Dear veteran viewers of ancient Chinese costume dramas, I'm sure that for everyone, the plot of the hanfu beauty, palace plot, power rivalry, wrongly paid life, and so on has long been known. However, I wonder if you have caught the details to keep up with the fashion trends of traditional accessories throughout the dynasties? For example, what kind of ornaments did Empress Cao put on her face? Another example is that the "tip set" worn on Ru Yi's fingers was for decoration or for something else? And, did the yellow and red powder applied to Mulan's face before the blind date actually exist in history? Also, will this level of hair volume be standard per person? The story of jewelry is long and wide, fine and splendid. We might as well put together a "Top 10 List of Ancient Traditional Accessories Trends" for all the major categories of accessories, based on their length of popularity, usage, and popularity, etc. Since history is too voluminous to be told in one article, this list temporarily selects the mainstream accessories.   No.10 Hu Zhi - Nail Guards Hu Zhi (护指), also know as Nail Guards, is the Qing Dynasty drama, the aristocratic…

While more and more young people are wearing various Chinese costumes and it is also common to see exciting videos related to hanfu on social media. The hanfu market, which was once considered a "niche" market, is also gaining in popularity. According to the China-Chic Economic Development Report 2020-2021 published by iiMedia Research earlier this year, by the end of 2020, there will be more than 5 million hanfu enthusiasts in China, and the hanfu market sales scale will reach more than 6 billion yuan. Growing from a niche hobby to a $10 billion market, the hanfu industry chain has flourished in design, clothing, sales and peripheral industries, with such things as hanfu festivals, traditional tea experiences, hanfu social products, and hanfu photography services springing up. Many young people have also taken up these emerging positions because of their love and interest.   New career options born from hobby "Amazing! In the Ancient Chinese Costume Exhibition, there is one hanfu whose edge is designed by me!" At the beginning of this year, Qianqian, a 21-year-old Tianjin girl, had her "highlight moment". But five years ago, she had no knowledge of design software, fabric selection and other expertise, despite her love…

Many newcomers to hanfu often wonder, what hanfu style suits me? Which dynasty hanfu style is more suitable for my body shape? If you have this same confusion, please don't worry, after all, hanfu is a brand new style of clothing for most people, but it's really not that complicated. In this article, I will share a few hanfu selection suggestions for you, which will start from the most common hanfu styles and eliminate your confusion.   Hanfu Fashion Trends Hanfu is the collective name for the costumes of the ancient Chinese dynasties, which has a distinctive brand of the times and contains very deep historical values, in addition to the unique aesthetic orientation of hanfu, which is also very appealing. So there is a wide range of hanfu, both the "Classical Hanfu" that adheres to the traditional form; there are also many fashionable "Hanfu Inspired" models, which retain some of the hanfu design, but by and large are more modern. If you want to choose a traditional hanfu that has a deep ancient charm, you may need to have an understanding of the form before you buy it.   The essential knowledge of choosing hanfu How to choose a…

Perhaps we have lived in the city for too long, busy for a long time, but more and more longing for beautiful scenery outside the city. Recently, there is such a post 90s guy, wearing Hanfu, out of the busy city, traveling half of China for 6 years. He seems to have created his own Jianghu. Under the waterfall, he sang, domineering and unrestrained. On top of the immortal mountain, he was dressed in white, immortal bones, floating like the world independent. Between the mountains, he stood in a Chinese dress, a magnificent painting of the motherland, spread out in front of him. In the midst of the yellow sand, he leaned on his cane and was alone, just like seeing the back of the Tang monk when he took the scriptures. Under the sunset, he played the Qiang flute and took us to appreciate the magnificence of the Hexi Corridor. In these images, he seems to be a chivalrous man or a poetic literati.   His name is Konggu (空谷). He has long hair, wears hanfu, carries a Qin or hangs a bottle gourd. Before becoming a photographer, Konggu was a painter. Since he was a child, Konggu has…

