Song Dynasty Food Delivery and Service Workers’ Clothing

Song Dynasty Food Delivery Workers’ Clothing

The “food delivery worker” in《清明上河图》(qīng míng shàng hé tú) during the Song dynasty was often called “Xian Han 闲汉 (xián hàn)”, who specifically helped others run errands and fetch items. He tied his hair into a bun on top of his head, wore a white Beidang, tied a pocket-style apron around his waist, and wore white trousers and white shoes.

The Beidang in the Song period was originally an undergarment, but physical laborers, for the sake of convenience, coolness, and comfort while working, generally wore it directly as outerwear; young children often did the same. Carrying food on the head, holding a portable “dining table” in the hand, and wearing an apron around the waist were typical characteristics of food delivery workers in the Song period, which can also be verified from other food delivery figures in《清明上河图》.

Characteristics of Food Service Workers’ Clothing in the Song Dynasty

From the attire of other food service workers in《清明上河图》, there are several common characteristics as follows:

• First, the head is wrapped with a cloth, mostly black, some white;
• Second, wearing short garments and a Beidang, both the upper and lower garments are relatively short, the length of the top is above the knees, the trousers reveal the ankles, and it is also common to see a white Beidang worn with a belt at the waist;
• Third, wearing an apron at the waist is a marker accessory for those working in the culinary field;
• Fourth, most wear flat cloth shoes or straw sandals.

Other Various Professions Figures in《清明上河图》

The famous painting handed down by the Song painter Zhang Zeduan (张择端 ; Zhāng Zéduān), namely《清明上河图》(qīng míng shàng hé tú), depicts various aspects of social life during the Song period.

The form and attire of each figure have their own characteristics: scholars, farmers, workers, merchants, monks, Taoist priests, coachmen, boat workers, clerks, pole handlers, rope pullers, and many others, each wearing clothing according to their profession.

Unrolling this painting from a thousand years ago, the vivid professional figures, one by one, clearly give the viewer a feeling of being directly present in that atmosphere.

Source: 《我在宋朝穿什么》 by 陆蕾