As winter approaches, more and more Hanfu enthusiasts are focusing their attention on the Ming style Hanfu. Whereas in the Ming style Hanfu costume, the combination of an Ao (袄, jacket) on top and a Qun (裙, skirt) on the bottom is especially popular. Ao has several types of collars, and today we are focusing on the standing collar today, briefly introduce the history and how to wear it.   History of the standing collar  Some of you might recognize the standing collar as the mandarin collar, most people think the standing collar is derived from Qing Dynasty Manchurian dress, also known as the cheongsam or qipao, but it is actually originally invented and passed down from the Ming Dynasty, the dynasty before the Qing Dynasty, it is a part of the hanfu system and was later on adapted into Manchurian dresses, and today it’s widely known in the world as the mandarin collar, and recognized as one of the most distinctive features of Chinese clothing. Do you remember this Ming Dynasty painting? Almost every woman and child are wearing the cross collared Aoqun, showing how popular this style was at that time. However, when we look more closely at…

Every hot summer, many girls will feel that Song-style Hanfu is the first choice for this season, indeed, with the cool and soothing touch of skin, many people will be willing to choose Song-style Hanfu to spend the summer. In fact, in addition to the Song-style Hanfu, the Ming-style Hanfu is also a kind of "Summer Hanfu"! Even in the summer heat, Ming-style Hanfu can still "make a splash"!   The difference between Ming-style Hanfu and Song-style Hanfu Song-style Hanfu: Song Hanfu is the most suitable Hanfu for summer because it is the most simple Hanfu. Due to the background of the Song Dynasty, Song Hanfu are mainly slim and long, with narrow sleeves and cross collars. The "Beizi" and "Song trousers" are the main styles of Hanfu in the Song system. Ming-style Hanfu: In the beginning, the Ming Hanfu has always been regarded as a noblewoman's Hanfu, and because the Ming Hanfu is mostly based on horse-faced skirts, its craft is complicated plus the fabric and silk are expensive, so the price of Ming Hanfu has always been high. The "long jacket" and "short jacket" plus the "horse-faced skirt" also became the main style of Hanfu in the Ming…

The Ming Dynasty, one of the most civic-minded dynasties in China. From the literary works and historical records of the Ming Dynasty in circulation today, it can be seen that the dress culture of the Ming Dynasty also reached a relatively developed level. In traditional Chinese culture, the Chinese Ming Dynasty women's makeup, with a strong emphasis on subtlety and inner cultivation. Come along and enjoy this set of photos about Hanfu girls wear the Ming Dynasty costume.

The style of the Ming Dynasty Hanfu is slender and very suitable for photography.

A series of pictures, about Ming Dynasty clothing.

Today, I want to share the photos taken by Liang Xiaosuan, about the Ming Dynasty men's robe.

August 23 is the "Chu Shu (处暑)" in China's 24 solar terms, "处" is mean: "leave", "暑" is mean that "summer". It means that the heat of summer has passed and the prelude of autumn has slowly opened. Today, I bring you some suggestions on the style of Hanfu. They are suitable for wearing when the weather is slightly cooler. Stand collar ao dress (立领袄裙) The weather starts to cool down, so we need to keep warm in early autumn. Stand collar Ao dress fabric selection is generally moderate thickness, if cold can also be appropriate in the clothes wearing clothes to keep warm. Duijin ruqun (对襟襦裙) In autumn, mountain flowers are romantic and suitable for wearing a pair of Duijin ruqun to go out. And the Duijin ruqun is more convenient to handle, if you go out, the action is also more convenient. Crossed collar ruqun (交领襦裙) The crossed collar ruqun is warmer than the skirt, and you can wear thermal underwear under the jacket. In the cool weather. Vertical collar Cape ( 竖领披风) The vertical collar cape is lighter than the stand collar Ao dress. It can also wear a sling, or warm clothes, if the weather is…

