Swords into Plowshares

The costume design in the period drama Swords into Plowshares (太平年) has sparked lively discussion, particularly one striking accessory. Actress Zhou Yutong (周雨彤) wears a distinctive, seemingly modern-looking hat with ear flaps. Its appearance prompts a question: can such a design be historically accurate, or is it a creative anachronism? This piece of headwear is far from a modern invention. It is a faithful representation of a Feng Mao (风帽, wind hat), a practical and stylish item with deep roots in China's sartorial past. Its journey from the northern steppes to the wardrobes of the Central Plains is a story of cultural exchange, adaptation, and enduring utility. Northern Origins The Feng Mao finds its origins with the nomadic peoples of the northern frontiers. Designed for survival, its primary function was to shield the wearer from the harsh, biting winds and extreme cold of the steppes. The defining feature was its extended "skirt" that could be drawn to cover the ears, neck, and shoulders, creating a protective cocoon against the elements. This practical design was gender-neutral, worn by both men and women for warmth. Early versions of this hat were not a single piece. Archaeological evidence from figurines of the Northern…

If you watch Chinese historical dramas, you have seen them. Perched on the heads of young heroines, often playful maids or princesses in their youth, are two distinct loops of hair. This signature style, simple yet instantly recognizable, has become a visual shorthand for youthful innocence and charm on screen. From the determined Sun Taizhen (孙太真) in Swords into Plowshares (太平年) to various other characters, this hairstyle transcends individual stories, connecting audiences to a specific, girlish aesthetic rooted deep in history. But what is the story behind these loops? Their persistent presence is no mere costume designer's whim. It is a deliberate echo of an ancient Chinese hairstyle, a tradition repurposed for modern storytelling to visually telegraph a character's age and spirit before she even speaks. Roots in Antiquity The style seen on screen finds its direct ancestor in the Shuang Huan Ji (双鬟髻), or "double-loop bun." Historical records and artifacts trace its popularity back to the early Tang Dynasty, and even earlier to the Northern and Southern Dynasties. The terms "huan" (鬟) and "huan" (环) were often used interchangeably, both referring to a ring or loop shape. Essentially, the hairstyle involved gathering hair into two bundles, twisting them into…

Viewers of the historical drama Swords into Plowshares (太平年) have been captivated by many details of its Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms setting. One particular costume choice, however, has sparked widespread curiosity and amusement online: the distinctive hats worn by characters from the Wuyue Kingdom (吴越国). With two stiff, upward-pointing projections, they bear an uncanny resemblance to the horns of an ox, leading to playful comparisons to the mythical Bull Demon King. When the actor Bai Yu (白宇) appeared in one, the internet lit up. This was no isolated costume quirk. The repeated appearance of these hats signals a deliberate historical design choice, not a random fancy. Their story reveals a fascinating journey through power, ritual, and social order in ancient China. The Hat of Authority The official name for this headwear is the Chao Tian Futou (朝天幞头), or "Skyward Futou." Its defining feature is the two rigid "wings" or "feet" that stand erect. During the turbulent Five Dynasties period, this style was initially reserved for emperors and high officials. A portrait of Qian Liu (钱镠), the founding king of Wuyue, provides direct evidence of its royal use. Contemporary records note that rulers across the fragmented states competed with novel…

The recent period drama Swords into Plowshares (太平年) sparked lively online debate, but not for its plot or performances. Instead, viewers were captivated—and often baffled—by the wedding makeup. Actress Zhou Yutong’s (周雨彤) character appeared with intricate patterns adorning her face, resembling an array of tiny, artful moles. While some fans praised the bold look, others questioned its historical accuracy and aesthetic appeal, with comments ranging from "This makeup made me laugh" to "This is too garish." This intense reaction highlights a growing public interest in the authenticity of historical costuming. Behind the modern scrutiny lies a legitimate ancient practice, offering a rare glimpse into the extravagant beauty ideals of a bygone era. The Historical Face Chart The distinctive facial patterns are not a modern stylist’s fantasy. They faithfully recreate a specific cosmetic tradition known as Mian Ye (面靥), which flourished from the late Tang dynasty into the Five Dynasties period. Far from random decoration, these designs carried deep symbolic meaning. Artisans and wearers used materials like dried flowers or delicate gold leaf, adhering them to the skin with adhesives such as fish glue. Different shapes held different names and connotations: Hua Ye (花靥) for floral motifs, Niao Ye (鸟靥) for…

