Hydrangea Macrophylla (八仙花, The Eight Immortals Flowers), it is also known as Ziyang flower(紫阳花) in mandarin. The hydrangea is plump, large and beautiful. Its flowers' color can be white, red and blue, which is pleasing to the eyes and the mind. It is a popular ornamental potted flower and widely planted in southern China. The cultivation of Hydrangea in China was very early, according to the record, it has been planted in the gardens of Suzhou in the Ming Dynasty. 八仙: The Eight Immortals are a group of legendary Xian ("immortals") in Chinese mythology. Most of them are said to have been born in the Tang or Shang Dynasty. They are revered by the Taoists and are also a popular element in the secular Chinese culture. The Legend of the Hydrangea Macrophylla It is said that one time, the eight immortals went to Yaochi (瑶池: Yaochi is the place where the Queen mother of the West lives, which is now Tianchi in Xinjiang.) to attend the Peach Party (蟠桃会) of the queen mother and came back to pass the East China Sea, which shocked the Dragon King of the East China Sea. The nine sons of the Dragon King were…

Lifen is a cardiologist in China and a Hanfu fanatic at the same time. She accepted our invitation to share her experiences about collecting and wearing Hanfu. She collects different styles of Hanfu and loves Cheongsam (Qipao) in particular. Let’s see how she falls in love with Hanfu. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Newhanfu: You’re a doctor, right. Would you mind sharing your working lives with us? Lifen: I’m a cardiologist. It’s been about 15 years since the first day I face cardiac diseases. Speaking about this career, as you can imagine, I’m living under serious stress everyday. It’s me who decides if my patients’ can continue their lives. The white coat I wear, the demeanor I bring with me, and the reputation of the profession I entered, all of these stand for a sacred trust that comes with great responsibility. Newhanfu: No doubt it’s a sacred profession. As you mentioned, there’s a lot of pressure you need to face in your career life. Are there any hobbies or interests that help you to reach a work-life balance? I know you‘re a Hanfu fanatic, and that’s why we have today’s talk. Could you talk about it? What is the role Hanfu play in your…

Cherry blossom originated in China. According to the Japanese authoritative work "Sakura Kam", cherry blossoms originated in the Himalayas. After being cultivated artificially, this species was gradually introduced into the Yangtze River Basin of China, Southwest China, and Taiwan Island. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, the imperial court had planted cherry blossoms, which had a history of more than 2000 years. During the Han and Tang Dynasties, cherry blossoms were planted in private gardens. During the period of the Tang Dynasty, from the palace gallery to the fields of folk houses, the cherry blossoms could be seen everywhere, which set off a magnificent image of prosperous China. Therefore, Hanfu and Cherry Blossom have special feelings. Let's enjoy the beauty of Hanfu girls and cherry blossoms together.

Hanfu in Tang Dynasty was introduced to you before. Today, it brings you the style of Hanfu in Song Dynasty. Before introducing the Han clothes of the Song Dynasty, let's first understand the Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty (960 - 1279) was divided into two stages, the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties. It experienced eighteen emperors and enjoyed the country for 319 years. The greatest feature of hanfu in the Song Dynasty is simple and elegant. Compared with the elegant appearance and bold colors of the Hanfu of the Tang Dynasty, the Hanfu of the Song Dynasty is simple in shape, simple in tone, and the whole temperament seems more natural and elegant. Song Dynasty civilian men's clothing, mainly to the "Ao (袄)" and "Ru (襦)". In ancient times, the poorer people wore "Duanhe (短褐; short and thick clothes)", which were designed to facilitate work. In addition, men in the Song Dynasty also liked to wear a shirt (衫). Unlike the clothes we imagined, this kind of clothes was very self-cultivating, not the kind of generous design we imagined. Compared with men's clothing, women's clothing is more abundant, in the Song Dynasty, women generally wore Ao(袄), Ru(襦), Shan(衫), Beizi(褙子), Banbi(半臂), dress…