Walk down any modern city street in China, from Shanghai's Bund to The Forbidden City, and you'll likely spot a surprising silhouette: the Mamianqun (马面裙). With its distinctive flat front panels and flowing pleated sides, this Ming Dynasty-era skirt has leaped from museum displays and history books into the heart of contemporary wardrobes. It represents more than a cyclical fashion trend; it is a vibrant, living symbol where deep cultural heritage intersects with personal style. This skirt's journey reveals how a garment can transcend its original era to become a powerful medium for identity and aesthetic expression in the 21st century. A Design Born from Function The name Mamianqun originates from a unique architectural feature. Mamian refers to the rectangular, projecting bastions on ancient Chinese city walls, which the skirt's broad, unadorned front panel visually resembles. This core design principle—structured panels meeting dynamic pleats—emerged during the Ming Dynasty. The skirt is ingeniously constructed from two identical panels of fabric joined at a single waistband. When worn, these panels overlap at the front and back, creating four "gates" or openings: two prominent, flat rectangular sections at the front and back, flanked by pleated sides. This architecture served a profoundly practical purpose.…

A curious detail in the new historical drama The Vendetta of An (长安二十四计) has captured the audience's attention. In it, actress Xu Lu (徐璐), who portrays the character Bai Wan (白莞), wears a cloak with an unusual feature: a separate panel of fabric draped over its back. This double-layered design strikes many modern viewers as anachronistic or simply strange, prompting questions about its historical accuracy. Could a cloak really be constructed this way in ancient times, or is this a fanciful creation of the costume department? The answer lies not in creative license, but in a forgotten practicality shaped by climate and necessity. A Functional Design The additional back panel is not mere decoration. It functions as a rain guard or wind flap. Its primary purpose was to create a protected air space between itself and the wearer's back. When rain or sleet fell, it would hit this outer layer first. Following gravity, the moisture would then slide down the panel's surface and away from the body, keeping the inner cloak—and the crucial lower back and waist area—dry and insulated. This logic is enhanced when the cloak material itself is water-resistant. Historical garments often used oils, waxed fabrics, or inherently…

Open any television show or film set during the Qing dynasty, and you’ll see a familiar sight: men with shaved foreheads and long, thick braids of hair down their backs. This style, often called a "queue," has become the universal visual shorthand for the era. From the scheming courtiers in Empresses in the Palace (甄嬛传) to the romanticized princes of Scarlet Heart (步步惊心), the hairstyle is a constant. But this ubiquitous image is a historical fiction, a modern compromise for audience appeal that whitewashes a brutal and symbolic reality. The iconic "half-shaved" look is actually a late-Qing invention, a far cry from the humiliating and severe hairstyles mandated when the dynasty first seized power. The "Money Rat Tail" The true hairstyle of the early Qing was starkly different. Following the Manchu invasion and the establishment of the Qing court, the infamous "Queue Order" was decreed: "Keep your hair and lose your head, or keep your head and lose your hair." The mandated style was the Jinqian Shuwei (金钱鼠尾, "Money Rat Tail"). This involved shaving almost the entire head, leaving only a small patch of hair on the crown, roughly the size of a copper coin. This tiny patch was then…

How does a new historical drama completely rewire what we expect from television? As the year winds down, a series has emerged not just as entertainment, but as a masterclass in narrative construction. The Vendetta of An (长安二十四计) begins not with a slow burn, but with a calculated explosion. Its opening episode is a tightly wound mechanism of deception and revelation, centered on a man named Xie Huai'an (谢淮安). Once a minor official living in obscurity, he is summoned to the capital by a new emperor. What appears to be a simple tale of a man seeking justice for his family's massacre quickly unravels into a complex web where every confession is a trap and every ally a potential enemy. This is not just a story about revenge; it's a demonstration of tactical storytelling, where the viewer's assumptions are the first target. The Opening Gambit The brilliance of the premiere lies in its layered execution. Xie Huai'an’s mournful soliloquy about his past is our initial touchpoint for his character. Yet this moment of vulnerability is instantly reframed. The friend who heard his confession returns in the night as an assassin, a hidden agent of the Huben (虎贲), the very organization…

