Cheongsam

Cheongsam
A woman in a cheongsam
TypeDress / female outwear
MaterialDiverse, such as silk, silk-like material, cotton[1]
Place of originChina
Introduced20th century
Cheongsam
"Cheongsam" in Traditional (top) and Simplified (bottom) Chinese characters
Traditional Chinese長衫
Simplified Chinese长衫
Literal meaninglong garment
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinchángshān
Bopomofoㄔㄤˊ ㄕㄢ
IPA[ʈʂʰǎŋʂán]
Wu
Shanghainese
Romanization
zan3se1
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationchèuhng-sāam
Jyutpingcoeng4-saam1
IPA[tsʰœŋ˩sam˥]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJtn̂g-sann
Tâi-lôtn̂g-saⁿ
Qipao
Chinese旗袍
Literal meaningbanner gown
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinqípáo
Wade–Gilesch'i2-p'ao2
IPA[tɕʰǐpʰǎʊ]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationkèih pòuh
Jyutpingkei4 pou4-2
Southern Min
Hokkien POJkî-phâu
Tâi-lôkî-phâu

Cheongsam (UK: /(i)ɒŋˈsæm/, US: /ɔːŋˈsɑːm/) or zansae, also known as the qipao (/ˈp/) and sometimes referred to as the mandarin gown, is a Chinese dress worn by women which takes inspiration from the qizhuang, the ethnic clothing of the Manchu people.[2][better source needed] The cheongsam is most often seen as a longer, figure-fitting, one piece garment with a standing collar, an asymmetric, left-over-right (youren) opening and two side slits, and embellished with Chinese frog fasteners on the lapel and the collar. It was developed in the 1920s and evolved in shapes and design over years.[2][better source needed] It was popular in China from the 1920s to 1960s, overlapping with the Republican era, and was popularized by Chinese socialites and high society women in Shanghai.[3][4] Although the cheongsam is sometimes seen as traditional Chinese clothing, the cheongsam continues to evolve with times as it responds to the contemporary modern life.[2][better source needed]

  1. ^ Wei, Yulong (2017). "Research on the Evolution of Cheongsam Style in the Republican Period and Its Contemporary Application". Proceedings of the 2017 International Conference on Culture, Education and Financial Development of Modern Society (ICCESE 2017). Atlantis Press. doi:10.2991/iccese-17.2017.120. ISBN 978-94-6252-330-2.
  2. ^ a b c Han, Qingxuan (2019). Qipao and Female Fashion in Republican China and Shanghai (1912-1937): the Discovery and Expression of Individuality (Senior project). Bard College.
  3. ^ "Qipao (Ch'i-p'ao)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  4. ^ Stephanie, Ho; Singapore, National Library Board. "Cheongsam". www.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 12 December 2023.