Study On Shapes And Patterns Of Traditional Manchu Costume

The minority costume, regarded as live fossil of human life, is the carrier of traditionalChinese spiritual culture. It is one of important ways to learn and inherit ethnic minority cultureby researching their ancient costume. Manchu is one of the integrated parts of Chinese minorities.They own different kinds of costumes and these costumes own different shapes and patterns.Traditional Manchu costumes in Qing dynasty, especially the robes, are selected as theresearch object in this paper. Then, these costumes’ patterns are drawn and analyzedsystematically. Real garments and relevant documents are analyzed in this paper. Via clarifyingand categorizing on these traditional Manchu costumes as well as summarizing on their shapes,typical costumes are selected. After that, the modern measuring methods are used in the processof pattern drawing. Based on analyzing and comparing on the measuring result as well asduplicating on some garments, the shapes and patterns are analyzed systematically in thefollowing two aspects. One is analyzing different kinds of costume shapes and patterns; anotheris analyzing the evolution process of Manchu robes. The functionality of Manchu robes is deeplydiscussed in the coming research process.The features of traditional Manchu costumes can be concluded as following: Num1,costume characteristics of horse-rising-minorities are partly remained in Manchu costumes.Unique styles have formed after absorbing elements of Han ethnic since they got the regime.Num2, the “cross-like”pattern, widely owned by traditional Chinese costume, is not commonlyshared by every Manchu costume. Num3, some details, such as horse-hoof-sleeves andstraight-line like fly, make the costume become more fit. Manchu costumes experienced atransitional period. It firstly focused on practical applicability, and then focused on decorativeapplicability, which was caused by the change of their living environment and way of lives.