As the credits roll on the latest episodes of the historical drama Swords into Plowshares (太平年), viewers are left with a lingering heaviness, a profound emotional residue that transcends typical period-piece entertainment. The show’s stunning visual tapestry, depicting the brutal yet poetically rendered era of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, is merely the gateway. The true power lies in its exploration of a chilling historical paradox: why would a powerful, prosperous kingdom voluntarily dismantle itself? The story of the Qian (钱) family and their fateful decision to surrender the realm of Wuyue (吴越) to the rising Song (宋) dynasty in 978 AD is not just ancient history. It feels like a stark, uncomfortable mirror held up to the fundamental human yearning for peace, posing questions about power, legacy, and the cost of stability that resonate deeply today. A World Drenched in Blood The drama opens a window to an era modern minds can scarcely comprehend. The 53 years of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms were an unending nightmare of chaos. With regimes rising and falling like waves, warlords proclaimed themselves emperor based solely on military strength. The phrase "the Son of Heaven should be the one with…

In a time when empires rose and fell like tides, what does a simple wish truly cost? The television drama Swords into Plowshares (太平年) offers a poignant answer, not through grand battles, but in a quiet moment between four souls on a besieged city wall. Set in 946 AD, a year when the Later Jin (晋) dynasty clung to its final days against the Khitan invaders, the series carves its humanity from the intimate spaces between historical upheavals. The scene is Kaifeng (汴梁), the night is the minor New Year's Eve, and the characters are young men whose names would later define an era: Zhao Kuangyin (赵匡胤), Qian Hongchu (钱弘俶), and the one known as Guo Rong (郭荣). Their shared drink under a cold wartime sky becomes the series' emotional heart, a fragile vessel holding their deepest, most impossible dreams. A Toast to Longing The conversation unfolds as a revelation of character. Qian Hongchu speaks of the sea, of legendary creatures and horizons unknown—a wish for boundless freedom. Zhao Kuangyin, the future founder of the So ng dynasty, declares his ambition for martial glory, to be a great general like the legends of old. Then comes Guo Rong's turn. His…

The new historical drama Swords into Plowshares (太平年) is more than a tale of war and politics. It is a profound exploration of how individual decisions, set against the brutal backdrop of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, can collectively redirect the course of history. At its heart are not sweeping armies, but three men whose intertwined destinies engineered China's transition from prolonged fragmentation to unified stability. Understanding the roles of Guo Rong (郭荣), Zhao Kuangyin (赵匡胤), and Qian Hongchu (钱弘俶)—the pathfinder, the architect, and the peacemaker—is the key to unlocking the series' intricate power plays and its central theme: the arduous journey from chaos to peace. 1. Guo Rong The foundation for a lasting peace was laid by a man whose time was tragically short. Guo Rong, portrayed by Yu Haoming (俞灏明), posthumously known as Emperor Shizong of the Later Zhou (后周世宗) , reigned for only six years from 954 to 959. Historians often call him the most capable ruler of his tumultuous era. Inheriting a weakened state, he launched sweeping reforms: revitalizing the military, streamlining bureaucracy, repopulating abandoned lands, and reducing taxes. His efforts brought a period of rare clarity and prosperity to the Central Plains. He…

A new drama begins not with a crown, but with the mud on a soldier's boot. Swords into Plowshares (太平年) paints the chaotic transition from the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms era to the Song Dynasty not as a dry chronicle, but as a visceral experience of survival. It focuses on the stark realities faced by people, weaving together the brutal military campaigns of the Central Plains with the tense political machinations in places like Wuyue (吴越). The series has quickly captivated its first viewers. They praise its uncompromising texture and its ambitious narrative scale, which follows the intricate fates of numerous characters and factions. This approach makes the period feel immediate, allowing the audience to sense the precarious turning points of history rather than just observe them from a distance. For a genre often considered difficult, Swords into Plowshares finds its strength in granular detail and human-scale stakes. It sidesteps grandiose pronouncements, instead building its epic stature through the cumulative weight of countless choices made in times of turmoil. The result is a compelling, grounded entry into a seldom-portrayed chapter of the past. When History Breathes Again The screen does not flinch. It presents a world where humanity's thin…

In January, the historical drama Swords into Plowshares (太平年) premiered, thrusting viewers into the turbulent and often overlooked period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. Unlike the brief summaries found in history books, this series aims to flesh out the era's complex politics, brutal survival, and fragile hopes. It begins not with grand pronouncements, but with a horrifying act of cannibalism within a starving army, immediately establishing the desperation that defines the age. Over its first episodes, the narrative splits between the violent power struggles of the Later Jin court in the north and the seemingly stable, yet internally fraught, southern kingdom of Wuyue (吴越). This deliberate contrast challenges the very title of the show, asking what "Swords into Plowshares" could possibly look like when the world is unraveling. A Kingdom in the Eye of the Storm While the north burns with overt conflict, Wuyue presents a deceptive calm. Under the rule of King Qian Yuanguan (钱元瓘), it focuses on internal development. However, this stability is paper-thin. The first episodes reveal a court riddled with corruption and secret factions. The royal treasury is empty, siphoned off by officials and shadowy organizations. The death of the king unleashes a silent…

