A Study On Apparels Of Prostitute In South China In The Late Period Of Ming Dynasty

The economic structure and social ideology experienced drastic changes while the strict control of the central feudalist government over locality began to be loosened in the late period of Ming Dynasty."The society in South China, once appeared to be pure and rustic in early Ming Dynasty due to severe control by the imperial power, witnessed significant rebound and unveiled great vitality, led to a grotesque life style。"Concerning apparels, the surpass of the feudal hierarchy emerged in endless stream, broke the rigid social institutions in early Ming Dynasty. The prevailing trend then was surpassing the social system, pursuing originality, arrogation and exaggeration, challenging the social structure and competing in extravagance.Prostitutes, although still having very low social standing, were comparatively rich in respect of material life, because going whoring was popular then in lord class in late Ming Dynasty. Some famous prostitutes even led rather luxurious life, far above that of ordinary women. Their dressing apparels and living goods were supplied by the customers, who competed with each other, resulting in that most prostitutes dressed in extravagance, exquisite and delicate, even called"modern dressing", leading the fashion of the whole society in late Ming dynasty. To those famous prositutes who were in close relations with scholars, celebrities and merchants, complying with the aesthetic ideal of the scholars, had there own unique taste, forming the fashion of elegance and quietness in dressing mode. In brief, the complicated social role and special social standing made there dressing a unique part in the apparel wave in late Ming dynasty.This dissertation focuses on the apperals of prostitutes in late Ming Dynasty, discusses mainly the designs, styles, characteristics, the caues of styles and the influences upon the social fashions of the apperals of prostitutes. Based on documentations and illustrations, it takes a new angle of view to observe the apperals of prostitutes and social fashions, to know deeply the apperals of prostitutes in late Ming Dynasty...