This year, China's Henan TV continuously brings surprises to lovers of traditional culture and hanfu culture. Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Qixi Festival, every important Chinese traditional festival, we will see the wonderful programs presented by Henan TV, the most exciting part of which is dancing. Not only offers a holiday gift to all lovers of Chinese traditional culture, but also traditional arts are known to more people. Starting from 2018, "Street Dance of China", "Dance Smash", "Let's Shake It" and other programs have been hotly broadcast, which also set off a wave of dance. After 2019, Chinese classical dance, one of the traditional dances in China, suddenly jumped into the public's view and became popular in social media in the short term accompanied by the popularity of ancient music. This may also be the first time that the public really knows and pays attention to Chinese classical dance. The historical background of the formation of Chinese classical dance can be traced back to the ancient Chinese court dances or to the primitive, ritual dances of more distant times. During the change of dynasties, the development of ancient court dances was affected by the limitations in the use of…

Harper's BAZAAR took a series of Hanfu photoshoot, using five covers corresponding to five historical dynasties to tell the classic story of "Hanfu", spanning five dynasties: Han, Jin, Tang, Song and Ming, based on ancient books, cultural relics, paintings and calligraphy, and interpreted by five models, trying their best to restore the splendor of Hanfu culture.

On the afternoon of Aug. 4, 2021, a group of post-95 and post-00 girls gathered at a Hanfu Experience Hall in Guangzhou to try Hanfu styling for the first time. The room was decorated with landscape paintings on the wall, ink, and brush, and guzheng on the table, and the hanfu stylist was weaving twist braids for the experience participants, bending them into a circle and coiling them backwards, and then inserting a hairpin, and the shape of a Han Dynasty lady appeared in front of them, perfectly blending with the environment full of ancient style, highlighting the traditional, classical Chinese beauty. How did the hanfu styling experience become popular? How to bring this new fashion trend into the public's daily life?     Nandu Polling Center (南都民调中心) invited a number of hanfu stylists to share their experiences and conducted a questionnaire survey on hanfu lovers to gain a deeper understanding of the group's career status from multiple angles, and recently released the Hanfu Stylist Career Survey Report (2021). The report shows that 60% of the respondents hanfu lovers like hanfu culture very much and mostly done hanfu styling in Hanfu Experience Hall. Hanfu stylists provide services such as hanfu…

The explosion of hanfu in China in recent years can be described as a top-to-bottom movement of traditional literary revival. Both the popularization of knowledge by various academic professionals and the vigorous promotion by private forces have brought the field to life. The reason why hanfu is as blooming as it is today is that there are many people who have played a pivotal role in driving this trend. For example, "Yan Wang wf (燕王wf)". Yan Wang wf He is a researcher of ancient Chinese costumes, also an illustrated book writer, has participated in the restoration of historical figures for many times, and was the dress director of the drama "Serenade of Peaceful Joy (清平乐)". Written and published "A Guide of Time Travel to the Tang Dynasty", and has worked with publications such as "China National Travel" and "Chinese Heritage".   The mysterious forum years The topic started more than ten years ago, when there was a relative lack of channels for ancient costume enthusiasts to gain knowledge about hanfu. Xiefang Zhuren (撷芳主人) and a few friends created a forum, and Yan Wang was one of the main members. After the forum was established, Yan Wang shared the latest diagrams…

Pibo (披帛) is perhaps the most fairy-like of all hanfu accessories. The light texture, delicate prints, and embroidery set it off. When walking, the Pibo drapes between the hem of the skirt, looking like a fairy with fluttering clothes and clouds. Pibo appeared in pottery figurines as early as the Wei and Jin dynasties and became widely popular in the Tang dynasty. The pairing of Pibo and Banbi, because of its perfect combination of linearity and human beauty, became a product of women's refreshed aesthetic imagination. Pibo is also useful for more than just decoration, generally, draped over the shoulders, or over the body, are good choices. It can also be used for sun protection. Here are six ways to wear a Pibo, from the simple to the complex!   How to wear hanfu Pibo LOOK 1: The most common way to wear a Pibo. Wrap the Pibo around the body from the back to the front. If your Pibois too long, try to wrap it around your arm. LOOK 2: Mostly used for photography and catwalk shows, and is also the method of dressing for many Tang Dynasty unearthed pottery figurines. One side is put on the shoulder, and the…

