Hanfu
Why Was the Hanfu Banned?
The ban on hanfu dress, traditional Han Chinese clothing, occurred during the Qing Dynasty in the 17th century. The Qing rulers were of Manchu ethnicity, and they imposed the ban as part of their efforts to suppress Han Chinese culture and promote their own.
The Manchu rulers enforced a policy called the “Queue Order” or “Queue Law,” which required Han Chinese men to adopt the Manchu hairstyle, which involved shaving the front of the head and wearing the hair in a long braid (known as a queue) at the back. This policy was a symbol of submission to Manchu rule.
Additionally, the Qing government restricted the wearing of hanfu, the traditional attire of the Han Chinese, as they considered it a symbol of Han identity and cultural pride. By banning hanfu and promoting Manchu clothing styles, the Qing rulers aimed to assimilate the Han Chinese population into Manchu culture and suppress any expressions of Han nationalism or cultural independence.
The ban on hanfu and the Queue Order remained in effect throughout much of the Qing Dynasty’s rule, although there were periods of relaxation and enforcement varied in different regions and under different emperors. The ban was eventually lifted with the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912. Today, there is a revival of interest in modern hanfu, both within China and among the global Chinese diaspora, as a cultural heritage and a symbol of identity and pride.