refers to the hat and clothing system of the Han Dynasty. After the strict governance of the Qin Dynasty, Liu Bang, who rose to power from a common background, aimed to give the people a break and did not make significant changes to the general systems, including the clothing system, which largely followed the Qin Dynasty. It wasn't until the second year of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty's Yongping era (59 AD) that a formal and comprehensive regulation was established. Hanfu in Social Hierarchy  The hierarchical status of clothing during the Han Dynasty was primarily reflected through hats and ceremonial sashes. Different official ranks had different hats. Therefore, the hat system was particularly complex, with as many as 16 types. There were also strict regulations for shoes during the Han Dynasty. Ritual attire required wearing flat shoes (xu), court attire required wearing (lü) shoes, and outdoor attire required wearing sandals (ji). When women got married, they were supposed to wear wooden clogs, which were painted and tied with colorful ribbons. Historical Evolution During the early period of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang himself had a limited understanding of the symbolic role of clothing. He once…