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…

Hanfu is the general name for traditional Chinese costumes of various dynasties, and it is known for its complicated system and rich and varied style, which not only has a deep historical heritage, but also its unique aesthetic value. Therefore, in recent years, many people are more and more favorable to hanfu, and the tolerance of the society is getting bigger and bigger, so hanfu is also used in more common life scenes. Some simple and generous hanfu can even be worn for the workday, fashionable. In this article, we'll take a look at those hanfu outfits that are suitable for commuting and working days, and teach you how to easily wear hanfu outfits for the workday   Trend of Hanfu Hanfu is a traditional dress with a classical form, and most of its clothes are designed to be flowing, but there are also many designs that are closer to daily life. For example, the simple shape of the Song Beizi (褙子), the design of the lapel is very cool to wear in summer. Or the Ming Pipa sleeves Ao (袄), sleeve shape elegant and generous, very intellectual. In addition, there are also some Xuan Qun (旋裙) and Zhe Qun…

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…

Have you ever heard of that trivia tidbit where it's like "the Chinese were so impressed by Kung Fu Panda that they held meetings to figure out why they couldn't produce something as good as it with their own culture"? Well, it's true. That did happen. And the answer is probably a combination of a lack of financial and cultural support for artists, government censorship of storytelling, and animation not being taken seriously as an artform. But what did Kung Fu Panda do that was so right? What influences did it take from Chinese culture? I'm gonna try and figure that out. I'll talk about my opinion on whether it matters that this movie was made by white people when Chinese audiences liked it so much. So let's start! Wuxia Jianghu Dream To begin with, these mountains in the opening immediately reminded me of Huangshan, or the Yellow Mountains. It's a pretty famous mountain range in China with a lot of these jagged stony peaks and clouds surrounding them. The Kung Fu Panda artbook confirms that the Valley of Peace is inspired by the Yellow Mountains and the Li River Valley, another place famous for being really, really pretty. And…

In fact, while making this list today I found out there are so many upcoming costumed dramas that I'm waiting for.  This post is dedicated to my favorite upcoming costumed series, from historical to fantasy. Anyways, I hope you all are ready, today we will be going over the Top 14 Most Anticipated Upcoming Chinese Dramas in 2021. 1. Novoland - Pearl Eclipse This is definitely one of my favorite upcoming dramas. Yang Mi & William Chan lead this fantasy drama whose filming was completed last year on September 20, 2020. It's safe to assume that most of the post-production work is completed now and the drama is just waiting for a premiere date. Novoland Pearl Eclipse revolves around the story of a mermaid living together among her people in a small coastal village which gets raided and its inhabitants were slain. Pearl Eclipse referring to the tears of a young mermaid,  which becomes a magical pearl and is sought after by poachers of the time.  Yang Mi plays the part of the mermaid who is saved by the royal court official William Chan. I think the cinematography looks great and the storyline sounds interesting. You can never go wrong…

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…

Made this vest from the last of white striped chiffon.

This section contains Shuhe (裋褐). Size range: 165/88A to 185/104A). Please read the introduction of the topic and how to use this guide in advance. Introduction Shuhe (裋褐), also known as "Duan Da (短打)", originally meant a coarse cloth upper garment woven with coarse hemp or animal hair, was a simple cross-collar upper garment worn by commoners in ancient China, usually with looser pants underneath, mostly used for casual wear or work clothes. The basic features of the Shuhe are Jiao Ling You Ren (交领右衽, cross collar and wrapping the right side before the left), the shortest sleeve length over the wrist, the longest slightly beyond the fingertips, mostly straight sleeves or arrow sleeves, narrower cuffs, the length of the garment to below the waist, the longest above the knee, and the two sides need to be divided into slits. Shuhe can not simply be equated with the cloth worn by the poor, although this garment can not do the formal occasions worn by the dress, but its use is very wide, and the use of Shuhe is determined by its characteristics, because wearing Shuhe more convenient for action, so it has become a daily work, farming, long-distance travel necessary…

Wuxia (武俠), which is a type of Chinese fantasy with a lot of martial arts. It’s a lot of attractive people flying around with swords using powers, and it’s amazing. What you see wuxia world in dramas, what you think is the ancient Chinese cultural ideal world is actually created within the last say a little bit over half a century in the 1950s. In this post, I am going to attempt to explain the rather complicated concept of Wuxia and Jianghu that even a lot of Chinese native people actually don't quite know about that. So if you're coming from a different cultural background and you don't speak the language it might be even more confusing for you to understand what jianghu. So first we have to understand the word Wuxia, and then the concept of Jianghu. Wuxia World in Chinese Dramas If you have been watching a lot of Chinese dramas, you may realize a large proportion of current Chinese dramas are of the period drama genre and within this genre. A large proportion is the Wuxia genre or versions that branch off from this genre or even if it's really a serious political or Romantic period drama,…

Summer is here, want to keep cool all summer long? The "cool" summer hanfu is here to save you. You can refer to these hanfu and inspired hanfu styles that will make you stand out and still keep you fresh.   The first set is a light green Song style hanfu, as if it is a summer lake, clear and cool. The Song Chang Shan (长衫), the placket with jade Ruyi and flower embroidery, pleated skirt head embroidery exquisite full. Jade Ruyi and floral prints embellish the whole hanfu, as if the flowers fell on the lake and caused ripples.   The chilled sparkling water, refreshing summer taste. Plain elegant quiet blue and white wear, simple white Duijin Shan (对襟衫), showing the thin effect is very good. Sweet little daisy in the improved Qixiong dress, dress-type design, lining the slender figure. That beautiful girl, smile charming and unforgettable.   The third set is a black and purple gradient Ming-style He Ling Dui Jin Shan (合领对襟衫), printed with star, cherry blossom, and wisteria print, adding a sense of mystery. With a light purple short pleated skirt, it is suitable for daily wear and does not require a high figure. Soft skin-friendly…

