Longhua | |||||||
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![]() Qing Empress dowager (left) and Empress (middle) wearing longhua collar, Qing dynasty,1900. | |||||||
Traditional Chinese | 龍華 | ||||||
Simplified Chinese | 龙华 | ||||||
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Alternative Chinese name | |||||||
Chinese | 龙华领巾 | ||||||
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Longhua (龍華) were white, scarf-like collars worn by Manchu women in the early to mid-Qing dynasty. It was worn all year around when robes without collar were worn.[1]
Robes and jackets in the Qing dynasty were generally round-necked.[2] Clothing with high collars or neckbands already existed since the late Ming dynasty, however, in Qing, high collar clothing were only worn on an occasional basis.[2] Detachable collars were therefore produced and sold separately from the garments.[2] They were then used for decorative purposes, for keeping its wearer warm and in formal official attire.[2] During the late Qing, the high collar was eventually integrated to both the clothing of the Chinese and the Manchu as standard features.[2] With the rise of collars in garments, longhua slowly disappeared in use.[1]