I need advice for old asian clothing

Discussion in 'Author Discussions' started by Spnagi, Dec 16, 2018.

  1. Spnagi

    Spnagi Well-Known Member

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    Hello.

    At this moment I am a little stuck in my chapters, I do not have too much idea to describe the clothes of
    my characters, I read novels, but there is not much thing.

    What did they wear as clothes in Asia a long time ago?

    I only know Bambo hat, Secte cloth , Little skirt ,black cape.

    Thank.
     
  2. MangoGuy

    MangoGuy Rambling Mango

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    ... You barely scratched the surface there, tbh. I am driving now, so...
     
  3. Sleyzhi

    Sleyzhi Active Member

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    maybe some chinese or asian dramas taking place a log time ago can help you. Try looking for them and watching a couple of episodes.
     
  4. kcao1199

    kcao1199 Well-Known Member

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    Perhaps you should do some more research on what you specifically want. Think: location, time period, historical reasoning behind it. It may help you figure out what you may actually want
     
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  5. Echoes

    Echoes 【Wandering Monk】

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    Try watching some asian drama or something.
    My fav Legend of condor heroes and Journey to the west.
     
  6. chillo

    chillo NUF BioTerrorist

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    just throw some rabbit pelt to any peasant and its winter clothing.
     
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  7. fuzor100

    fuzor100 Standby mode...

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    The rich wear silk, the poor wear hemp clothing.
     
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  8. BlaszczeM

    BlaszczeM Well-Known Member

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    Google qipao, changpao, cheongsam.
    Though you can get away with saying "robe" or for females "dress" most of the time, since that's what like almost everyone wore. And the benefit is, almost everyone who reads Chinese or CN-themed novels knows at least somewhat how the clothes should look, and can mostly imagine. And those who don't know too well would have to google images for the clothes.
    Higher class would wear silk robes with embroidery (again, google for how the look, and preferably google the traditional clother for different social standing, since for example emperors or king would wear silk robes, in expensive colors like gold, and embroidered with a dragon, and there are also differences how many fingers the claws can have, for example a prince could wear a robe with a dragon, but it has to have less fingers than the emperor's robe). Also, colors matter - young masters that want to appear clean and like a "jade-like gentleman" would wear white silk robes. Scholars would wear for example simple, maybe cotton robes (cause scholars were generally poor), and for example blue in color. Also, they wore something like a coat over their robe (google chinese scholar robe).
    Poor ppl would wear for example grey or brown clothes, and made from cheap, corse cloth, often with patches. And poor usually would go barefoot.
    General rule - the more expensive the emroidery, if it is there, the better the material, the colors (white, purple, red, the like were more expensive, ether due to the dye, or the white cause if they got dirty, it's hard to clean), the higher the social standing and wealth of the character.
    Well, that's assuming you're writing a typical China-inspired novel. If the theme is Korean, or Japanese, it'd be a bit more difficult, since it's the CN novels that are most popular of those set in old times. Also, when it comes to smaller countries in Asia, it becomes even harder.
     
  9. AeonicI

    AeonicI Well-Known Member

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    google it....
    traditional Korean/Chinese/Japanese/Malaysian clothes.

    If you’re looking for Indian like costumes search Igorot clothes
     
  10. AerynW

    AerynW Well-Known Member

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    In ancient China, depending on the dynasty or time period, the color of the clothes also separate the class.
    You can describe the length of the sleeves, loose or tight. The sash, inner robes, outer robes, # of layers, shoes, jewelry, accessories, hairstyle, etc.

    You can also search up Hanfu.
     
  11. k1nk4

    k1nk4 Sage Verdurous Sea Turtle

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    except for the obvious fan service, you should find nice ideas for woman clothing here... you can try watching asian/wuxia/old series adaptations.
    as a content creator, I have wasted a lot of time paying attention to not important little details, so I strongly recommend you not to bother too much with it.
     
  12. jimmy1989

    jimmy1989 Well-Known Member

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    Watch the two brothers jet li movies old ones
     
  13. Spnagi

    Spnagi Well-Known Member

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    I nothing to say, but i don't know where to find it. Sorry !

    Drama, I did not think about that ! Thank.

    Normally, it should go as long as it is not modern. Because the novel is a martial world.

    If it had been secondary characters, that would be fine, but I will soon introduce a very important female character and I do not want to write an ordinary chapter for this character.


    I have nothing to say, except that it will help me a lot. Thank you so much.


    What I had planned was not really a fan-service, although I could have done it afterwards.

    It is rather Some very specific character, for those there, I want to devote a little more time to detail. Like a female character that I will soon introduce, or the prince of another country.
    I want my character to feel that these characters are more important than others.




    Anyway, thank you all these tips will allow me to better describe the specific chapters I would like to write.
    I can imagine it in my head, but I could not describe it.
    I will have enough materiel now.
     
  14. Shio

    Shio Moderator Staff Member

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    That is a very, very inaccurate reference for old chinese clothing lol.
     
  15. Temairine

    Temairine Well-Known Member

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    Women usually wear ruqun/hanfu. Style is very dependant upon dynasty. Also very specific names for hairstyles/jewellery - such as buyao, gold lock and so on. Embroidery pattern of the fabric mattered as well as the locale it came from. So you might have "crane embroidered red shu brocade" The main issue would be making sure that what they wear is status appropriate and realistic. For example in some cases only a legal wife could wear red - not concubines. Also only emperor could have a dragon robe and so on...

    To be fair the novel they are writing is a xianxia spin off. So the references are more pertinent than if they were writing a historical drama.
     
  16. CrispyNoodle

    CrispyNoodle 『Noodle Overlo*d』『Open Pervert』『Onii-chan』

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    Asia? There's so many different Asian country and culture which wears different clothes, which one do you mean?
     
  17. sutoku

    sutoku New Member

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    Ancient Japanese clothing(not distinguished by time period or social class):
    貫頭衣(kantoui)
    アットゥシ(atushi)(not originally Japanese)
    袴(hakama)
    着物(kimono)(there are many different types of kimono)
    帯(obi) (belt that goes with kimono)
    上帯(variant of the obi for samurai)
    大袖(This is also ancient Chinese clothes)
    胴服(jacket i think?)
    Heian court formal wear.(can't post link)
    水干(not sure how to describe this in English)
    直垂(samurai clothing)
    裃(formal wear)
    道着 or 稽古着(martial art training uniform)
    浄衣(Jōe)(religious ceremony clothing)
    甚平(Jinbei)
    羽織(haori)(coat)
    鉢巻(bandanna)
    額隠(white triangle cloth seen on Japanese ghosts)(Only really seen in Theater)
    法被(Another coat)
    This is not comprehensive list. Just all that I could remember.
     
    Last edited: Dec 16, 2018
  18. Spnagi

    Spnagi Well-Known Member

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    It is a bit too detailed in this case, against it could be used with a specific character.

    Basically, I wanted references on China, Japan and Korea. I think I have enough data.
    It might help me that too, thank.