Viewers of the historical drama Swords into Plowshares (太平年) were met with an unexpected sight: actor Bai Yu (白宇), playing a court official, sporting what looked unmistakably like a cat teaser stuck in his headwear. This peculiar accessory, far from a whimsical costume designer's choice or an ancient fashion faux pas, is actually a meticulously researched detail rooted in centuries of Chinese bureaucratic tradition. Known as a Zanbi (簪笔), or "hairpin brush," this item tells a story of practicality evolving into potent symbolism, marking the wearer's rank, duty, and intellectual authority within the rigid hierarchy of the imperial court. A Practical Beginning The origin of the Zanbi is wonderfully utilitarian. During the Han Dynasty, officials attending court sessions needed to record the emperor's commands directly onto their handheld Hu boards (笏板), tablets made of jade, ivory, or wood. Once a note was taken, the official had no desk to place his brush. The simplest solution was to tuck it behind an ear or slot it into a headband or cap, keeping it readily accessible for the next command. This act of carrying a brush in one's hair is recorded as early as the Records of the Grand Historian (史记·滑稽列传), in…

What does true leadership look like when an empire is at stake? This is the central question posed by Swords into Plowshares (太平年), a sweeping 40-episode historical saga premiering on China Central Television. Set against the chaotic backdrop of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, the series promises more than just palace intrigue and battlefield heroics. It delves into the profound moral weight of power, asking what a ruler must ultimately surrender for the sake of his people's welfare. With a powerhouse creative team behind acclaimed works like The Red (红色) and The Three-Body Problem (三体), and a cast filled with revered performers, the drama aims to transform dusty historical records into a gripping, human-centered narrative. It frames a pivotal, often-overlooked moment of Chinese unification not as a simple conquest, but as a deliberate, agonizing choice made by a king. Converging Paths The narrative hinges on the intertwined destinies of three ambitious men. Qian Hongchu (钱弘俶), played by Bai Yu (白宇), ascends to the throne of the Wuyue (吴越) kingdom. His reign is defined not by expansion, but by a dogged pursuit of stability and prosperity for his subjects within a fragmented empire. In the north, Zhao Kuangyin (赵匡胤) employs…

In the historical drama Swords into Plowshares (太平年), the character portrayed by actor Bai Yu (白宇) wears a hat that immediately captures attention. Its most distinctive feature? Two stiff, upward-curving wings. To modern eyes, its silhouette might seem whimsical, even cartoonish, sparking amused comparisons online. Yet, this is no costume designer’s flight of fancy. This headwear is a carefully recreated Chaotian Futou (朝天幞头), a style steeped in the political and social symbolism of ancient China. Its presence on screen is a deliberate choice, a visual key that unlocks a deeper understanding of a character's status, profession, and the intricate world they inhabit. From the imperial court to the performing stage, the evolution of the Futou tells a story of shifting power, cultural exchange, and silent communication long before a single word is spoken. The Journey of the Upturned Wings The Chaotian Futou, with its iconic raised ribbons or "wings," first gained prominence during the Five Dynasties period. Initially, it was a mark of supreme authority. Historical records and portraits, such as those of King Qian Liu (王钱镠) of Wuyue (吴越), show this style adorning the heads of emperors and kings. The upward sweep of the wings was likely symbolic, perhaps…

In the year 941, the Wuyue (吴越) kingdom was thrust into uncertainty. Its aging king was gone, leaving a young successor and a court simmering with ambition. From this turmoil emerged a prince who seemed more interested in personal freedom than affairs of state. His name was Qian Hongchu (钱弘俶), and his journey would become the heart of the new historical drama Swords into Plowshares (太平年). This is not merely a tale of battles and conquests, but a deep exploration of a leader's evolution and the monumental choice between holding onto power and securing peace for his people. It asks a timeless question: what is a ruler's ultimate duty? Transformation Qian Hongchu's life was upended by a diplomatic mission to Bianliang (汴梁). He anticipated a routine visit, but instead walked into a nightmare. He saw the brutal reality of war firsthand: Khitan armies at the gates, a humbled emperor, and ordinary citizens displaced and suffering. These scenes shattered his sheltered worldview. It was here he also forged crucial bonds with fellow visionaries Guo Rong (郭荣) and Zhao Kuangyin (赵匡胤), men who shared his whispered dream of a lasting peace for all the warring states. Returning to Wuyue, the prince was…