The landscape of Chinese male-oriented content is shifting. For years, adaptations of sprawling web novels dominated this space. Now, a different model is gaining ground, one that favors original, tightly-plotted narratives over pre-existing fantasy worlds. This move represents a significant gamble for streaming platforms, trading the built-in audience of a popular novel for the unpredictable appeal of a fresh story. Exemplifying this trend is the new series The Vendetta of An (长安二十四计). It follows Xie Huai'an (谢淮安), portrayed by Cheng Yi (成毅), a man returning to the capital after years of planning revenge for his family's destruction. The plot revolves around his intricate schemes and dangerous alliances with figures like the new Emperor and a military commander. Without source material to guide them, viewers are plunged directly into a complex game of strategy and payback, making the viewing experience both challenging and engaging. The commercial confidence in this approach is evident. The series secured over forty brand partnerships before its premiere. Its rapid release on Netflix also marks it as an early international contender in the costume suspense genre this year. This year has seen a concerted push into this territory by platforms like Youku, with series such as The…

In the historical drama Serenade of Peaceful Joy (清平乐), a peculiar white neckpiece adorns the robes of officials, instantly capturing the modern viewer's eye. To contemporary audiences, it might resemble an odd fashion accessory or even a pet's collar. But this item, far from mere decoration, was a powerful instrument of state authority. Its correct name is the Fangxin Quling (方心曲领), and its story is one of rigid hierarchy, cosmic symbolism, and physical discipline within the imperial system. A Mark of Rank Not every official in the Song Dynasty could wear the Fangxin Quling. Its privilege was reserved by law for those of the seventh rank and above, specifically those entitled to wear a certain type of ceremonial undergarment. This regulation, documented in texts like the Book of Sui (隋书·礼仪志七), made it a clear, visual demarcation between high-ranking central bureaucrats and lower-level local magistrates. It was a badge of inclusion within the empire's most powerful administrative circle. This was not a Song invention. The collar's institutional origins can be traced back to the Sui and Tang dynasties, evolving from more complex ceremonial attire. The Song court fully standardized and codified its use, embedding it firmly within the formal court robe…

Visitors to the Forbidden City often pause before display cases, puzzled by the pearls adorning ancient artifacts. These pearls are rarely perfectly round; many are oval, lumpy, or asymmetrical. This immediately conflicts with modern expectations, where flawless, spherical pearls symbolize luxury. The immediate assumption might be that historical artisans used inferior materials, but the truth is far more compelling. These irregular pearls are not evidence of poor quality but are artifacts of a different world—a time when pearls were gifts of nature, not products of controlled cultivation. Their shapes tell a story of rarity, historical technology, and aesthetic values that prized natural form over engineered perfection. This exploration seeks to answer the central question and redefine what we consider "valuable" in historical context. Wild Pearl Formation Every irregular pearl in the imperial collection began its life in the wild. Unlike today's farmed gems, historical pearls formed entirely by chance within mollusks like oysters and mussels. When a minute irritant, such as a sand grain, entered the shellfish, the creature's mantle tissue responded by secreting layers of nacre around it. This process, called biomineralization, had no guiding template or fixed nucleus. The nacre deposited unevenly over years, resulting in organic, baroque…

A recent period drama photo has set the internet abuzz. In stills from the upcoming series Yi Ou Chun (一瓯春), actress Zhou Ye’s (周也) costumes feature a striking detail: hems and seams meticulously edged with pearls. Online commentators were quick to praise the exquisite craftsmanship, with many marveling at the advanced aesthetic sensibilities of ancient China. This isn't just a random design choice; it’s a direct homage to a specific and lavish fashion trend from the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD). The shimmering trim is a recreation of Zhu Luo (珠络, pearl edging), a practice that saw pearls adorn everything from the collars and cuffs of formal robes to the seams of luxurious garments. This rediscovery highlights a timeless fascination with pearls and reveals how a royal decree, sumptuary laws, and sheer love for beauty shaped fashion a millennium ago. Courtly Sparkle The use of Zhu Luo was a definitive marker of elite status during the Song era. Its application was widespread and extraordinarily detailed. Portraits of empresses from the period show them in wide-sleeved ceremonial robes where pearls trace every edge, from the crown and face ornaments down to the hems of their shoes. Historical records describe specific garments, like…

