Japan occupies an archipelago that stretches for 2,400 km, isolated by the sea from the rest of the world. Its geographical location, as well as long periods of political and cultural isolation, have fueled the idea of ​​uniqueness. However, Japan has been largely influenced by the neighboring countries, especially China, which prided itself on an ancient civilization and highly evolved that Japan was still living in the Stone Age. It was natural that Japan would seek guidance from its neighbor in all matters of technology, religion, economics, and even fashion.

Japanese political structure was also influenced by Chinese traditions, but rather ineffective. Before the 7th century AD, Japan was divided between several clans, headed by an emperor inept. Then, in 645, the Fujiwara clan came to power and began to shape the destiny of Japan.

Jknihitoe and the Heian

In the ninth century the powerful Fujiwara clan chief had been appointed regent of the reigning emperor. The Heian period (794-1185 AD) had begun. Known as the first great peak of Japanese culture, the Heian period is characterized by courtly elegance. In effect, the aristocracy took a great interest in clothes. Japanese noblewomen wore two gowns Jknihitoe or without coating consisted of twelve unlined garments of different colors, used on top of each other so that a narrow band of each robe was visible on the neck, sleeves and hem.

Under Jknihitoe, women wore sleeveless or small kosode The Hot Sexy Lingeries was composed of T-shaped black silk of two rectangular pieces of cloth sewn together in the center of the back and edges. Two additional pieces of tissue were added to the front. The collar and sleeves, with a small opening for the wrists, is attached at the end. Kosode, the forerunner of the kimono, had to be mounted to the body every time you put on.

The Heian nobles wore sleeves or large dsode The great tunic with wide sleeves with large wrist openings and was worn with long pants and thick.

Outside the courtroom, people lived a simple and modest life. Peasants could afford only base fibers and most had never seen the fine silks worn by the nobility. The abundant existence elite met criticism from leaders underprivileged provincial clans, which eventually could lead to the disappearance of the Fujiwara.

Kosode and the Edo

In the period 1185-1333 AD power passed to the military dictators known as Shogun. Officially ruled in name of Emperor, but actually independent. His military checkpoints were the samurai. Both shogun and samurai lived according to Zen Buddhist ideals and dress simply was a virtue. The volume of clothing was reduced layer by layer and kosode, was once Hot Sexy Lingerie, became shogun outer attire. Moreover, anti-armor was far from simple.

In the 16th century, articles made in Japan began to appear in Western markets and European merchants became fascinated with the mysterious lands where these magnificent objects were made. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in 1543. They brought with them the food crops of the Americas, as well as rifles, which would help end the war lords. A new power emerged, the Tokugawa shogunate (1615-1868), whose capital was moved to Edo, now Tokyo.

It was in the latter part of the Edo period that the development kosode reached its peak. This was mainly due to advances in fabric-making techniques such as kasuri (ikat) or resist dyeing, shibori (tie-dye), in which areas of the cloth are tied before dyeing; yuzen, paste resist dyed cloth with drawings freehand brush, coloring and shiro-age, in which the design is fully reserved by a paste resist dyeing. Designers and artisans also contributed to the elegance and beauty of the garment to beautify kosode monochrome with intricate designs, colored surfaces.

Cosode women differ in style according to their social status, the young, unmarried women wore the colorful furisode, a version of the kosode with long sleeves and pendants. Older women allowed Kosode prescribed changes in sleeve length, and color patterns.

The band which is popular in place kosode called obi. Before the 1680s, this had been a close tie, flat or similar to a rope. It was not until the first decades of the 19th century that the obi expanded to reach from under the bust to below the abdomen.

Footwear was not different for men and women. It consisted of hemp sandals or wooden clogs known as the geta, and flat-soled sandals of straw, known as the zori. They made sure all the foot straps and worn with white cotton socks or tabi.

Pale skin was aesthetically pleasing and sought after, this is why women whitening face with rice powder. The eyes and mouth were accentuated. Before the Meiji Restoration, men also painted their faces with a thick paste of white powder. On the other hand, the black symbolizes the nobility and was an ancient tradition of men to blacken the teeth.

Headdress was not popular for women’s hair was styled in elaborate hairstyles fashion, adorned with a variety of pins and ornaments, kogai and elaborate combs, kushi. Japanese women wore no other jewelry.

The upper-class women could go out and attend a limited range of leisure activities such as kabuki theater, where you could see and be seen. Both men and women wore their best clothes and change clothes several times during the day representations. On the other hand, the kabuki costumes were one of the most striking aspects of the proceedings. They often set fashion trends in Japan.

The Tokugawa shogunate shogun consolidated the power of the stratified social system. They ruled over the different classes of warriors, farmers, artisans and merchants, officially, on behalf of the emperor, but actually stripped him of his power. Installed in their customs and traditions, shoguns believed that Japan was immune to change and outside influence. His world, however, was already changing. European culture and Christianity, with its teachings of universal equality would be subversive to the established social system.

In the 17th century, Japan began a persecution of Christianians and Japan withdrew from the outside world. The economic and political self-imposed isolation, which lasted for over two hundred years, was a time of prosperity and peace. Unfortunately, serious consequences. When in the 19th century westerners returned with modern weapons, military obsolete Japan presents no challenge.

Japan had witnessed the role Europeans had played in transforming forced China and adopted a radical program of his own will. Unlike China, did not have the means to change. The Tokugawa era had brought economic success, which in turn has resulted in a diverse society. The port of Osaka and Edo had become a thriving metropolis and change was in the air before the U.S. Naval Commander Matthew Perry forced open relations with the Japanese in 1853.

Kimono and the Meiji Restoration

In 1867, the Tokugawa shogunate came to an end and power was restored to the Emperor Mutsuhito. The Meiji (Restoration 揺 nlightened rule had begun. The Japanese government intended to equality with the West and knew I was going to have to acieve in Western terms. During the first five years, Japan adopted a prefectural system of administration, a postal system, a daily newspaper, a ministry of education, a railroad, the Gregorian calendar and military conscription. samurai warriors joined either the army under Prussiansleadership, or navy, assisted by young British men. were sent abroad to learn Western ways.

One innovation was adopted from the West as the dress. Western military-style uniforms and Western-style business suits worn in public, but, however, did not take place in the privacy of the Japanese house. Traditional architectural style buildings are carpeted with tatami mats and many activities like sleeping and eating are done on the floor. The fitted-suit was inadequate and quite uncomfortable. Instead, the Japanese version was loose sashed kimono today.

Kimono or object to the word wearwas late 1800s kosode replaced the centuries-old term. An accepted explanation for the change of terms is that against the culture shock of being dressed in western attire, the Japanese felt compelled to find a new name for the historical costume.

The pattern of each type of kimono is strictly classified. The styles include ganwri given, alternating blocks consisting of similar reasons, the gawariy Katami in which the right and left halves having a different design kimono or gawariy sode in which each sleeve is formed with different pattern. Nature is exquisitely present in motifs such as flowers blowing rain, flowing water patterns, or scattered maple leaves on pine bark.

Underwear women are equally complex. Include a thin shirt with short sleeves hadajuban known as a slip surround the susoyoke a lightweight fabric, and a third under-kimono made of a lightweight fabric, white. Length of rope rolls, pads, towels and padded vests are used to balance the defects of the body line so the kimono will hang perfectly.

The five-crested haori is another aspect of the tradition behind this formal attire. Ridges refers to small circular motifs printed or woven into the haori cloth, representing the descent of a person clan. Japanese heraldry is older than European and a total of 400 basic family crests, with over 20,000 sublineages.