Why Ancient Japanese Clothes Have Big Sleeves

Traditional Japanese national dress. In Japanese, it is known as a kimono.

Japanese clothing

In ancient times, Japan had long used the "Kohaku" (small-sleeved) garment with attached sleeves, which was created by combining the "body hakama" of the south and the "katsuo" of the north, with "body hakkuchi" (vents) at the bottom of the sleeve seams. From the 3rd century A.D., the Chinese robe was introduced to Japan and had an impact, and the "kozukuri" was developed in the Muromachi period (1338-1573) into the "nagajo kozukuri" with a knee-length hem and wide cuffs by absorbing the characteristics of the Wu costume (Wu costume of the Three Kingdoms period of China and the Wu costume of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of China), the Tang costume (costume of the Tang Dynasty of China), and the costume of the Ming Dynasty of China, and thus the basic form of the kimono was established.

The kimono is divided into men's, women's, children's, and children's singlet and jacket, and there are two types of kimono: the outer robe and the lower robe. The kimono is generally ankle-length, with a cross-necked collar, a right lapel, wide sleeves, a body eight mouths, no buttons or loops at the top and bottom, an obi belt, and a family crest printed on the garment. Men's kimonos are made of black, brown, gray, and dark blue fabrics, or fabrics with fine latticework, polka dots, and bird's-eye patterns. Women's kimonos are usually made of colorful silk fabrics with fine embroidery, paintings and additional ornaments. Women's kimono obi (obi) texture for the weaving or embroidery of the satin, about 3 ~ 5m long, about 25 ~ 40cm wide, usually a single strip of weaving without cutting, when wrapped in the waist between the chest, in the back of the knot, knotting, more than 200 kinds of exquisite. There are more than 200 kinds of knots. There is a small padding in the middle of the back of the obi to hold up the pleats of the obi. The kimono has always been a favorite of the Japanese people at various social events.

Japanese Costume - Characteristics of the Kimono

The kimono is cut in a flat pattern and consists almost entirely of straight lines, which creates the beauty of the kimono. There are almost no curves in the cut of the kimono, except for a 20-centimeter opening at the neck pit, where the excess is folded over when the collar is put on. If the kimono is disassembled, one can see that the fabric used to make the kimono is still a complete rectangle. Because of the above characteristics of kimono cutting and making, there is more freedom in the measurements. The size of the person is less of a factor in the making of a kimono, and even if people of different heights and weights wear kimonos of the same size, the impression that the kimono does not fit is seldom given. This is because it is possible to adjust the size of the kimono at the waist depending on the person. Although the kimono is basically composed of straight lines and is worn in a straight shape, which lacks the display of the human body's curves, it shows solemnity, stability, and serenity, which is in line with the temperament of the Japanese people. Not only that, but the kimono also responds to Japanese nature; the vast majority of Japan is warm and humid, so the ventilation of the garment is very important. Because the kimono is relatively loose, there are as many as 8 ventilation holes on the clothes, and the sleeves, lapel, and train of the kimono can be opened and closed freely, so it is very suitable for the climate of Japan.