Kyoto is an ancient capital of Japan. It preserves a large number of historic buildings. Many Japanese and tourists will feel Japanese culture in kimonos. However, in this ancient city, some local people often see a Chinese girl in Chinese costume walking down the street. Local Japanese all raised their thumbs: so beautiful, just like a fairy! The girl's name is Zhi Luo. She was born in 1993. She is from Beijing, China. Because her husband (Chinese) has been a photographer in Japan for many years, she came to Kyoto to work more than half a year ago. Why does Zhiluo like Hanfu? This is closely related to family education, she has often participated in activities about Chinese culture since childhood. Nowadays, Zhi luo works in Kyoto. As a result of working in photography, Zhi Luo wore Hanfu to work and became a landscape on the street. Although there were differences in the form and system of Han uniforms in different dynasties, Zhi Luo was very fond of it. She said: "Wear Tang and Song style when it's hot, Wei, Jin and Ming-style when it's cold, you can wear it all year round." Usually, Zhi Luo wears Chinese clothes to…

In hot summer, light Hanfu becomes the first choice, and Banbi (半臂, half-arm) is a good match single product. Banbi Origin Banbi is a kind of short-sleeved jacket in ancient China, was developed from the half sleeve of the Han and Wei Dynasties. The length of the Banbi reaches the waist, sleeves less than elbow length. Suitable for work, so it is popular among people. Affected by Huhua, it became a modern dress for women in Sui and Tang Dynasties. Banbi later appeared in a large number of murals, figurines, and other cultural relics in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Banbi's Style and Matching Banbi was very popular in the early Tang Dynasty, which was related to wearing a small sleeve jacket at that time. In the late Tang Dynasty after the flourishing Tang Dynasty, clothes gradually became fat, wearing large sleeve shirts outside, Banbi can no longer be worn outside, in this period, the scope of application of Banbi gradually narrowed. In Tang Dynasty, Banbi were mainly worn with long skirts, usually on coats. Banbi has two styles, a symmetrical collar, and a pullover U-shaped low collar. Some have the same pattern as clothes. In the early Tang Dynasty,…

In Chinese culture, accessories are a language of beauty. They are an extension of clothing expression. With accessories, Hanfu can be more appealing. Fans are one of the common accessories in Hanfu culture.  This article will lead you to understand the history of Hanfu's fans. Fans have about three thousands of history in China. After thousands of years of evolution and improvement, they have developed into hundreds of fans' families. Fans were originally known as the "Five Ming Fans (五明扇, Wu míng shàn)" in history, was invented by the "Shun" (舜, Chief of the Ancient Tribal Alliance of China). In the Yin and Zhou Dynasties, appeared a kind of "Di Fan" (翟扇, Dí shàn) made of the colorful pheasant tail feathers, so there is a saying of "Feather Fan". At that time, the fan was not used to fan the wind, but to serve as the emperor to ward off the wind and avoid the sand. It can be classified into two categories: First, Flat Fans (平扇), can not be folded. Brief introduction: during the Warring States, Qin, and Han Dynasties, flat fans became the mainstream of fans at that time, used by both emperors and civilians. In the Western Han…

Q1: There was no Hanfu sewing machine in ancient times. What was it used to make clothes? A：Of course, ancient people sewed by hand. As early as the Paleolithic Age, cavemen on the top of the mountain could sew animal skins with bone needles. With the development of society, in ancient China, women learned to tailor, sew, and embroidery patterns from childhood. Ancient clothes were sewn by hand with needles and threads, and there were many sewing techniques. Q2：There are so many pleats in the hanfu dress we are wearing now. What made the pleats of dress in ancient times? A: In ancient times, there were irons. The earliest iron was a kind of torture tool. Later, it was slowly used for ironing clothes. The shape is different from dynasty to dynasty. Some are like spoons, some are like pots and bowls. At first, it was bronze iron, then it was metal iron and porcelain iron. Ancient people often put red charcoal or hot water in the ironironed, and then ironed clothes. Q3: The styles of Hanfu are long sleeves and long skirts. Will the ancients wear them in summer? A: The ancients wore light clothes when they were hot.…

