What is the symbolic meaning of the seven pleats on a hakama?

Traditionally the hakama was a full flowing pants-like garment (a bit like full length culottes!) worn only by men in Japan. The quality of the material, the style and color of the hakama reflected the wearer's station in life and often his profession.

There existed both divided (like pants) and undivided (like a skirt) versions of the hakama, and professions requiring the use of horseback or manual labour typically choosing the divided version.

The contemporary utilisation of the hakama is often for martial arts training and performances or traditional/formal wear and can be worn by both men and women.

The hakama can have either five or seven pleats; while the former is most common, the latter is considered more auspicious since the number seven is believed to have special numeric/lucky properties and brings good luck. The five-pleat version generally reflects the five virtues "gotoku" of Japanese traditional society. The seven-pleat hakama represents the Warrior's Code, or bushido. Wearing the hakama symbolizes the traditions passed down from one generation of warriors to the next.

Meaning of the Seven Pleats The seven pleats, representing the traditional virtues of the samurai, are divided into five on the front and two on the back of the hakama.

The five on the front are asymmetrically placed with three to the right and two to the left.

The five front pleats represent:

1. Yuki (courage, valor)
2. Jin (humanity, benevolence)
3. Gi (justice, righteousness)
4. Rei (courtesy, civility) 
5. Makoto (sincerity, honesty)
   The two pleats in back represent 
6. Chugi (loyalty)
7. Meiyo (honor, dignity). 

There are several modern variations on the virtues represented by the seven pleats. These typically contain Jin, Gi and Rei from the traditional version. The fourth and fifth front pleats are Chi (wisdom, intellect) and Shin (sincerity) instead of Yuki and Makoto. The back two pleats in the modern version are Chu (loyalty) and Koh (piety) instead of the traditional Chugi and Meiyo.

There are many different ways to fold a hakama, but all basically allow the garment to be stored in such a way as to the preserve the creases.

Being awarded a hakama in martial arts such as Aikido is often considered great honour (for example when bestowed upon a student attaining black belt or shodan) whilst in other styles such as Kendo all students wear hakama from the outset.