In the scorching summer, people tend to choose lighter and thinner clothing. T-shirts still become the standard summer outfit, unlike exquisite clothing in TV dramas. Ancient Chinese clothing is lighter and thinner than we imagine, and there are also descriptions of the lightness and thinness of ancient Chinese summer clothing in ancient stories This allusion tells the story of an Arab businessman who saw a Tang Dynasty official wearing a veil and found that the black mole on his chest could still be seen through the five layers of clothing, indicating how thin the clothing was. If the text is too difficult to imagine, it is better to take a look at the actual object of the veil. ▲ (Western Han Dynasty) The plain yarn single garment (straight train) unearthed from the Mawangdui No.1 Han Tomb in Changsha, Hunan. (Picture source: Hunan Provincial Museum) In 1972, the plain yarn single clothes unearthed from the Mawangdui in Changsha, Hunan Province, are the oldest, best preserved, most refined and thinnest clothes in the world. This plain yarn single garment is "thin as cicada wings" and "light as smoke", weighing 49 grams. After removing the sleeve opening and collar, it is only 25g and can be folded into a Matchbox. Luopao ▲ is a deep blue Luopao from the Tang Dynasty. (Picture source: China National Silk Museum) Luo (gauze) is very suitable for humid areas in southern China. Compared with yarn, the fabric has larger holes, making it more light and breathable. From the Han Dynasty (202 BC -220 AD) to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), Luo was mainly used for aristocratic clothing, and only officials of fifth or higher rank were allowed to wear clothing made of this material. Ge Yi ▲ (Ming) Genuine Ge Sha Robe. (Image source: Confucius Museum) Silk fabrics, such as yarn and silk, are highly valued and considered luxury goods for ordinary people. However, the resourceful ancients discovered a method of using plant fibers to produce clothing, greatly reducing the cost of summer clothing. Ge, also known as Gegen, is the earliest variety in China to use natural fibers as fabrics. Once the sixth month of the lunar calendar arrives, people usually change into Ge Yi. A painting depicting the scene of women producing and weaving hemp in ancient Tang Dynasty. Among the fabrics used for summer clothing in ancient times, Gebu is famous for its quality and price. However, fabrics made from herbaceous plant "hemp" provide a better combination of quality and cost-effectiveness. Cannabis, flax, ramie, and jute are collectively referred to as "hemp", and the term is also used to refer to these materials when the exact species is unknown. Since the Han Dynasty, hemp has been widely cultivated, reducing the price of this material. The advancement of textile technology has enabled linen to be finely woven. It is breathable and easy to dye, making it a commonly used fabric for summer clothing. Bamboo Clothes ▲ is a piece of bamboo clothing from the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912). Throughout ancient times, bamboo products were considered a material for keeping cool in the summer. Bamboo mats and pillows provide a comfortable experience, and people have also made a mesh garment out of small bamboo tubes as a sweatproof object. The history of bamboo clothing can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty, when China introduced bamboo yarn, a type of fabric woven from slender bamboo strips. In the late Qing Dynasty, bamboo clothing was developed