Feiyufu (飞鱼服) first became known to the public because of the "New Dragon Gate Inn (新龙门客栈)", "Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (龙门飞甲)", "Brotherhood of Blades (绣春刀)" and other martial arts film works about the Jin Yi Wei (锦衣卫, Embroidered Uniform Guard) appeared one after another. The look of a handsome black leather Feiyufu of the Jin Yi Wei undoubtedly attracted the attention of many people. As Feiyufu became more and more famous, it almost became the representative of the Ming Dynasty official uniform in the general public's mind. So what exactly is Feiyufu and did every Jin Yi Wei in history get to wear it? In this article, we will introduce the history of Feiyufu and the origin of Jin Yi Wei, hope it will be helpful to you.   What is a Feiyufu? The name Feiyufu does not refer to a specific style of hanfu, but all hanfu decorated with Feiyu embroidery or Feiyu Buzi (补子, Mandarin square) are called Feiyufu, which only limits the style of the pattern, not the style of the clothing. In the Ming Dynasty, the Buzi on the Changfu (常服, work formal wear) of the officials were patterned with birds and animals. In the…

Umbrellas are very common in daily life. Whether it's a hot sun or a downpour, an umbrella is definitely your best assistant. Not only that, in the modern hanfu shooting, the appearance rate of the ancient style oil-paper umbrella is extremely high. The demand for shade from the sun and rain has been there since ancient times, take a look, the the history of ancient Chinese umbrellas, to see what kind of umbrellas the ancients used.   Pre-Qin Period The early Chinese umbrellas were called "Gai (盖)" or "Deng (簦)", made of grass, pieces of bamboo, etc., with a handle to hold, much like the current umbrella, but it could not be put away. Chinese umbrellas made of silk first appeared in the Western Zhou period, silk umbrellas are expensive, generally used by the nobility, are mainly decorative items and symbols of power for the dignitaries, noblemen, and the scholar. The common people could not afford to buy silk umbrellas, so they mostly used Douli (斗笠), or Suoyi (蓑衣, straw raincoats) in their lives. Suoyi has an important feature and symbol of ancient Chinese costume: Shang Yi Xia Chang. The top is called "Suoyi Pi (蓑衣披)", which is draped over…

This section contains Banbi (半臂). Size range: Jiao Ling Banbi  (155/80A to 185/104A), Zhi Dui Jin Banbi and Xie Dui Jin Banbi (155/64A to 175/96A). Please read the introduction of the topic and how to use this guide in advance. Introduction Banbi (半臂), also known as "half-sleeve", is a short tunic developed from the upper Ru (襦) since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and can be roughly divided into two collar types: Jiao Ling (交领, cross-collar) and Dui Jin (对襟, lapel). Compared with long-sleeved tops, the difference is that the sleeve length can reach the elbow. In the Tang Dynasty, the Banbi was already a popular garment worn by both men and women. In the long years, its wearing method is also basically limited to the set of other long-sleeved clothes, because in formal occasions, the ancient people will never wear Banbi alone and show the arm. But with modern aesthetics, today's Jiao Ling Banbi (交领半臂) can be worn alone in summer, which is somewhat similar to the short-sleeved T-shirts worn by modern people, and because of its shorter sleeve length, it does not hurt to pair it with a modern skirt, and men can also wear a Banbi with…

