Hmm. Not a lot of easy pickings here on the museum search. If you could find an illustrated copy of the Rites of Zhou, there might be clothing illustrations in it. There seems to be a prevalent belief that peasant clothing was regional until the unification under the First Emperor, and then maybe he tried to standardize clothing while he was standardizing everything else? Which doesn't tell you what the standard *was*, alas.
Here is a picture of two figures, listed as "A female servant and male advisor in Chinese silk robes" from the Western Han Period, 202 BC to 9 AD: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:China.Terracotta_statues007.jpg Here's a dancer from the same period: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1992.165.19 and a musician: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1994.605.85a-c My browser is not finding the image here, but maybe yours will. I t's supposed to be a figurine of a woman from the Warring States Period, 476–221 B.C. : http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/figurine-of-a-standing-woman-20272 This piece seems to indicate that cotton was only introduced to China around 200 BC. So your peasants wouldn't be wearing cotton. Maybe linen? http://www.sccfsac.org/textiles.html and, an interesting article on some ancient silk, cotton, and linen Chineses textile finds, including some surprisingly early dates for some dyes. http://history.cultural-china.com/en/56History9723.html If you want to use movie costumes for refer ence, there's always Hero. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0299977/ Best, Lauren Walker ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sharon Collier" <sha...@collierfam.com> To: "Historical Costume" <h-cost...@indra.com> Sent: Sunday, December 2, 2012 1:36:23 AM Subject: Re: [h-cost] Chinese peasant costumes... help? Any help in the movie "Mulan"? It's been a while since I saw it, but it may have some ideas. Sharon C. -----Original Message----- From: h-costume-boun...@indra.com [mailto:h-costume-boun...@indra.com] On Behalf Of WorkroomButtons.com Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2012 6:18 PM To: Historical Costume Subject: [h-cost] Chinese peasant costumes... help? ...or Tales of a Band Mom. This year's winter percussion piece is "Terra Cotta Warriors" and first order of business... peasant costumes for kids in the pit (stationary instruments like xylophones, chimes, etc.) What the heck did Chinese peasants wear in 3rd century BC? Our band director is proposing simple wrap-style tunics (like short kimonos) and scrub pants torn below the knee -- both dyed in earthy colors. Semi-accurate? Horrible? Are conical hats appropriate? --although I can see them getting knocked off. I'm clueless, and can find neither image nor description. Part II will be terracotta soldier costumes to be worn by very active teenagers with drums, but I need to deal with the peasants first. Help? _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
