It's been 15 years since Chinese Paladin aired. Recently, Tang Yan's new drama look was unveiled, with her donning purple attire again. Netizens exclaimed, 'Time spares no one, but beauty endures—Zi Xuan is back!' For most, Tang Yan has an exceptional affinity for purple and forehead ornaments, largely because of her unforgettable role as Zi Xuan in Chinese Paladin.
In the series, the primary colors of her character were purple and magenta. She wore a forehead ornament, complemented by pink accents. The play of color shades helped shape her character's adaptable personality, making purple and forehead ornaments a must - have for many when imagining a goddess. The forehead ornament stood out due to her prominent broad forehead, which conforms to the traditional aesthetic of a square and full forehead, exuding a sense of grandeur. Adding the ornament further enhanced her classical beauty. At that time, such a broad forehead was quite rare among female celebrities.
Unfortunately, apart from the successful styling of Zi Xuan, Tang Yan rarely showed her broad forehead in later roles. She often chose bangs to cover it. Her subsequent styling continuously aimed for a youthful look, which influenced the style of her later characters. For example, in The Princess Weiyoung, her image mainly featured side - swept bangs, with a sweet and gentle vibe. Her outfits were in light tones like pale blue, pink, and pastel yellow. This styling distanced her from the divine aura of Zi Xuan and gave her a more approachable, girl - next - door feel.
When appearing on shows, she would use naturally draped bangs to soften her forehead, paired with loose hair and Han - style clothing, strengthening her sweet and tender image. However, center - parted bangs tend to look more mature than side - swept ones. When she wore an unlined Ming - style cloak with a stand - up collar and a long gown in light blue, the styling with bangs became her visual signature.
While she experimented with youthful, sweet looks, there were also attempts to break the mold, though not always successful. For instance, in the CCTV show National Treasure, she tried a more solemn Han - Jin style with a cinematic - inspired bun, wearing a mid - length Han - style straight robe and a striped skirt. The red outfit was grand, but the side - swept bangs clashed with the classical aesthetic, creating an awkward mix of modern and traditional elements.
In the new drama Nian Wushuang, she plays a goddess. Although her hairline has been adjusted to be rounder and more forward, and she has center - parted bangs, the overall look is more classical. Simply revealing her forehead significantly improves her styling. The return of purple attire also brings back memories of her iconic Chinese Paladin role.
In historical dramas, various methods are used to modify the forehead. Using forehead ornaments is the most natural way, while modern bangs often seem out of place. Bangs are a convenient way to deal with the forehead, but they are not always the best fit for a character's image. For a more classical and grand Chinese - style makeup look, the key points are: 1. Avoid bangs if possible. 2. Keep hair neatly combed. 3. Updos add elegance. 4. Limit hair accessories in number and complexity. 5. Avoid overly pronounced under - eye bags or heavy makeup. 6. Confidence is the best makeup. Note: If bangs are necessary, center - parted > side - swept, wispy > blunt.
Over the years, as production teams improve styling techniques, we've come to appreciate the classical beauty of a broad forehead. Tang Yan's grandeur comes from her spirited confidence. We look forward to seeing the goddess Tang Yan on screen again.