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…

What is it like to be a hanfu designer? Let's take a look at Hanfu Shi Dai (汉服世代) interviews with four hanfu designers.   Kong Xin Yan (空心砚) Hello, I'm Kong Xin Yan and I've been in touch with hanfu for more than 10 years! Over the years I have been concerned about the demand for modern hanfu and saw the potential market demand for non-antique hanfu, but there are many inconveniences in wearing traditional hanfu directly, which triggered my design inspiration and also formed my own design feature - "Shi Zhuang Han Cai (时装汉裁, tailoring fashion in Han style)". Traditional hanfu leaps directly from ancient times into modern times, missing the process of cultural renewal, and many styles are based on the ancient social background. If we want to further develop hanfu, we have to think about these questions: How should traditional hanfu serve the current fast-paced society and what functions should it achieve in an era when there are noblemen like emperors, generals and princesses? "Shi Zhuang Han Cai" is my answer to these questions after thinking and practicing. In fact, my family has been reluctant to wear hanfu for more than ten years, but they are happy…

When talking about celebrity in the modern Hanfu, Shiyin will surely come to mind. She not only has been dedicated to the promotion of traditional and modern Hanfu, but also often shares the traditional Chinese culture with everyone. Shiyin shares six different styles of modern Hanfu look in her latest video, let's take a look. https://youtu.be/WaQ2zAZ1aGk   LOOK 1 - Street Cool Girl Style For the first set, Shiyin chose a Ming-style Duijin Duan Shan (lapel short shirts) with a very special color clashing design, which is perfect for a cool street style look even though it is a men's style. Shiyin chose to turn down the collar, one of the corners of the shirt tucked into the bottom, and the sleeves on both sides can be rolled up. Then, she paired it with denim shorts in the same color and a leather necklace.   LOOK 2 - Fresh style The second Hanfu item is a women's semi-transparent Ming-style Li Ling Duijin Duan Shan (standing collar lapel short shirts) with a very fresh design. Wearing a camisole inside, unbuttoning the shirt, turning the collar out, and tying a knot in front of the waist. The bottom with light-colored denim shorts…

This year, the Cantonese opera movie "Snake White (白蛇传·情)" was released, the combination of traditional Chinese opera and modern visual effects, let us surprised: the original traditional culture can also be so fashionable! And the protagonist of today's story, anthropomorphizing the mysterious and mythical creatures in the Shan Hai Jing, recreates the magnificent world of mythology. She has been reported by China Daily, Huaxi City Daily, and many other official media, while triggering the attention of millions of netizens. She is the photographer Huanhuan (焕焕). The "Shan Hai Jing (山海经, Classic of Mountains and Seas)" is an important ancient book of the pre-Qin Dynasty of China, and is also one of the oldest books rich in myths and legends, recording ancient Chinese mythology, geography, plants, animals, minerals, products, sorcery, religion, medicine, folklore and ethnicity, which can be said to be comprehensive.   Recreate the dream of childhood When she was young, Huanhuan was obsessed with the fantasy world of mythology, and her grandmother would often tell her various mythological stories: snakes with nine heads, birds with three legs, fish with wings...all these stories were so fascinating to Huanhuan that she began to yearn for the mysterious "Mythical World". Later, Huanhuan…

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…

Decorative patterns are the wisdom creation of mankind into civilized society. In order to perfect oneself and beautify one's life, human beings need not only the satisfaction of material life, but also the communication of spiritual life. Decorative patterns, through the beautification of practical objects of clothing, food, housing and transportation, make aesthetic ideals reflected in the practical life and play a subtle role, thus further promoting the improvement and development of human civilization. -- Chinese Decorative Patterns Through the Ages Today, let's follow the Modern Hanfu and learn about the history and modern application of the classic Tang Dynasty patterns.   History of Traditional Patterns As early as the Neolithic era, patterns appeared, and the ancestors painted their inner desires and aesthetic interests into various patterns, which were entrusted with good luck and good wishes, and incorporated them into their lives. These patterns can be found on pottery and stone carvings, and probably on costumes as well, but unfortunately we do not have many costume artifacts yet. The culture of costume is closely related to the development of society, as early as before the Han Dynasty, dyed fabrics have been printed (with) traditional Chinese patterns, with the opening and…

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.…

Originally published in China Youth Magazine, Issue 10, 2021 @Correspondent: Fan Tuan (饭团) In recent years, there is a phenomenon that people can easily notice: more and more people in "ancient costumes" walking in the streets, they have wide robes and large sleeves, fluttering clothes, forming a landscape of their own, and most of them are young people. Their clothing is called Hanfu (汉服), and they call each other "Tongpao (同袍)" "Paozi (袍子)". So, what is Hanfu? Why are young people so keen on the Hanfu revival? How can ordinary people become Hanfu Tongpao? In this article, we interviewed 10 Hanfu Tongpao. Among them, there are ordinary people, leaders of Hanfu societies, Hanfu models, businessmen, and social media celebrities. Let's get closer to Hanfu in the stories of Tongpao.   Which Hanfu styles does Tongpao prefer? Hanfu, also known as Han Yi Guan, Han Zhuang, and Hua Fu, is a unique Han style and accessory system that was formed through a natural evolution from the reign of the Yellow Emperor to the middle of the 17th century AD (late Ming and early Qing dynasties) in the main areas where the Han people lived, with the "Huaxia-Han" culture as the background…