Fashion in the Nara period

Published: July 27, 2026 · Updated: July 28, 2026

In the Nara period the ritsuryo state fixed court dress by law: the Yoro Clothing Code set three grades of official costume on the Tang Chinese model, and an edict of 719 ordered robes closed left-over-right (migi-mae), the rule still followed today.

Fashion in the Nara period — Author: Unknown (Nara period, 8th century) Public domain Source

Overview

The Clothing Ordinance of the Yoro Code defined ceremonial dress (raifuku), court dress (chofuku) and working dress (seifuku), with robe colors assigned by rank. The capital’s officials thus dressed to a Tang-inspired standard.

Key garments and style

The 719 order that the garment be folded with the left panel over the right settled a convention that has governed kimono wear ever since. Silk, dyeing and continental tailoring were all well established.

Transition

When embassies to Tang ceased in the following period, this borrowed court dress began to evolve into a distinctly Japanese style.

History of this period

Nara period 710–794