Have you ever wondered why we are called the Han people? What is the story behind this name that defines a civilization? A Name Forged in History The term "Han" finds its anchor in one of China's foundational dynasties. Following the brief but brutal Qin Dynasty, a power struggle erupted. Liu Bang (刘邦), a rebel leader, was granted the title "King of Han" after the region of Hanzhong (汉中). His advisor, Xiao He (萧何), saw profound meaning in this name. He connected it to "Tianhan (天汉)," a poetic ancient name for the Milky Way, arguing it signified majestic grandeur and celestial favor. When Liu Bang emerged victorious, founding a new era of stability and expansion, he adopted Han as the dynasty's name. This was no ordinary dynasty. Lasting over four centuries, the Han Dynasty solidified a centralized state, expanded its territory significantly, and established the Silk Road. Its administrative reforms, cultural achievements, and military strength created a powerful, enduring legacy. To people beyond its borders and to generations within, "Han" became synonymous with this powerful, sophisticated civilization. It was an identity marker long before modern ethnic concepts existed. Other powerful dynasties came and went, like the celebrated Tang. Yet while…

Today, our globalized world delivers tropical delights to distant continents, making seasonal or geographic limitations seem like a quaint concept. But for most of human history, the contents of a fruit bowl were strictly governed by what the local land offered each season. The journey of fruit in ancient China is not merely a tale of agriculture, but a captivating story of imperial desire, technological ingenuity, and the slow, patient weaving of trade routes that connected empires. It reveals a world where a single peach was a token of friendship, a grapevine was a treasured import, and the taste of a fresh lychee was a luxury worth extraordinary cost. Peaches and Plums In the primal forests and along the riverbanks of ancient China, the first fruits were those provided by nature untamed. Early peoples were careful foragers, observing which berries and nuts animals ate before deeming them safe. The foundational fruits of Chinese civilization emerged from this period: the peach, the plum, the jujube (or Chinese date), and the apricot. These are the fruits immortalized in the Book of Songs (诗经), their flavors often tart or astringent compared to modern varieties. These native species held deep cultural significance. The phrase…

Television screens glow with a particular kind of magic when a performer truly belongs in the past. The Gu Zhuang Ju (古装剧) hinges not just on ornate costumes, but on actors who wear history with innate grace. They move with a learned poise, their presence feeling both authentic and elevated, turning each scene into a living portrait. From the restrained intensity of one star in The Promise of Chang'an (长安诺) to the gentle resilience another brings to One and Only (周生如故), these artists do more than recite lines. They build worlds. Their performances bridge centuries, making ancient struggles and joys feel immediate, reminding viewers why these stories endure. Luo Yunxi (罗云熙) For actor Luo Yunxi, the historical role is an exercise in physical poetry. His presence is often described as possessing an otherworldly grace, a quality that turns costume into second skin and movement into narrative. This is not mere posture, but a complete fusion of actor and archetype, where every gesture carries intention. His performance in the series Whispers of Fate (水龙吟) marked a shift. Here, the elegant immortal was replaced by the grounded resolve of a Wuxia hero. He performed demanding fight sequences under arduous conditions, believing physical…

The year 2025 promises a rich harvest for Chinese period and fantasy drama, offering audiences not just escape into the past, but deep immersion into meticulously constructed worlds. This season’s standout series move beyond generic palace intrigues or simplistic romances, instead grounding their narratives in the specific textures of commerce, magic, and forensic science. From the clink of silver in merchant guilds to the whisper of ancient spells and the silent testimony of a corpse, each story finds its power in granular detail and specialized domains. Legend of the Magnate (大生意人) Aired: 2025 Period Background: Late Qing Dynasty, Xianfeng (咸丰) reign onwards Genres: Historical, Business Saga, Drama Main Roles: Chen Xiao (as Gu Pingyuan), Sun Qian (as Chang Yu'er) Adapted from: Original script The late Qing Dynasty was a cauldron of upheaval. Gu Pingyuan (古平原), a scholar falsely accused in the imperial examinations, finds himself exiled to Ningguta (宁古塔), a remote penal colony. His journey, however, becomes a detour into a different kind of arena. A chance encounter with an old merchant, Chang Si (常四), ignites his latent acumen. Starting from the precarious margins of the salt and tea trades, he navigates a world governed not by Confucian classics but…