Changes in the Image of Chinese Women —— Qin-Han period (221 B.C.-220 A.D.)
Qin-Han Period (221 BC-220 AD): Regulation and Romance under the Great Unification
Characteristics of dress:
Women’s dresses in the Qin and Han Dynasties were both practical and ceremonial, reflecting a dignified and solemn aspect as well as a soft and charming flavour. Generally speaking, the dresses were mainly deep clothes, characterised by layered lapels and tiers, which made them dignified and atmospheric.
Curved Train Shamrock in the Museum
Daily clothing is mainly ruqun(襦裙), with a short top and a wide and flowing skirt, which is convenient for movement and can show the feminine beauty.
Ruqun（襦裙）
Colour: During the Qin Dynasty, women’s dresses were mostly in plain, dark shades (such as black and green), while during the Han Dynasty, aristocratic women’s dresses tended to incorporate more vibrant colours such as red, yellow and purple in order to highlight their status, while commoners were more likely to use monochrome or lighter tones, and their dresses followed the rule of ‘green in the spring, vermilion in the summer, white in the autumn, and black in the winter’.
Modern Curve Train Recovery
Hair style characteristics:
During the Qin and Han dynasties, women’s hairstyles were diverse, predominantly featuring various types of hair buns. Common styles included the “Chuiyun” bun, “Duoma” bun, and “Yingchun” bun. Noblewomen often styled their hair in intricate, layered arrangements, adorned with various hair accessories, presenting a luxurious and dignified appearance. In contrast, common women typically wore simpler, neater hairstyles.
Left:Flower-studded topknot(花钗大髻) Right:Hanging Hair Bun(垂髫髻 )
“Duoma” bun（堕马髻）
Makeup:
During the Qin and Han dynasties, women’s makeup was characterized by simplicity and elegance, emphasizing natural beauty. Eyebrows were slender and typically drawn with fine lines to create a delicate appearance. Lip makeup focused on subtlety, with a preference for natural lip colors. Additionally, the use of face powder became popular, with powdered or solid lead-based powders applied to whiten the skin.
Recovery Makeup
Shoes：
During the Qin and Han dynasties, women’s footwear was diverse. “lü (履)” referred to high-end shoes with silk uppers and pointed toes, symbolizing nobility. “Xi” mainly referred to cloth shoes, suitable for daily wear. “Ju” were straw sandals, made from grass or hemp. “Ji” were wooden clogs, commonly worn for rituals and formal occasions. “Xi” were shoes worn specifically for ceremonial purposes. Additionally, Han women often wore round-toed shoes, highlighting their feminine grace.
“lü (履)” for the wedding
Conclusion:
The clothing of women in the Qin and Han dynasties strictly followed ritual norms, reflecting social hierarchy and their subordinate status. Noblewomen wore luxurious garments such as shenyi and ruqun, primarily made of silk with vibrant colors, symbolizing their noble status, yet their roles remained centered around family and the patriarchal system. Common women wore simpler clothing made of hemp or cotton, with loose designs emphasizing practicality, reflecting their roles in household labor and support. Confucian rituals imposed strict regulations on colors and styles, with shenyi symbolizing modesty and round-toed shoes emphasizing feminine grace. Overall, women’s clothing was not only a marker of status but also reinforced the patriarchal social structure, positioning women in a subordinate role within the family and society.
The blog entries are too short- especially the 1st and last entries. I suggest that you include more contextual information, explain why this theme- feminism?- is of interest to you? Do you plan to focus on the role of women in Qin and Han dynasties or in contemporary China or South East Asia or globally? Whatever you decide, I suggest that you explain the reasoning behind it. The bibliography and references are well written and consistent. However, I would just urge you to critically reflect further on the sources, not just name drop them in the end- remember quality over quality! Other things to consider are, have you engaged with any contemporary curatorial methods so far? Is there any evidence of contemporary artists and their works being mentioned on your blog? Are you interested in archival images and documents? If so try to research different sources. There is evidence of creative material per blog post but this could improve. Here are some resources that I recommend and might be of interest:
-The Feminist Five (a group of 5 Chinese activists that got arrested in 2015 for staging a protest in Beijing against sexual harassment in on public transport).
-Pink Feminism.
– The blog feministkillsjoy
– The documentary The F Word (2015)by Robert Adanto.
– The term intersectionality.
– Cyberfeminism.