A lot of people on blog website including me have made posts about top wuxia dramas to watch but we always end up adding Xianxia dramas to the list. So in today's video,  I am only gonna include wuxia dramas on this list. Wuxia literary translates to Martial Heroes and it's set in Jiang Hu. Jiang Hu means lakes and rivers. In the west, Superman and Batman can be considered martial heroes but in Chinese drama land, wuxia dramas are set in ancient China. Wuxia dramas contest of Jiang hu, martial arts, swordsman,  and the characters must know some form of martial arts.   1. Nirvana In Fire 瑯琊榜 Starring Hu Ge, Tamia Liu & Wang Kai, Nirvana In Fire is a 54 episode drama that tells the story of a brilliant strategist who helps an uncovered prince battle for the throne. The screenplay is well-written and the storyline is well-paced as plots get revealed. You know how most shows are pretty boring in the beginning and only get interesting around episode 15 or so,  well Nirvana In Fire is amazing and it’ll hook you in right from the 1st episode. The drama has also got an amazing cast but…

Sericulture and the spinning and weaving of silk originated in China thousands of years ago. Because of its rich colors and patterns, silk played an important role in ancient solemnities and ceremonies and also gave rise to a rich folkloric tradition.   The History of Silk As archaeological findings show, China was the first country to develop sericulture and silk spinning and weaving. In 1977, at Hemudu (河姆渡), a 7,000-year-old archaeological site in the city of Yuyao (余姚) in Zhejiang Province (浙江), a silkworm-shaped carving was found that represents a testament to the early engagement of China's ancient people in sericulture-related activities. Among the inscriptions on bones and turtle shells discovered in the ruins of Yin (殷墟), capital of Shang dynasty (商, ca. 1600-1046 BC), there are numerous references to silkworms, the Morus alba or mulberry tree and silk. This reinforces the thesis that silkworm rearing and silk weaving were already an important part of the lives of the people of that time. Until reaching the years of the Warring Kingdoms (战国时代, 475-221 B.C.) the development in China of the now well-known Jacquard comotelar, the various silk fabrics, a fine and resistant silk, silk gauzes, brocade, silk twill, damask and…

"Classic Chinese Calisthenics" is a set of movements that combines fitness, entertainment and health care functions, which meets the current needs of the public for health and wellness and has the potential to be popularized by all. Some time ago, CGTN released Classic Chinese Calisthenics, which successfully set off a wave of Chinese-style radio gymnastics craze. https://youtu.be/R_GLwJqpZ9Y More than that, the release of the traditional culture experience program Classic Chinese Sports has brought more people's attention to traditional Chinese sports. By exploring modern expressions of traditional sports such as Cuju (蹴鞠), archery, swing, Jiazhou (甲胄, armor), and Kongzhu (Diabolo, 空竹), "Classic Chinese Sports" allows viewers to immerse themselves in the charm of traditional sports. Such a cultural atmosphere echoes the arrival of the Tokyo Olympics, with certain social communication significance and international exchange value.   Traditional culture innovation in integration Taking the traditional culture from the Zhou Li (周礼) to the present as a reference, "Classic Chinese Calisthenics" encompasses Ya Yue dance style, Han-Tang style, Dunhuang style, opera style, Wing Chun style, Changquan style, Tai Chi style, and other moves, reflecting the tolerance and diversity of traditional culture between rigidity and flexibility. Specifically, "Classic Chinese Calisthenics" breaks away from a…

Chinese Hanfu has a long history and has gone through several dynasties over thousands of years of development, during which time it has evolved and many representative Hanfu styles have emerged, learn more about them together through the exquisite illustrations from Jin Li Qing Nian.   Pre Qin Period China, one of the oldest civilizations in the world, has created a gorgeous dress culture as early as the Neolithic period. During the Spring, Autumn, and Warring States Periods, Chinese traditional clothing entered a stage of evolution Li (礼, ritual) was the rule, costume consciousness and the same structure as heaven and earth contain a profound Chinese philosophy. The complete He Dang Ku (合裆裤) already existed in the Western Zhou period. At this time, the main styles of clothing were the Mian Fu Zhi (冕服制) with the upper and lower garments, the one-piece Shen Yi Zhi (深衣制), and the Bian Fu Zhi (弁服制). The aristocratic ladies would also cut the back of their long dresses short, to reveal a floor-length skirt, creates a graceful and slender look. San Huang Zhu Yu Pei (三璜组玉佩) Jade pendant group, also known as a iscellaneous jade pendant, that is a combination of multiple different types…

