The aim of the study is to qualitatively/historically examine and compare the characteristics of China's traditional "Hanfu" and Japan's traditional "Kimono" garments. A survey model was adopted based on a literature review of these traditional garment characteristics. In the findings, it is explained that the Chinese Han traditional garment hanfu has not been able to preserve its features until today. With the help of sources and visuals, it is stated that the kimono, which is derived from hanfu, has not undergone changes in cultural exchanges, unlike China, and thus many basic elements of the original hanfu have been preserved. Hanfu, the traditional dress of the Chinese before the 17th century, includes all kinds of traditional clothing worn by the Han Chinese ethnic group. The teachings of Confucius, which enlightened Chinese society for thousands of years, recognized the hanfu as a very important part of Chinese ceremony and ritual. This traditional garment has a history as long as the history of the Han Chinese. The hanfu, with its ethnic and aesthetic characteristics, was eradicated in the 17th century due to repression by the Manchu invaders. When the Manchus ruled China during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912), they thought that they would have great difficulty ruling the Han Chinese. Thus, all Han Chinese in the Manchu system were forced to wear a garment called "Gipao". Over time, the traditional Han Chinese dress, the hanfu, was completely replaced by Manchu-style clothing. Today, the historical Chinese hanfu is usually only worn at festivals, religious ceremonies and movies. The hanfu is usually wide and long-sleeved. The hanfu is a long garment because in ancient Chinese thought it was impolite to show the feet. The kimono has been recognized as a traditional Japanese garment since the 12th century, although it was adapted from the hanfu. Historically, the hanfu has had a significant influence on the traditional costumes and styles of many other Asian countries. Wearing the kimono, like wearing the hanfu, signifies both the spirit and the garment. Passed down from generation to generation, traditional kimonos, with their fabric characteristics and patterns, express the age, social status and style of the wearer. From the 1600s onwards, Japan had a period of two hundred and fifty years in which it closed its doors to all foreigners. During this period, the Japanese continued to focus on their own tradition and art, advancing the art of kimono patterning and weaving.

Ethnic clothing, hanfu, kimono, belief, ritual, tradition