Analects of Confucius Book 10 on ritual behavior: Confucius and dress

Dress played a very important part in ritual. Confucius paid very close attention to the clothes he wore to make sure that they were appropriate for the occasion, the setting, and even the season.

In Book 10 of the Analects, we learn about the colors and materials of the garments he wore at home, outside it, at court, and on ceremonial occasions. We also see the close attention he paid to the dress of other people, including the respect he shows when he sees someone in mourning attire or wearing a ceremonial cap.

Here are three passages from Book 10 showing how Confucius dressed and how he reacted to what others around him were wearing.

10.6
A leader doesn’t wear purple or maroon for the embroidered borders on his gown; he doesn’t use red or purple either for casual wear. During the summer, he wears a fine or coarse linen singlet, but never goes out without wearing an undergarment beneath it. He wears a black robe over a lambskin coat; a white robe over a fawn fur coat; and a yellow robe over a fox fur coat. His casual fur robes are long and have a shorter right sleeve. His nightgown is very long. He uses thick furs such as fox and badger as cushions. Except when he is in mourning, he can wear any type of adornment ornament on his girdle. Apart from his ceremonial robes, the layers of his other robes are cut to different lengths. At funerals, he doesn’t wear lambskin coats or black caps. On the day of the Auspicious Moon Ceremony, he attends court dressed in full court attire.

10.7
During periods of purification, he wore a plain robe made of coarse linen.

10.25
When he saw someone in mourning clothes, he adopted a solemn expression on his face and remained distant even if he knew them well. When he saw someone wearing a ceremonial cap or a blind person, he was courteous even if he was familiar with them. When he came across someone in mourning garments while riding in his carriage, he leaned over the stanchion to greet them; he would do the same when he encountered someone carrying official documents.

Analects Book 10: Links
Book 10, Chapter 6
Book 10, Chapter 7
Book 10, Chapter 25
Book 10, Chapter 26