As the old saying goes, a woman's elegant temperament must have something to do with her dress. This sentence is not entirely correct, but to some extent, it also shows the importance of clothing and jewelry for women. In ancient China, jewelry was not only an ornament, but also a symbol of status. So what jewelry did ancient women wear? Let's have a look.   Ji  Ji (笄, a kind of hairpin), a kind of scorpion used by ancient Chinese women to decorate the rolled hair or insert a hat. Is the originator of Zan (簪,zān), Chai (钗,chāi). In ancient times, the use of Ji by women was a very important thing. It is necessary to hold the "Hair pinning ceremony", which is the same as the "crown ceremony" of men, they are all adult rituals in ancient China. From the Zhou Dynasty, it was stipulated that women should complete their "Hair pinning ceremony" after engagement and before marriage. Usually, at the age of 15, the mother combs her daughter's hair, pulls her hair in a bun, and inserts her hair in a Ji, meaning "Adult, start another stage of life".The material of Ji is various. The dignitaries usually use…

In recent years, traveling to China has become more and more popular around the world. Many people come to enjoy the unique life of China, taste delicious food, visit beautiful scenery, and experience Chinese traditional culture. But you may find out it is rare to see people wearing traditional Chinese costumes in their daily lives. It seems like traditional clothing has been forgotten by them. So, you might have a question, what is Chinese traditional dress, Cheongsam, Qipao, or Kimono?   Hanfu – The Traditional Costume of China Each country's traditional costumes are one of the symbols that reflect countries' ancient cultures and how native citizens were influenced by the regional environment. China has a long history of more than 5,000 years. Undoubtedly, Hanfu, as the most typical traditional costume of China, is a very important part of Chinese national culture. But compared with other traditional cultures, such as Chinese painting and calligraphy, Hanfu is not getting proper status and glory in the Chinese Culture Circle. Though with its disappearance in some ears, Hanfu still remains its typical features today due to its strong vitality. The clothing of Buddhism, Taoism, and many minority nationalities in China still maintains the characteristics…

The previous article's introduction focuses on women's Ruqun, and then we introduce men's Ruqun. The men's Ruqun is a male dress, composed of a top blouse and a lower dress, and the upper jaw is mostly handed over(Jiaoling). Compared with the women's skirts, the men's skirt style and pattern are plainer. "Zhou Yi(周易)" said that “Yellow Emperor, Yao, Shun is wearing clothes and the world is ruled”, which shows that in the Yellow Emperor's era, the tops of the blouses were the styles of the ancient Chinese people. This is the prototype of the Ruqun (a top blouse and a lower dress)of the next generation, costumes of the blouses, and other costumes. Although its specific shape still needs further research, but the suit of a top blouse and a lower skirt lays the foundation of Hanfu. Until the appearance of Zhiju, Quju, and so on, the number of people wearing Ruqun(Ru dress) has been reduced, but the official high-standard men's dress was still the Ruqun system(a top blouse and a lower dress), which continued until the Ming Dynasty. The traditional dress of Hanfu is an enclosed skirt, which is made up of several pieces of skirts and is connected to…

In the previous article, we introduced the Ruqun(襦裙), The Ruqun is composed of a short top and a long dress, that is, composed of a top and a lower dress. Song Suzhen's "Silkworm" poem: "I don't worry about the bread bait, I have fortunately had a Ruqun(Ru dress)." The style of the Ruqun has appeared in the Warring States period. The collar of the scorpion is divided into "Jiaoling Ruqun" and "Zhiling Ruqun". The waist of the dress is divided into"Zhongyao Ruqun", "Gaoyao Ruqun" and "Qixiong Ruqun". Ruqun is classified according to whether they are clipped or not. The Ruqun can be divided into single Ruqun and double Ruqun, single Ruqun close to the shirt, and double Ruqun are close to coat. Next to introduce is "Banbi (半臂, half arm)", it and the shawl constitute an important part of the Ruqun. "Banbi" classification: 1.according to the collar type, which can be divided into : Duijin half-armed dress Jiaoling half-armed dress Tanling half-armed dress (Tang Dynasty). It is a short-sleeved top for summer use in ancient China. It was only popular in the private sector and was convenient for the daily life and labor of the working people. The length of…

