The "hemp cloth garment" of the Lisu people

The "hemp cloth garment" of the Lisu people

　　The Lisu people living in the Dali region mostly resided in high-altitude, cold mountainous areas before the founding of the People's Republic of China. Their clothing was made from the fibrous bark stripped from seeds of plants they cultivated themselves, which the Lisu people called the "hemp cloth garment."

　　The traditional attire for Lisu men consists of a short, front-buttoning tunic made of hemp cloth, fastened with more than ten buttons made of hemp twine arranged in opposing rows. In some areas, men wear long robes paired with wide-leg hemp trousers. Some wear small melon-shaped hats or wrap their heads with blue cloth, while others go bareheaded but prefer to grow a single braid, which they wrap around the back of their head. Tribal leaders and men from wealthier families often wear a string of large red coral beads on their left ear as a symbol of prosperity, honor, dignity, and social status. Most men wear straw sandals woven by themselves or hemp-sandals made with hemp twine. Particularly essential is the fact that adult men carry an arrow quiver made of bear or other animal hides on their right hip, used to hold arrows, while also wearing a bow on their backs, giving them the appearance of warriors—rugged, carefree, resolute, and imposing.

　　The attire of Lisu women is distinctly different from that of men and is noted for being elegant and graceful. Women typically wear a zigzag-shaped folded headwrap at their forehead, with a long black cloth headband wrapped around their heads. Younger women’s headwear is styled in three layers: a yellow or blue base layer, a second layer of floral towel, and a third layer of blue headcloth. Regardless of age, Lisu women love to wear silver earrings and bracelets, and young women add shell or silver coin ornaments to enhance their beauty—some even wear strings of these hanging across their chests. Women wear skirts made from fireweed fibers, white cloth, or blue cloth. These skirts reach the ground, giving the impression of walking on clouds. When squatting, the skirt fans out, resembling one walking amidst flowers. Most women wear self-made white hemp belts embroidered with floral and leaf patterns. They wear cloth shoes or rubber shoes. This style causes the long skirts of Lisu women to sway gracefully as they walk, creating a uniquely charming and unforgettable silhouette.

　　After 1949, with the development of production and changes in lifestyle, the clothing of the Lisu people underwent significant transformations. The traditional, simple, and elegant garments incorporated modern elements, making Lisu attire even more vibrant and colorful—like the blooming rhododendron flower, exuding a unique fragrance.