Quick Answer: What Is a Banbi?
A banbi (半臂, bànbì) is a short-sleeved Chinese upper garment associated with Tang dynasty dress. Its sleeves cover part of the upper arm. Some Tang figures show the short sleeves over a longer-sleeved shirt, where the separate sleeve edges make both layers visible.[1][3]
- Sleeves: Short sleeves are the clearest feature in the Tang examples discussed here.[1]
- Front: An Astana (阿斯塔那, Āsītǎnà) figure shows a V-shaped opening with two facing front edges.[1]
- Layer: A figure at the National Museum of China is described as wearing a banbi beneath a crossed-collar top.[2]
The banbi is one of several short and long upper layers in Chinese clothing history.
When reading a figure or painting, compare the hem and sleeve edges of each layer. The short sleeve edge may sit partway down a longer sleeve, making the layering visible even when a collar obscures the neckline.
Sleeves, Neckline and Layers
A Tang dancer figure from Astana tomb 206 wears a fitted short-sleeved layer over a narrow-sleeved green top. The outer edges form a V at the front. The cut leaves the inner sleeves exposed below the upper arm.[1]
A front tie is one fastening identified in historical images. In a modern reconstruction, its position affects how much of the inner layer remains visible. Compare the silhouette with other Chinese sleeve types to see how a short sleeve changes a layered outfit.[3]
What Tang Objects Can Tell Us
On the National Museum’s glazed clay female figure, the crossed-collar green top is above the banbi. The figure also wears a high-tied long skirt and a draped scarf. This example shows a different ordering of layers from the Astana dancer.[2]
An embroidered purple-red gauze banbi from the underground chamber at Famen Temple (法门寺, Fǎmén Sì) preserves evidence of material and shape. The body is only about 6.5 centimetres long. It belongs to a group of miniature offerings. Its proportions can help identify the type, and its small scale reflects its role as an offering.[4][5]
A sleeveless bijia (比甲, bǐjiǎ) provides a comparison for how a different garment ends at the shoulder.
Fit and Layering in Modern Wear
Try the banbi over the shirt you intend to wear. Check the armhole, the place where the short sleeve ends and the shoulder fit. If the inner sleeve twists or bunches when you raise an arm, the outer opening may need more ease. Compare the proportions in hanfu styles before choosing a layer for a particular outfit.
FAQs About Banbi
Does Half Sleeve Mean a Fixed Length?
The name describes partial arm coverage. Use the garment’s actual sleeve opening and length to judge how it will sit.
Was the Banbi Always the Outer Layer?
Tang examples show it outside a shirt and beneath another upper garment.[1][2]
Is a Banbi the Same as a Sleeveless Vest?
A banbi of the Tang type described here has short sleeves. A sleeveless vest ends at the shoulder or armhole.
Fuentes
[1] The Paper. Women’s Dress in the Tang Western Regions
[2] National Museum of China. Three-Colour Glazed Female Figurine
[3] Leah Ouyang. Early Tang Clothing and Reconstruction Notes
[4] The Paper. Objects From the Underground Chamber of Famen Temple
[5] Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts. Famen Temple Object Study