Chinese tea culture originated in the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Song Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty, tea had become a necessity in people's daily life. With the overall prosperity of the Song dynasty's social commodity economy, tribute tea, tea sets, tea art, tea workshops, etc., but also flourished. The traditional Dian Cha (点茶, whisking tea) in the Song Dynasty had an extremely important position in the history of the Chinese tea ceremony. In this article, we will introduce the history and steps of whisking tea in the Song Dynasty, and let's feel the elegance of the literati in the Song Dynasty.   China's Tea Culture Chinese tea culture has a long history, the earliest written record is: "Shennong tasted hundred herbs, the day encountered seventy-two poisons, and got the Tu (荼) and solve", where the "Tu" is tea. Tea (茶) in the history of the five had used the name: Tu (荼), Jia (槚), She (蔎), Ming (茗), Chuan (荈). In five thousand years of Chinese civilization, people have accumulated a deep tea culture. In history, the application process of tea is roughly medicinal, edible, drinking. The way of tea drinking has also gone through several stages of…

Ancient paintings are one of the most important ways to explore the ancient traditional Hanfu, and the Hanfu styles in some classic famous paintings are even more popular among Hanfu enthusiasts. The charm of the Wei and Jin dynasties, the gracefulness of the Tang Dynasty, the elegance of the Song Dynasty, just flow into reality from ancient paintings. Today, take a look at those restored Hanfu costumes from ancient paintings!   Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk (Dao Lian Tu, 捣练圖) shows women at work pounding, weaving, ironing and sewing, and is an important custom painting of the Tang Dynasty. The women in the painting are voluptuous and dressed in various colors of Qixiong dresses, if looking closely, you can see that the fabric is decorated with colorful patterns, mainly with Tuan Hua (团花). At present, there are some restored Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk hanfu, which can be said to be very nicely restored in color and pattern, fresh, natural and antique style.   A Palace Concert A Palace Concert (Tang Ren Gong Le Tu, 唐人宫乐图) depicts the life of court lady at a banquet during the late Tang Dynasty. Around the…

Traditional Chinese pants, as important clothing, have a long history in China. Han people generally wear trousers, not only from the Han Dynasty. On the contrary, the Han nationality is considered to be one of the first nations in the world to wear pants. Traditional Chinese pants can be divided into two types: one is called Kun(裈) and the other is called Ku(袴).   Kun(裈) Kun is an ancient underpants with the crotch, according to the present archaeological evidence, Kun can be traced back to the late Neolithic. It can be divided into two types: one is very short and similar to the contemporary triangle underpants, which was called " Dubi Kun (犊鼻裈dú bí kūn)" in ancient times; "Dubi Kun" has a history of more than 5000 years and is still used in some parts of Contemporary Asia. the other is slightly wider and similar to the contemporary beach pants, which have two obvious pants with knee-length. Compared with the "Dubi Kun" to be more formal, so it has been widely used in the past dynasties, especially in hot areas. Usually, in ancient times, few people will directly expose Kun to the outside except for the farmers, servants or soldiers.…

Everyone probably has a dream of martial arts, mastering the "Wave-like Subtle Steps", bringing the sword alone, and travel around the world. For most, such a situation exists more only in the Wuxia drama. However, in reality, there really is a girl who did. Her name, Yang Liu (杨柳). She is 24 years old this year and has spent 17 years practicing the stunt of crossing the river with a bamboo. On the bamboo, doing various difficult movements, dancing ballet and traditional Chinese dance. Come and listen to her story.   Learn Du Zhu Piao for the first time Yang Liu, born in Zunyi, Guizhou, likes to dance since she was a child, and her dream was to be a dancer. However, she was born with a weak and petite body. In order to keep her fit, her grandmother, who is a member of the local Du Zhu Piao Association, started to take her to practice this skill. Du Zhu Piao (独竹漂, single bamboo rafting) is a folk skill in northern Guizhou. The ancestors who lived on the banks of the Chishui River learned to use bamboo to cross the river in order to overcome the inconvenience of transportation.But as…