China, early 19th century Taoist Robe of brown damask ground with roundel motifs. Large center back appliqué panel, center front openings and hems embroidered with couched gold and multicolored silk threads. Kent State University Museum Silverman/Rodgers Collection KSUM 1983.1.1939 "Tao can be roughly translated into English as path, or "the way". It "refers to a power which envelopes, surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living. It embodies the harmony of opposites (i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark, no male without female.). The founder of Taoism was Lao-Tse (604-531 BCE), a contemporary of Confucius. He was searching for a way that would avoid the constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that disrupted life during his lifetime. Taoism started as a combination of psychology and philosophy but evolved into a religion in 440 CE when it was adopted as a state religion in China along with Buddhism and Confucianism. With the end of the Ch'ing Dynasty in 1911, state support for Taoism ended. Much of the Taoist heritage was destroyed during the next period of warlordism. After the Communist victory in 1949, religious freedom was severely restricted. The new government put monks to manual labor, confiscated temples, and plundered treasured. Several million monks were reduced to fewer than 50,000 by 1960. During the cultural revolution in China from 1966 to 1976, much of the remaining Taoist heritage was destroyed. Some religious tolerance has been restored under Deng Xiao-ping from 1982 to the present time. Tthe are currently about 20 million Taoist followers who are primarily centered in Taiwan. About 30,000 Taoists live in North America. Taoism has had a significant impact on North American culture in areas of acupuncture, herbalism, holistic medicine, medication and martial arts." This information on Taoism was taken from The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance's web page at http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm. For further information on Taoism and other religions please log-in to their home page.

China, late 17th-early 18th-century Tibetan-ized robe in orange silk brocaded with dragons, clouds and phoenix. Sleeves of pale pink silk brocaded with roundels motifs filled with gold dragons. Center-front opening with multi-colored fringed hem. Inscription in Tibetan. Kent State University Museum Silverman/Rodgers Collection KSUM 1985.1.764

 

China, late 19th-century Man's robe of gold colored brocaded robe with roundel motifs lined with lynx. Kent State University Museum Silverman/Rodgers Collection KSUM 1985.1.765

 

China, 19th century Robe of ivory silk embroidered with large tree, eagle, small birds, blossoms and floral motifs. Kent State University Museum Silverman/Rodgers Collection KSUM 1985.1.772

 

China, 19th-century Man's summer tunic in midnight blue silk gauze with ivory silk collar, center front openings and hem with embroidered naturalistic scenes. Kent State University Museum Silverman/Rodgers Collection KSUM 1985.1.777

 

China, 19th-century. Man's tunic in rust colored silk satin with blue elvet brocaded roundels. Embroidered collar, sleeves and hem with embroidered naturalistic scenes. Kent State University Museum Silverman/Rodgers Collection KSUM 1985.1.779

 

China, 19th-century Man's winter rank robe of purple colored silk satin quilted and lined with ermine fur. Embroidered rank badges are applied in the center front and back. Kent State University Museum Silverman/Rodgers Collection KSUM 1985.1.815

For more Chinese robes from The Kent State University Museum's Collection click here to see Erin Harvan's Spring 2001 internship website

 

Bissonnette on Costume Homepage Geographic Search | Central Asia| China | Greece| India| Japan| Turkey Time Search | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century Subject Search | Accessories | Childrenswear | Designers| Lingerie| Menswear| Womenswear Kent State University Museum Homepage Copyright © 2001 Anne Bissonnette. All Rights Reserved.