mao suit

(中山装/中山裝:Zhōngshān zhuāng) The modern chinese tunic suit as Zhongshan Suit by Sun Yat-sen, and later, the Mao Suit by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung) Sun Yat-sen introduced the style shortly after the founding of the Republic of China as a form of national dress with distinct political overtones. He based the suit on the Japanese cadet uniform. The four pockets are said to represent the Four Virtues of propriety, justice, honesty, and shame; and the five buttons the branches of China's government, The 3 buttons at the end of sleeves represent the Three Principles of the People. The suits came to be worn widely by male citizens and government leaders as a symbol of civil servants, proletarian unity and an Eastern counterpart to the Western business suit.