Baijiayi (Chinese: 百家衣; pinyin: bǎijiāyī), also known as baijiapao (Chinese: 百家袍; pinyin: bǎijiāpáo) and sometimes referred as One hundred families robe,^[1] Hundred-Families robe,^[2] or One hundred families clothing in English,^[3] is a form of Chinese patchwork jacket, particular for male children.^[4] The baijiayi is used as a protective talisman for children.^[4][5][1][2] It is a traditional Han Chinese custom garment, which has been passed down for centuries.^[4][1]

The baijiayi is a symbol of longevity, and it was one of the ritual procedures of the "One-hundred-day celebration", along with the baijia locks.^[5] It is made of donated fabrics,^[2] and is composed of one hundred pieces of fabric which could be shaped into tessellated squares, triangles, diamonds, rectangles, and hexagons.^[4][1] It could also be embroidered with symbols and motifs which were considered auspicious, such as auspicious clouds, the Chinese zodiac, the bagua and the five poisons.^[4][1]

In the past, due to the lag in health care and education, infant mortality was relatively high. Nevertheless, people believed that an infant's death was due to a ghost.^[1] The baijiayi was supposed to protect the child from evil spirits through the use of many donated fabrics of multiple colours.^[2][1] These small pieces of cloth was collected from various local families, which were supposed to represent " one hundred families".^[5] These pieces of fabric would symbolize the combined strength of the donators and were believed protect their sons from or ward off evil spirits and ghosts.^[1] The mother would receive these pieces of fabrics in order to make the finished baijiayi for her child.^[4][1] The baijiayi could not be taken off until the child reaches one year old.^[5]

A similar style of clothing to the baijiayi is the shuitianyi.^[7]

• Baijiayi

• List of Hanfu
• Hanfu
• List of Chinese symbols, designs, and art motifs
• Chinese auspicious ornaments in textile and clothing
• Chinese patchwork
• Shuitianyi