Tujia and Bai Costumes in Zhangjiajie
According to historical records, Tujia clothing was called "xibu," "dongbu," or "tujin" in the Song Dynasty. Later, influenced by advanced Han techniques, Tujia people made aprons from self-woven and self-dyed "tubu." In modern times, Tujia clothing has changed greatly but still retains many traditional styles. Tujia people always wear the pipa-lapel-style full-front garment.
This article has been compiled from historical materials on 'Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network' (33519.com · Specialty Foods / Cuisine / Customs section). Prices, business hours, administrative divisions, and statistical data mentioned in the text may already be outdated. Before traveling, please refer to the latest announcements from merchants, scenic areas, and local competent authorities; the parts involving folk legends and folk customs are local historical and cultural anecdotes, provided for cultural reference.
Tujia Clothing
According to historical records, the clothing of the Tujia people was called "Xi cloth," "Dong cloth," "Tujia brocade," etc., in the Song Dynasty. Later, influenced by advanced Han Chinese techniques, Tujia people used self-woven and self-dyed "homespun cloth" to make aprons. In modern times, Tujia clothing has undergone tremendous changes, but many traditional styles are still retained. Tujia people have always worn the full-front garment characterized by the pipa lapel. It has a shoulder yoke, low collar, large cuffs, and rolled floral borders. Men tie waist belts; women wear embroidered aprons. Both wrap their heads with blue cloth turbans or silk turbans—men's turbans have a section hanging down past the ear on the left side, while women wrap their heads completely. Unmarried girls keep long hair tied in braids, bound at both ends with red string, with "bangs" left on the forehead. Married women coil their hair up, pin it, and insert silver ornaments. Trousers are mostly black or blue, with white cloth waistbands attached, and the trouser legs are short and wide. Young and middle-aged men wear leg wraps; women's trousers are edged with contrasting-colored cloth and decorated with three evenly spaced plum-blossom strips. On their feet they wear blue cloth tile shoes and wrap white foot-binding cloth. On festive occasions or when visiting relatives and friends, they dress up differently, such as adding toothpick pendants and silver plaques.
Bai Clothing
"Revering white" is a conspicuous characteristic of the Bai people. Both men and women love to wear white clothing, hence the saying "To be pretty, dress all in mourning white." In the past, the white cloth worn was also called "home-loom cloth," made by the Bai people themselves planting cotton, spinning yarn, weaving on home looms, and washing and bleaching by traditional methods; their clothing is beautiful and elegant. Generally speaking, men wear a white cloth turban of five chi, seven chi, or nine chi. On the upper body they wear a white front-buttoned cloth-button undershirt, with a blue full-shoulder mandarin jacket over it, a peach-blossom-patterned pouch at the waist, and a tasseled purse; on the lower body they wear blue wide-legged trousers, white cloth socks, and Heavenly Official cloud-head shoes. Women wear a white embroidered kerchief over the head, earrings in both ears, bracelets or rings on their hands, an embroidered apron over their clothes tied with embroidered streamers, and three or five strings of silver toothpick pendants hung on the upper right chest. On the lower body they wear blue wide trousers, wrap their feet in white foot-binding cloth, and wear embroidered pointed shoes. Unmarried women coil their hair in a "zanba"—coiled at the back of the head it is called "baba," coiled on top of the head it is called a high bun; the bun is covered with a net and a hairpin is inserted horizontally. Children's clothes are mostly embroidered, with a bellyband worn outside, a tiger-head drum-needle Bodhisattva hat on the head, a "neck ring" and "hundred-family lock" around the neck, and silver rings on the wrists with small pendants attached, bearing hammers, bells, shoes, axes, toothpicks, and so on.
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