Bixi (clothing)

Bixi (Chinese: 蔽膝; pinyin: bìxī; lit. 'Cover knee'; Korean: 폐슬; Hanja: 蔽膝; RR: Pyeseul), also known as fu (Chinese: 韍; lit. 'kneepad'),^[1] is generic term which refers to a type of traditional Chinese decorative piece of fabric, which acts as a knee covering, in Hanfu.^[2] The bixi originated in China where it originated from the primitive clothing of the ancient; since then, it continued to be worn by both men and women,^[3] and eventually became part of the Chinese ceremonial attire.^[2] The bixi was later introduced in Korea during Goryeo and Joseon by the Ming dynasty, along with many garments for royalties.^[4][5]

Bixi
Illustration of a bixi found in the Chinese encyclopedia Gujin Tushu Jicheng, section "Ceremonial Usages", between 1700 and 1725 AD.
Chinese name
Chinese	蔽膝
Literal meaning	Knee cover
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin bìxī
Alternative Chinese name
Chinese	韍
Literal meaning	Kneepad
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Fú
Korean name
Hangul	폐슬
Hanja	蔽膝
Transcriptions Revised Romanization Pyeseul

History

 

A Standing dignitary wearing a bixi over his yichang, Shang dynasty, 12th-11th century BC.

The bixi originated from primitive clothing back when animal hides were used to cover the abdomen and the genitals.^[2]

During the Shang dynasty, the basic style of clothing for men and women consisted of yichang and bixi.^[6]

Among many other types of female clothing items, the bixi was listed in tomb inventories dating from 361 AD.^[7]

In the Ming dynasty, the bixibecame part of the official clothing.^[3]

Construction and design

The bixi is a length of fabric which is typically long enough to reach the kneel-level and cover the front legs when attached to the waist of its wearer.^{[citation needed]}

Usage

Male clothing attire

A red bixi was worn as part of the mianfu which was worn by the Chinese emperors.^[2]

A crimson bixi was worn as part of the tongtianguanfu.^[8][9]

• Bixi in court and ceremonial attire
•  
  Emperor Zhao of Han with a red bixi.
•  
  Emperor Wu of Jin dynasty wearing mianfu with a red bixi.
•  
  Wanli Emperor wearing a red bixi as part of the mianfu, Ming dynasty.
•  
  Emperor Xuanzu of Song wearing tongtianguanfu with a crimson bixi.

Female clothing attire

A bixi was also worn with the diyi worn by Chinese empresses; the bixi worn in the diyi hanged in front of the garment and had the same colour as the bottom colour as the lower skirt.^[10]

• Bixi in court and ceremonial attire
•  
  Song dynasty empress wearing diyi with a bixi.

Gallery

•  
•  
•  
•  

See also

• Hanfu
• List of Hanfu
• Mianfu

References

1. Zhang, Fa (2016). History and spirit of chinese art. Honolulu. p. 13. ISBN 978-1-62320-130-2. OCLC 933763535.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
2. Hua, Mei (2011). Chinese clothing (Updated ed.). Cambridge, United Kingdom. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-521-18689-6. OCLC 781020660.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
3. Zhongguo xie zhen hua. Shanming Guan, 關善明 (Di 1 ban ed.). Xianggang: Mu wen tang mei shu chu ban she you xian gong si. 2003. p. 38. ISBN 988-97206-2-0. OCLC 56424659.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
4. "폐슬(蔽膝) - 한국민족문화대백과사전". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
5. "폐슬(蔽膝)". Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture. from the original on 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
6. Lüsted, Marcia Amidon (2016). Ancient Chinese daily life (First ed.). New York. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-4777-8889-9. OCLC 957525459.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
7. Dien, Albert E. (2007). Six dynasties civilization. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press. p. 324. ISBN 978-0-300-07404-8. OCLC 72868060.
8. 5000 years of Chinese costumes. Xun Zhou, Chunming Gao, 周汛, Shanghai Shi xi qu xue xiao. Zhongguo fu zhuang shi yan jiu zu. San Francisco, CA: China Books & Periodicals. 1987. pp. 108–109. ISBN 0-8351-1822-3. OCLC 19814728.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
9. "宋代皇帝服饰：通天冠服 - 栖凤阁汉服网|最美中国风 尽在栖凤阁 Powered by Hishop". hanfudian.com. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
10. Zhang, Shuhua; Shanat, Musdi bin Hj; Abdullah, Qistina Donna Lee (2021-03-31). "The Expression of Religious Elements and Factors of Religious Thoughts in the Empress's Ceremonial Costume "Hui Yi" of Song Dynasty". International Journal of Service Management and Sustainability. 6 (1): 89–108. doi:10.24191/ijsms.v6i1.12880. ISSN 2550-1569.