How has the áo dài developed through time?
Among the factors differentiating the world's peoples are language, housing, and dress. According to Vietnamese scholar Phan Kế Bính's Vietnamese Customs, "most of our dress since the Tang Dynasty has imitated the Chinese."
Chinese civilisation influenced Vietnamese culture during the thousand years the Northern (Chinese) people dominated Viet Nam. Court dress (headwear, clothes, belt, garments, boots) and ancient military uniforms (hats, armour, clothes, shoes) reflect this influence. However, the Chinese presence did not affect civilian clothing for the common people, particularly the women's robe called "áo tứ thân" or "four-panelled traditional dress". Áo tứ thân is the forerunner of the áo dài. It does not look like a Chinese woman's robe; instead, it is a long, sleeveless dress without trousers but split up to the knees.
Chinese civilisation influenced Vietnamese culture during the thousand years the Northern (Chinese) people dominated Viet Nam. Court dress (headwear, clothes, belt, garments, boots) and ancient military uniforms (hats, armour, clothes, shoes) reflect this influence. However, the Chinese presence did not affect civilian clothing for the common people, particularly the women's robe called "áo tứ thân" or "four-panelled traditional dress". Áo tứ thân is the forerunner of the áo dài. It does not look like a Chinese woman's robe; instead, it is a long, sleeveless dress without trousers but split up to the knees.
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