Another factor that complicates matters is that there are many different styles of hanfu, some of which look closer to kimono or hanbok than others. For example, cross-collar one-piece hanfu styles like quju and zhiju look more similar to standard kimono, cross-collar waist-high ruqun looks more similar to hakama, and chest-high ruqun and aoqun look more similar to hanbok.Â
Nevertheless, there are certainly ways in which you can differentiate the three. The silhouette is one way, as demonstrated by offishwhiteâs image and another comparison below (via). Itâs crude, but it depicts the general differences - kimono (left) is tubular/rectangular in shape and overall more âgeometricâ looking with very straight lines, hanfu (center) has a more âcurvyâ silhouette with a more A-line shaped lower half, and hanbok (right) is bell-shaped:
There are also very subtle differences in the shapes of the cross-collars (via) - left - hanfu, center - kimono, right - hanbok:
Other visual clues to differentiate hanfu and kimono include: hanfu sash is typically tied in front while kimono obi is typically tied in back, kimono obi is much wider, thicker, and stiffer than hanfu sash, kimono sleeves are more rectangular while hanfu sleeves are more curved, kimono sleeves are open in the back while hanfu sleeves are closed in the back, hanfu sleeves have more variety in shapes and lengths, etcâĻâĻ.
You can also look for context clues, such as makeup, hairstyles, and accessories. If you see huadian (forehead decoration), pibo (long scarf worn about the shoulders and arms), and/or tuanshan (rigid round fan), you can make a relatively safe assumption that itâs hanfu.
But the most effective way to learn to tell the difference is definitely exposure. The more you look, the easier it will be to tell the difference, even if you donât know the technical details ^^
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