In the TV series ‘Guo Se Fang Hua,’ the wedding crown worn by the county princess has sparked heated discussions. While it was directly modeled after the Li Chui Crown from archaeological findings, many netizens question whether it was ‘worn incorrectly.’ The answer is that the crown referenced in the show might itself be a beautiful mistake in restoration. Nevertheless, the series remains a well – researched production, though some details still require refinement. Restoration isn’t about simple ‘copy – paste’—many fragmented or incomplete artifacts require contextual understanding of their era and usage. Minor errors are understandable, and viewers shouldn’t judge the entire series based on isolated inaccuracies.
Unearthed Situation and Replica Controversy
Li Chui, the granddaughter of Emperor Li Yuan, gave up her title for love and had no official rank. However, she might still have been buried with corresponding accessories. When the Li Chui Crown was unearthed, both the crown and hair had disintegrated, leading to potential distortions. The reference prototype, displayed at the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum (not a permanent exhibit), is a controversial replica restored by German experts. The crown’s discovery was groundbreaking, as relatively intact Tang Dynasty headpieces are rare. While experts initially proposed various theories, it remains unclear why the museum adopted this disputed version, which has since shaped public perception.
Alternative Reconstruction Theories
Alternative reconstructions by experts and enthusiasts are less exaggerated than the German version (which might have been based on the excavation layout) and adhere to symmetry principles. The vertical arrangement in the replica leaves excessive blank space at the bottom, and its towering structure contradicts Tang Dynasty crown logic. Some researchers, referencing other royal tombs or popular Tang headwear styles, suggest it might have been a full crown paired with ‘Bo Bin’ (博鬓) ornaments. Comparisons can be drawn to Empress Xiao’s crown from the Sui Dynasty or the painted crown in Prince Yide’s tomb, representing Sui empress and Tang noble styles, respectively. The original crown lacked a frame, hinting at a soft structure—possibly a hybrid of ‘Jin Xian Crown’ (进贤冠) and noblewomen’s headwear, adorned with decorative plates to form a ‘county princess crown.’
The ‘Chai Dian Bao Ji’ Theory
Another theory proposes that the base was a ‘Chai Dian Bao Ji’ (钗钿宝髻), an ornate faux hairstyle popular in the High Tang era—a pre – assembled crown worn directly. ‘Bao Ji’ involved embellishing hair buns with gold, silver, and gemstones, either styled with real hair or as detachable faux pieces. Adornments included gem – inlaid ‘Hua Dian’ (花钿) and lifelike bird motifs, later interpreted as courtly designs. Early TV dramas also referenced this style, and despite mixed accessory placements, their crowns aligned more closely with Tang aesthetics than the current Li Chui replica’s stacked ‘ball – on – top’ design.
Conclusion
This article summarizes existing hypotheses—the true appearance of the Li Chui Crown remains a mystery. Yet, its exquisite craftsmanship astounds even after a millennium. The lack of consensus is perhaps why the disputed replica, despite years of critique, hasn’t been addressed by the museum. Errors aren’t the issue; the real problem is the reluctance to confront them.
