Woman’s Banbi

This is an example of a woman’s banbi worn during the Unified Silla period. Knot buttons are attached to adjust the cloth in the front, and the sleeves and armholes have creases for embellishment. The creases are made of the same fabric as the outer shell. Three contrasting colors are used together, imparting a very modern feeling. This piece is a smaller version of the banbi for a male court musician in the collection of Shousouin, the treasure house of Todaji Temple in Nara, Japan.