How to be a noblewoman in Tang Dynasty? (Part 1)
Step Back in Time: The Fascinating Fashion of Tang Dynasty Women
The Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) was one of China's most exciting and colorful periods, and its fashion was just as amazing! In this blog post, we’ll take a fun journey through the clothing, hairstyles, and makeup of Tang Dynasty women. From flowing skirts and shawls to fancy forehead decorations, their style was full of creativity and personality. Let’s explore this incredible world of Tang fashion, perfect for junior learners and optimized for search engines!
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The Basics of Tang Women's Clothing
Imagine dressing up in the Tang Dynasty—what would you wear? Women’s outfits back then had three main parts: a qun (裙）, a shan （衫）, and a shawl . Before the Tang period, women in ancient China usually wore just skirts and shirts. But Tang ladies added a special shawl called a "pei" (say it like "pay"（帔）), which they draped over their shoulders. This made their outfits stand out, and people sometimes called their whole style "pei clothing" because the shawl was so important!
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How Tang Fashion Changed Over Time
Tang women didn’t stick to one look—their fashion changed as the years went by. Here’s a quick guide to how their style evolved:
- Early Tang (618-712 AD): At first, clothes were slim and snug, almost like a tight hug! Women often wore "Hu" clothing and hats, inspired by nomadic people from the north. These outfits were simple and practical, with fewer hairpins or fancy accessories.
- Prosperous Tang (712-755 AD): When the Tang Dynasty was at its richest and happiest, fashion got bigger and bolder. Skirts and shirts became loose and flowy, and women tried out cool hairstyles. One was the "cicada wing" style , with delicate hair at the sides that looked like tiny wings. Another was the "Japanese-style" bun , a loose, dangling bun borrowed from Japan’s trends.
- Mid-Tang (755-835 AD): After a big event called the An Lushan Rebellion shook things up, fashion shifted again. Women started painting their eyebrows in a wide, soft style called "shaded eyebrows" , and the nomadic "Hu" clothing wasn’t as popular anymore.
- Late Tang (835-907 AD): Toward the end of the Tang Dynasty, things got super fancy! A style called "nao zhuang" took over, with outfits that were layered and dazzling—like a fashion party on your clothes!
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Makeup and Accessories: The Noble Woman’s Special Touch
Rich and noble Tang women didn’t just wear stunning clothes—they also had awesome makeup! Besides using everyday stuff like face powder, cheek blush, and lip color, they added a unique decoration called a "huadian" . This was a small, bright ornament placed right between their eyebrows, showing off their high status. The huadian could be made from cool materials like gold leaf , paper ,fish scales or even tea oil cakes , and it usually came in colors like red, green, or yellow. They’d stick it on with special glue (sometimes made from fish!) or even a little spit—pretty creative, right?
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Why Tang Fashion Rocks
From the slim, simple looks of the early Tang to the wild, layered styles of the late Tang, women’s fashion in this dynasty was always changing and full of surprises. The pei shawl, foreign influences like "Hu" clothing, and special makeup like the huadian made their style a mix of art, culture, and history. Next time you see a picture of a Tang Dynasty woman, check out her outfit and makeup—you’ll spot some of these awesome details!
Tang Dynasty fashion isn’t just old clothes—it’s a story of how people lived, traded ideas, and expressed themselves. Pretty cool for something from over a thousand years ago!
Well done! I guess you can distinguish who is the noblewomen if you were living in Tang Dynasty!!
Discount Code: huadian