As the summer heat(热) rises in China, modern people welcome clothing that is light and thin. But this is not new as one might think. 1
Unlike
the elaborate(复杂的) clothing TV series show, ancient Chinese wore clothing that was lighter and thinner than modern people can imagine. Let us find out some 2
examples
(example) of summer clothing from ancient China.
The most famous piece is a sha gown, a piece of clothing made of "sha". It was unearthed from Han Tomb No. 1 at Mawangdui in Changsha, Hunan Province, in 1972. It is the earliest, most well-kept and thinnest dress in the world. The sha gown, "thin as a cicada(蝉) wing" and "light as smoke", 3
weighs
(weigh) only 49 grams and can be folded into a matchbox.
From the Han Dynasty to the Tang and Song dynasties, luo robes 4
became
(become) popular among the nobility(贵族) and only officials in the government were allowed to wear clothing made of this very thin material. Luo robes were just right for the hot and wet southern areas of China. Compared with sha, luo has larger holes in the fabric(织物). The air can pass through the holes more 5
easily
(easy), making luo more lightweight and breathable.
6
But
both sha and luo were unaffordable for common people. So the smart ancient people found a way to use plant fibres(纤维) for making clothes, which made the cost of summer clothing drop greatly. That is ge. 7
When
the lunar month of June arrived, people would change their clothes to ge clothing. Later, fabric made from the plant "ma" came out, making summer clothing 8
inexpensive
(expensive) and commonly used. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, a classical style of clothing appeared. Liang dang is made up of front and back pieces, later called the vest(背心). It was convenient for people 9
to work
(work) outdoors for a long time.
Although the lives of ancient times cannot be compared to the modern time, the Chinese people actively looked for ways 10
to make
(make) their summers more comfortable and convenient.
