A suikan (水干) is a type of clothing that used to be worn by low-ranking officials serving the imperial court during the Heian period (794–1185). It is generally worn over other clothes. The word "Suikan" literally means "water-drying," referring to the process of stretching the cloth and drying it without using glue. The clothing is a sliding-door type of jacket with a single-breasted body and open sides, and the collar is tied with a kumihimo cord. The term "suikan hakama" is also used to refer to the long hakama worn with the Suikan, although the exact meaning of this term is somewhat debated. It is considered a quite formal form of clothing. It features very large sleeves that attach to the shoulders for a short distance. The garment is made from one very wide fabric panel. The sides are open. This shows the clothes worn underneath.