Chinese patterns date back to the Tang Dynasty and are some of the most intricate and well-known in the world. While many people think of traditional Chinese designs as just decoration, these patterns actually serve a functional purpose, communicating information about the object they’re used on. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most common traditional Chinese patterns and what they mean. So, if you’re ever in China and see some familiar designs, you’ll be able to appreciate them even more!
What are Traditional Chinese Patterns in Clothes?
Traditional Chinese patterns can be found on a variety of clothing items, from dresses and skirts to shirts and pants. Common motifs include Dragons, Phoenixes, and Tigers, which are often seen as symbols of strength and power. Floral designs are also popular, and they are often used to represent different seasons or stages of life. For example, the plum blossom is associated with winter, while the chrysanthemum is associated with autumn. In addition to their symbolic meaning, these patterns are also incredibly beautiful, making them a popular choice for both everyday wear and formal occasions. Animal patterns, plant patterns, those exquisite patterns and features all reflect Chinese culture.
Take Hanfu as an example.
The patterns of Chinese Hanfu are generally derived from nature, extracting the most refined and essential things in nature, and then exaggerating and deforming them, thus making it more focused on the expression of the spirit and ignoring the characteristics of the original shape. Usually the pattern is repeated, and this repetition has rhythm and rhythm. The repeated pattern not only expands the area of the pattern, but also makes the tension and direction of the pattern stronger and more dynamic with the breath of life.
Plant Patterns:
Lonicera Japonica
Lonicera japonica is a kind of herb that grows in sprawling pairs of nodes and does not wither in winter. It blooms in March and April and is white at first, then turns yellow, so it is also called “honeysuckle”. The pattern is a botanical motif developed from the plant, representing tolerance and perseverance, and is often found on ceramics, Buddhist motifs, and clothing patterns. The pattern, with an “s” shape as the skeleton, has leaves growing on each side of it, both back-to-back and facing each other. The Lonicera pattern was introduced to China with Buddhism at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and flourished during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, developing into the Chinese characteristic scrolling grass pattern in the Tang Dynasty.
Curly Grass Pattern
The curly grass pattern, prevalent in the Tang Dynasty, is therefore also called Tang grass pattern. It is developed from the lonicera pattern, not with a specific object of a plant in nature, but with a specific expression of the form of cloudiness. There is a continuous wave of plant stems, with a combination of wavy lines and tangent lines, and a wave in two opposite directions, forming an S-shaped pattern of continuous branches and vines. The “S” curve is the main stem, combined with the image of branches, leaves, flowers and fruits. Most of the branches and leaves of peonies are taken, and curly and varied lines are used. It is mostly seen in architectural decoration, dyeing and weaving, furniture and ceramics, etc.
Animal Patterns:
Joint Bead Pattern
The joint bead pattern is composed of a small bead, the beads in rows of strips or in a circle, surrounding the theme pattern, common within the joint bead presents symmetrical animal patterns, common pig head, lion head, horse, deer, dragon, phoenix, etc.. The joint bead pattern was introduced to China from Central Asia during the Wei-Jin and North-South dynasties, and gradually developed into a traditional characteristic pattern in China after the fusion in China, and developed to its heyday in the Sui and Tang dynasties.
Taotie Motifs
Taotie motifs, also known as animal-faced motifs, are traditional Chinese motifs with strong mystical overtones, and are not highly used in the language of dress as a whole. They are often found in bronze vessels and were prevalent in prehistory and the early Western Zhou Dynasty of the Shang dynasty. Most of the Taotie motifs are constructed symmetrically with the nose as the center line and left and right, focusing on the frontal shape. There are horns on the head and eyes under the horns, and the eyes are usually large and round, not angry and powerful. The eyes had an important place in the symbols of the ancients, and the ancients believed that the eyes were the most expressive of “God”, so they were particularly prominent in the image of the Taotie.
Cicada Decoratione
Cicada decoration is one of the decorative patterns in ancient China, which means auspiciousness and is often found on bronze and jade.
The metamorphosis of cicadas is also called “rejuvenation”, which means coming back from the dead and being immortalized. The cicadas represent nobility, and they are found on the emperor’s crown and the bodhisattva’s crown. At the same time, the cicada symbolizes love and many children.
The Cloudy Air Pattern
The cloudy air pattern arose during the Han and Wei dynasties and originated from the Chinese folk’s reverence for nature and worship of the gods.
It is a pattern composed of smooth, circular, vortex-shaped lines, and is generally used as a ground pattern for images of gods and goddesses, beasts, and the four gods, but also appears alone, signifying high ascension and good fortune. In silk weaving patterns, the cloud pattern is often used as the main pattern in the picture, and the distribution of other patterns is interspersed with it, which is colorful and has a strong sense of flow.
The Kiwi Pattern
The kiwi pattern is called kiwi because its shape resembles the Chinese character for “back”. The kiwi pattern is an evolution of the cloud and thunder pattern. It can be divided into “cloud pattern” and “thunder pattern,” with the cloud pattern being a circular continuous composition and the thunder pattern being a square continuous composition. The cloud and thunder pattern mainly appeared in the late Neolithic period, probably from the development of swirling patterns.
The Twelve Chapters pattern
The Twelve Chapters pattern is a symbol of dress hierarchy in the imperial era of China. The emperor and senior officials on the dress painted and embroidered twelve kinds of patterns, respectively, the sun, moon, stars, mountains, dragons, worms, Zongyi [宗彝] (refers to the tiger and a long-tailed ape embroidered on the ceremonial dress of the emperor), algae, fire, powder rice, fu [黼] (black and white axe-like pattern), fu [黻] (black and green pattern).
Although traditional Chinese patterns are often overlooked in the West, they offer a wealth of design opportunities for those who are willing to look. With their intricate details and complex designs, these patterns can add an elegant touch to any project. If you’re interested in using traditional Chinese patterns in your own work, be sure to do your research and find a reputable source. With a little effort, you can create beautiful pieces that reflect the unique beauty of this ancient art form.
