中国文化之中国汉服（英文版）

Chinese Clothing Hanfu

中国汉服

Hanfu, an ancient Chinese formal wear, takes its name from the times of the Han Dynasty, and its history dates over four thousand years back to the reign of the Yellow Emperor. According to the Records of the Grand Historian, “Before the Yellow Emperor, there were no houses and clothes. As the Yellow Emperor built houses, made clothes, and held funeral ceremonies, all people were spared from the difficulty of survival.”

汉服，中华先民的传统礼服，虽其名来源于汉朝，但其历史可以追溯到4000多年前的黄帝时期。据《史记》记载：“黄帝之前，未有衣裳屋宇。及黄帝造屋宇，制衣服，营殡葬，万民故免存亡之难。”

As the formal and ceremonial dress in upper class, the early fabrics for making Hanfu were meticulously chosen. Two fabrics, China grass and silk, were used and dyed with natural plant extracts.

汉服作为上层社会的正式礼服，其面料在早期极为讲究，主要以苎麻和丝绸为主，并以天然植物染色剂上色。

The hallmark of Hanfu is in its cross collar, right lapel, girdle and tying with sash or hook in place of buttons. Flat pattern cutting makes the clothes wide and loose and the wearer both look and feel comfortable, relaxed and elegant.

汉服的主要特点是交领、右衽、束腰，用绳带系结，兼用带钩等。平面花纹的剪裁方式，使衣服宽大宽松，给人以舒适、洒脱、飘逸之感。

Patterns adopted for Hanfu bare the meaning of auspiciousness, such as "The coming spring", "Abundant harvests", and "Embroidered flowers". Actually, different patterns are chosen on different occasions. For example, on wedding ceremony, newlyweds often use patterns like mandarin ducks, such as "Two loving mandarin ducks " and "Two playing mandarin ducks"; On birthday, patterns such as "Pines and cranes", and "Cranes and peaches" are often used to symbolize longevity.

汉服纹饰多有吉祥之意。如“六合同春”、“五谷丰登”、“锦上添花”等。同时，不同的场合，也会有不同的纹饰。如新婚婚服往往以鸳鸯为主，如“鸳鸯同心”、“鸳鸯戏水”等；寿诞纹饰则采用“松鹤延年”、“白鹤献桃”等寓意长寿的图案。

There are three main styles of Hanfu: the jacket and shirt for emperors and higher officials, the robe for lower officials and scholars, and the jacket and trousers for commoners.

汉服一般分为三种类型：上衣下裳的冕服为帝王大夫的正式礼服；袍服为下官及士人的常服；普通百姓一般上着短衣，下穿长裤。

From the reign of the Yellow Emperor to the Ming Dynasty, Hanfu dominated the Chinese fashion world, a period of well over four thousand years. The excellent Chinese fashion culture shouldn’t be covered in dusk and should be promoted to restore its previous glory.  

从黄帝时期到明朝，在长达4000多年的历史长河中，汉服一直是中国人的主流服饰。她不应该被尘封，而应走出历史，再现其昔日辉煌。