Many friends who have just contacted Hanfu will find that Kimono and Hanbok (Korean clothes) are similar to Hanfu in many ways. This article takes you to know the differences between Hanfu, Kimono, and Hanbok.   Hanfu vs Kimono During the Nara period in Japan, the period of China's prosperous Tang Dynasty, Japan sent a large number of sent envoys to China to study culture, art, and law systems, including the clothing system. In the early days, the kimono was a replica of the Tang suit. At that time, they also imitated the Tang system and issued a "clothing order". So far, Japan still refers to the kimono as "Wu suit", which means clothes from Wudi (now Jiangsu and Zhejiang) in China. Although the kimono came from the development of Hanfu, it has developed its own national characteristics after a long period of history. Waistband: Hanfu: Hanfu usually has a narrow waistband; Kimono: there is no tie on the kimono placket, and the waist is wide with a fabric. Neckline: Hanfu: Hanfu neckline clothing is close to the back of the head; Kimono: In the kimono, the neckline of an ordinary woman's neck wrapped her neck tightly, and the geisha…

The Evolution of Hanfu Hanfu, the Chinese costume, the traditional Chinese clothing system, also known as Chinese clothing, can not be confused with "Tang suit" and "kimono". Its origins can be traced back to “Xuanyuan, Huangdi is wearing clothes and the world is ruled” from the Yanhuang(炎黄) era, and the world ruled until the end of the Ming Dynasty (mid-17th century). Based on the national culture of the Han nationality (and the predecessor of the Han nationality the Huaxia nationality), a clothing system with national characteristics was formed in the process of natural cultural development and ethnic integration. The Composition of a Complete Set of Hanfu Hanfu, the Chinese costume, is divided into a formal dress and negligee. From the style of composition, mainly divided into: "Yishang(衣裳) system": (The clothes worn in the upper body and the skirt worn in the lower body are separate,), "Yishangsystem" is the earliest uniform in Hua Xia nation. "Shenyi(深衣) system": (The clothes worn in the upper body and the skirts worn in the lower body are stitched together.). "Ruqun(襦裙) system" (Ru mean short top). "Tongcai(通裁) system" (Long shirt, cloak. Tongcai means that connected without a seam, and 'ShenYi' is sewed together after cutting). Among these…

Any good things are tempered, and Hanfu is the same. Hanfu has a history of thousands of years, but in the past three hundred years. Hanfu has experienced many setbacks. What is Hanfu Hanfu, the "traditional costume of the Han nationality", is also known as "Chinese clothing crown", "Huafu", "Chinese costume" and so on. It was from the"Xuanyuan, Huangdi is wearing clothes and the world is ruled", until the Ming Dynasty demise. Han nationality with the Huaxia nationality as its predecessor, according to "Zhou Li", respecting "the law of heaven and earth, the unity of nature and man, the doctrine of the mean" and so on, with the "Huaxia-Han" culture as the background and leading ideology. Focusing on the Chinese ceremonial culture, a set of unique Han nationality styles formed in extensive historical practice, clearly different from other ethnic groups' traditional clothing and apparel system. It contains wedding dresses, formal dress, sacred clothes, mourning clothes, uniforms, and other clothing that can adapt to various occasions. Hanfu is the embodiment of China's "state of etiquette" and "splendor China", it carries the outstanding craftsmanship and aesthetics of the Han people's dyeing and weaving embroidery, inherited more than 30 Chinese intangible cultural heritage…