Shenyi is the traditional Chinese attire for men which advocated in Zhu Zi's Common Rites《朱子家禮》. The Shenyi Center of Chinese Medicine is named after it. It is a form of formal wear in the Ming Dynasty

Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...

. It directly descended from the shenyi worn in earlier dynasties, like Han Dynasty

Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...

. The yi (衣, shirt) and chang (裳, skirt) of the shenyi is sewn together, and the skirt is made up of 12 panels of fabric sewn together (十二片縫合), representing 12 months a year. It is wide sleeved, has black edges, and has a belt (大帶). Popularity of shenyi declined during Tang Dynasty

Tang Dynasty

The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...

, and by the Ming Dynasty

Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...

, it was advocate worn only for the most formal occasions, such as ceremonies to pay respects to the ancestors (祭祖) or worn as funeral cloth (斂衣). However, the actual usage are worn as inner garment for Yan Bian(燕弁冠服 for Emperor), Bao He(保和冠服For Princes), Zhong Jing(忠靜冠服 for Imperial Officers) only.

See also

• Han Chinese clothing
  Han Chinese clothing
  Hanfu or Han Chinese Clothing, also sometimes known as Hanzhuang , Huafu , and sometimes referred in English sources simply as Silk Robe or Chinese Silk Robe refers to the historical dress of the Han Chinese people, which was worn for millennia before the conquest by the Manchus and the...
  
  
• List of Han Chinese clothing