Types include tops and bottoms, long skirt, and one-piece robes that wrap around the body once or several times (shenyi).
A piece of ancient Chinese clothing can be "made semi-formal" by the addition of the following appropriate items: or Pifeng 披风 In addition to informal and semi-formal wear, there is a form of dress that is worn only at confucian rituals, important sacrifices, religious activities or by special people who are entitled to wear them (such as officials and emperors).
Additionally, wearers may carry a long jade gui (圭) or wooden hu (笏) tablet (used when greeting royalty).
Only those who passed the civil examinations are entitled to wear them, but a variation of it can be worn by ordinary scholars and laymen and even for a groom at a wedding (but with no hat).
(Civil) (Military) (Highest) 正一品 Regional Commander 都督 從一品 Regional Executive Officer 都督同知 正二品 Secretary of Defense 兵部尚書 從二品 Provincial Deputy Commander 都指揮同知 正三品 Deputy Secretary of Labor 工部侍郎 從三品 Minister of Salt Supply 都轉鹽運使 正四品 Minister of Foreign Affairs 鴻臚寺卿 從四品 Governor's Junior Assistant 參議 正五品 Grand Secretary of the Cabinet 内閣大學士 從五品 Deputy Manager of the Department of Justice 刑部員外郎 正六品 Minister of Buddhist Affairs 僧錄司善世 從六品 Deputy Manager of Minority Affairs 安撫司副使 正七品 Investigating censor 監察御史 從七品 Deputy Ambassador 行人司左司副 正八品 Deputy County Administrator 縣丞 從八品 Supervisor at the Ministry of Royal Food Service 光祿寺監事 正九品 (not seahorse) Chief Officer at the Headquarter of Official Travels 會同館大使 (Lowest) 從九品 Marshal 巡檢 Those in the religious orders wear a plain middle layer garment followed by a highly decorated cloak or coat.
Taoists have a 'scarlet gown' (絳袍) which is made of a large square-shaped cloak sewn at the hem to create very long deep sleeves used in very formal rituals.
Buddhist have a cloak with gold lines on a scarlet background creating a brickwork pattern which is wrapped around over the left shoulder and secured at the right side of the body with cords.