Dress and adornmentEast AsiaSecular and civic
Dahu
In its own language: 褡护 (Dāhù)
A cross-collar jacket worn in the Ming dynasty, blending Chinese and Mongol styles.
The dahu is a traditional Chinese jacket worn during the Ming dynasty. It combines elements from Tang and Song dynasties with Mongol influences from the Yuan period. People wore it as an outer layer over other robes.
When is Dahu kept?
Dahu is kept on historically in the Ming dynasty, revived in the modern era.
The dahu is a traditional Chinese jacket worn during the Ming dynasty. It features a cross-collar design and blends styles from earlier Chinese dynasties with Mongol influences. Today, it is revived by those interested in historical clothing.
Origins and history
In the Yuan dynasty, the term dahu described a half-sleeved robe with a right-crossing collar. Mongols wore this style over longer garments. By the Ming dynasty, the dahu evolved into a distinct jacket. It served as a new version of the banbi or a sleeveless vest. The garment mixed features from Tang and Song clothing with Yuan designs.
Construction and design
The dahu has a cross-collar that wraps to the right side. Wearers could choose short sleeves or a sleeveless cut. It was often layered over a tieli robe or placed under a round-collar robe. Some forms were gifted to Joseon kings, such as King Sejong in fourteen forty-four.
Modern revival
In the twenty-first century, interest in historical dress returned. The Hanfu movement brought the dahu back into fashion. People study old examples to recreate the look. Similar garments exist in Korean culture, known as dapho.
How Dahu is kept
Worn over other robes like the tieli. Used in royal contexts. Revived by Hanfu enthusiasts.
When and where
Ming dynasty era
China, Joseon Korea
What Dahu means
Royal gift, cultural blend
Questions people ask about Dahu
When is Dahu kept?
Dahu is kept on historically in the Ming dynasty, revived in the modern era.
What is a dahu?
A traditional Chinese jacket from the Ming dynasty. It looks like a cross-collar coat or sleeveless vest.
Where did it come from?
Its roots lie in the Yuan dynasty Mongol clothing. It blends these styles with older Chinese fashions.
Is it still worn?
Yes, through the Hanfu movement. Enthusiasts revive the style today.
See also
Chinese clothingRobes, gowns, and suits shaped across dynasties, ranks, and daily life in China
HanfuThe dress of the Han Chinese, named for the Han dynasty and worn again today
Chinese operaA sung, danced and acrobatic theatre from China, in over a hundred regional styles
Manchu-Han Imperial FeastA grand multi-day banquet uniting Manchu and Han culinary traditions in ChinaGood reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Dahu (clothing)", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryParampara rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-08.
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