Shenyi

Shenyi (深衣) is the traditional Chinese attire for men which advocated in Zhu Zi's Common Rites《朱子家禮》. The Shenyi Center of Chinese Medicine is named after it. It is a form of formal wear in the Ming Dynasty. It directly descended from the shenyi worn in earlier dynasties, like Han Dynasty. The yi (衣, shirt) and chang (裳, skirt) of the shenyi is sewn together, and the skirt is made up of 12 panels of fabric sewn together (十二片縫合), representing 12 months a year. It is wide sleeved, has black edges, and has a belt (大帶). Popularity of shenyi declined during Tang Dynasty, and by the Ming Dynasty, it was advocate worn only for the most formal occasions, such as ceremonies to pay respects to the ancestors (祭祖) or worn as funeral cloth (斂衣). However, the actual usage are worn as inner garment for Yan Bian(燕弁冠服 for Emperor), Bao He(保和冠服For Princes), Zhong Jing(忠靜冠服 for Imperial Officers) only.

See also