Cheongsam

Cheongsam (also known as Qipao) evolved from the Manchu female's changpao (long gown) of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The Manchu ethnic people were also called the Qi people (the banner people) by the Han people in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), hence the name of their long gown, Qipao.

Qipao

Qipao Facts

• The qipao originated from Manchurian costume during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912).
• The qipao was the official formal dress during the Qing Dynasty era.
• Both "qipao" (Mandarin) and "cheongsam" (Cantonese) are used to describe the same Chinese dress worn by women.
• In Hong Kong, the cheongsam is used as formal school uniform.
• A "cheongsam" worn by a male is called a changshan in Mandarin, which means 'long shirt'.

The History of the Cheongsam

Origins of the Qipao

The history of cheongsams can be dated back to the Qing Dynasty era (1644–1912). During the Qing Dynasty's reign, the Manchu ethnic group people was called Qi people by Han Chinese. So, the long gown (pao) they wore was called a qipao by the Han Chinese. At that time, officials and scholars of the Qing court were required to wear qipaos as their daily uniform.

Further Transformation of the Qipao

At the end of Qing Dynasty, the cheongsam was continuously developed during the Republic of China era (1912–1949). The modernized cheongsam style became slender and tight-fitting with a high cut, which suited the 20th-century tastes of young women in Shanghai and Beijing. Cheongsams also became more and more popular because celebrities and high-class women wore them in formal occasions.

The Republican period was the golden age of the cheongsam. From 1930, the cheongsam became very popular in China with females regardless of their age or social status, but especially with upper-class females. The style of cheongsams also changed to be more fashionable and beautiful. The modernized cheongsam was one of the best outfits for showing a woman's body line at that time.

Modern Cheongsam

Features of Cheongsams in Different Periods

Qing Dynasty: A long rope without sleeves and collars. 

Republic of China: Shanghai-style cheongsams had loose, long, and wide sleeves. They became more and more tightly-fitted and body-hugging to show a woman's curves. Cheongsams were chosen as the national dress for official occasions during the Republic of China period.

1940s: Women wore qipaos with stockings from this time and no longer wore long trousers with qipaos. High heels also became more and more popular for wearing with qipaos.

The Modern China Era (from 1949): The cheongsam became fashionable in films, fashion shows, TV Shows, and more types of formal occasions. Many female diplomatic agents and members of government wore qipaos to formal meetings.

Qipao Styles in Old China

Qipao Styles in Modern China

Parts of a Qipao

There are about six main elements of a qipao: a Mandarin collar, pankou buttons, the 'large front', the edging, sleeves, and the length and side slits.

Part one: A Mandarin collar is a characteristic element of a qipao, usually made from a single piece of material. The two ends of the collar fasten at the center of the front of the neck (the jugular notch). The height of the collar range from 4 to 6 centimeters (1½–2½") depending on personal preferences.

Part two: Pankous are traditional Chinese knotted buttons, which are used to fasten a qipao tightly. There are many kinds of pankou on qipaos. The most common style is the straight pankou. There are about five pankous on each qipao. Two pankous are located along the neck line and another three are set along the side of the chest portion.

Parts of Qipao

Part three: The front part of qipao is called a 'large front'. The front parts of a qipao can be designed in different shapes or lengths. The pankous decorate and fasten the upper part of the 'large front'. Nowadays, the right-opening and large-rounded front is much more popular than the straight-slanted front.

Part four: The edgings are finished with at least one of four special edging techniques: gun ('rolling'), xiang ('inlaid'), qian ('embedded'), and/or dang ('flowing/free'). Some designers use different materials to make the edges look more beautiful and tidier.

Part five: Sleeves can be of different shapes and lengths. Sometimes you will see sleeveless qipaos, which are good for the summer season.

Qipao Sleeves

Part six: length and side slits… The length of a qipao ranges from above the knee to ankle length. The side slits of a qipao became more and more popular during the Republic of China period, and now form part of the classic qipao look.

Styles of Cheongsam

Originating in the Qing Dynasty, the cheongsam has mainly developed into Beijing styles, Shanghai styles and Hong Kong styles. There are many, many differences in decorations, colors, materials, and designs.

Beijing-Style Cheongsams

The Beijing style is also called the Jing Pai style. As capital of the Qing Dynasty and modern China, Beijing's cheongsam style is more traditional and conservative than Shanghai's and Hong Kong's. The colors of Beijing-style qipaos are much brighter and their decoration is more complicated than other styles'. High-quality Beijing-style cheongsams are hand-made, which means they take a longer time to make, and the price of a hand-made cheongsam is much higher.

Beijing Style Qipao

Shanghai-Style Cheongsams

The Shanghai-style is called Hai Pai style in Mandarin. Compared to Beijing-style, Shanghai-style cheongsams are more commercial and forward-looking. More Western elements are used in the designs and colors of Shanghai-style cheongsams. They are a blend of Western and Eastern styles. Shanghai-style cheongsams became the most popular qipao style during the Republic of China period due to their fashionable designs and slim shape. Nowadays, Shanghai-style qipaos are still the majority choice and particularly popular with younger women in China.

Shanghai Style Qipao

Hong-Kong-style Cheongsams

Hong-Kong-style cheongsams were influenced greatly by European fashions. The sleeves of Hong-Kong-style cheongsams are shorter than the Beijing and Shanghai styles'. The decorations are simpler too. It was common to see women in Hong Kong wearing a traditional cheongsam with their high-heel shoes, a leather handbag, and white gloves in the 1950s.

Cheongsam Wedding Dresses

At Chinese weddings, brides often wear a white wedding dress and change into a cheongsam for the tea ceremony. Cheongsams worn for weddings are modernized to fit the latest fashion trends.

Chinese Wedding Dress

Cheongsams for Men

A cheongsam worn by a man is called a changshan, which means a 'long shirt'. It is also called a changpao in some cases. The changshan was the official uniform for the Qing Dynasty court. Nowadays, changshans are worn only on special days or formal occasions, such as weddings or important events.

Cheongsam for Man

Occasions for Wearing Qipaos

There are many occasions when you can wear a qipao in China, such as for a wedding, taking (family) photos, having a special dinner, and taking part in big events or parties. Sometimes you will see women wearing cheongsams together to celebrate birthdays or just for a get together.

Nowadays, qipaos have become daily clothes for many Chinese women.

Qipao

Weddings: More and more young females in China wear a cheongsam during their wedding ceremony. Brides often prepare two cheongsams for a wedding. One is for the formal ceremony and the other for the banquet or tea ceremony.

Important events: You will often see actresses wearing cheongsams for public events or to present sport events. The models for auto shows and house shows often wear cheongsams too.

FAQs about Cheongsam (Qipao)

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