Changes

[[File:Bingata.JPG|right|thumb|320px|A ''bingata'' robe on display at the [[Tokyo National Museum]].]]

[[File:Bingata.JPG|right|thumb|320px|A ''bingata'' robe on display at the [[Tokyo National Museum]]]]

[[File:Hanagasa.jpg|right|thumb|320px|''Hanagasa'' dancers in ''bingata'' robes]]

[[File:Ryusen.jpg|right|thumb|320px|Bolts of cloth being hand-dyed at a workshop in Shuri]]

*''Other Names'': 形付 ''(katachiki, O: katatikii)''

*''Other Names'': 形付 ''(katachiki, O: katatikii)''

*''Japanese'': 紅型 ''(bingata)''

*''Japanese'': 紅型 ''(bingata)''

==Use==

==Use==

The Ryukyuan aristocracy did not wear ''bingata'' during major court ceremonies, but only for comparatively everyday situations, and regular court events.<ref name=bingata50>''Bingata! Only in Okinawa'', 50-51.</ref> They were worn mostly by adult women, and by young people both male & female; adult men generally only wore ''bingata'' when wearing it as a costume for [[Ryukyuan dance|dance]] or [[kumi udui|theater]].<ref>''Bingata! Only in Okinawa'', 91.</ref>

The Ryukyuan aristocracy did not wear ''bingata'' during major court ceremonies, but only for comparatively everyday situations, and regular court events.<ref name=bingata50>''Bingata! Only in Okinawa'', 50-51.</ref> They were worn mostly by adult women, and by young people both male & female; adult men generally only wore ''bingata'' when wearing it as a costume for [[Ryukyuan dance|dance]] or [[kumi udui|theater]].<ref>''Bingata! Only in Okinawa'', 91, 112.</ref>

As in traditional Chinese/Confucian belief, the color yellow was associated (out of the five cardinal directions) with the Center, and with the Emperor - or, in the case of Ryûkyû, with the king. Yellow garments, dyed using an arsenic sulfide known today as orpiment, or other plant or mineral dyes, were thus worn only by members of the royal family.<ref>''Bingata! Only in Okinawa'', 63, 100.</ref>

As in traditional Chinese/Confucian belief, the color yellow was associated (out of the five cardinal directions) with the Center, and with the Emperor - or, in the case of Ryûkyû, with the king. Yellow garments, dyed using an arsenic sulfide known today as orpiment, or other plant or mineral dyes, were thus worn only by members of the royal family.<ref>''Bingata! Only in Okinawa'', 63, 100.</ref>