Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Associate Professor, Research Institute for the History and Sīra of the Ahl al-Bayt, Research Institute for Islamic Sciences and Culture, Qom, Iran.
2
PhD student in Islamic History, Department of Islamic History, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
Abstract
The form and manner of women’s dress have consistently constituted one of the most significant cultural, social, and identity-related manifestations in ancient civilizations. Adopting a comparative approach, the present study examines and compares women’s dress in two major ancient civilizations—pre-Islamic Iran and China (from antiquity to the modern era). The primary objective of this research is to identify the social, symbolic, and cultural functions of women’s clothing in these two cultures and to analyze the similarities and differences in patterns of dress, particularly in relation to social stratification, gender roles, and prevailing value systems. This qualitative study is based on the analysis of historical data, written documents, archaeological evidence, visual representations, and classical texts drawn from both Iranian and Chinese sources. Accordingly, evidence from Achaemenid and Sasanian reliefs, Chinese artistic works from the Han, Tang, and Ming periods, as well as data related to cultural exchanges along the Silk Road, are examined. The preliminary findings indicate that in both civilizations, women’s dress functioned not merely as a means of protection or adornment, but also as a symbol of social status, modesty, dignity, and adherence to the cultural and value structures of the time. Moreover, cultural interactions between Iran and China—particularly through the Silk Road—contributed to the reinforcement of certain shared values and patterns concerning women’s dress and gendered behaviors. By offering a comparative analysis, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of dress in the representation of feminine identity and the historical cultures of these two civilizations.
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