In the past two years, there have been countless cultural variety shows that got public praise, but the most impressive estimates are “Tang Palace Night Banquet”, underwater Flying Dance “Pray”, and “The Painting Journey—The Legend of A Panorama of Mountains and Rivers”, and most of them are showcased in gorgeous and beautiful dances. Recently, the variety show “The Mews (美好年华研习社)” has once caused a frenzy among hanfu lovers in the form of a brand-new program.
The Highlight of “The Mews”
“The Mews” was initiated by famous hosts Wang Han and Ma Ke. It gathered 12 young members and divided them into two groups. With historical figures as the topic, the members of the two groups studied separately, designed a show for the two ancient women, and participated in it.
Therefore, each episode is about the process of the groups members from getting the questions to completing them. It combines almost all stage forms: drama, musical, stand-up comedy, dance, and hanfu show, through the stories of ancient women, to tell the aesthetics and culture of their times. The program is aimed at the majority of young audiences, promotes and popularizes the traditional aesthetics of the Chinese represented by “Chinoiserie” and “Hanfu”.
Beautiful Cast
Zhang Yuqi wears a red dress to act as Yu Ji, which is definitely a highlight shot.
Young actor Li Kaixin restored the makeup of the “noble concubine” well and interpreted it perfectly: “The colour'd clouds are her flowing robe, the flower, her face. By the dew-impearl'd railings, in the Spring wind's sweet embrace.”
Mulan joins the army for her father, galloping the battlefield. The program portrays this traditional character to the fullest.
Wonderful Dance
Zhao Feiyan, a Han Dynasty dancer famous for “dancing on the hand”, created pacing dance and was emulated by later generations. In the program, dancer Zhang Yashu presenting the vivid Zhao Feiyan to us.
The graceful dance presents Sun Shou's attainments in aesthetics. Through Sunshou's efforts, who invented many styles of makeup in the Han Dynasty, added brightness and beauty to the appearance of women of the time.
Aesthetic Stage
The scenery of each stage is even more magnificent. Combined with the background of the times, the traditional aesthetics are deeply studied. Combine Chinese history, traditional patterns, and traditional colors with modern technology to immerse the audience and watch visual feasts in a variety of changes.
The Characters of “The Mews”
Sun Shou
Sun Shou (孙寿) is a famous jealous woman and shrew in history, and his husband is Liang Ji, a famous treacherous court official in the Eastern Han Dynasty. But according to the records, Sun Shou's husband obeyed her very well and did whatever she said.
The woman to be feared by a treacherous court official is not a fierce-looking person. On the contrary, she is called the first beauty makeup master in history. She invented the Duoma Ji (堕马髻), in which a lock of hair from the bun hangs down to one side to resemble the posture of falling from the horse.
Sun Shou's series of beauty makeup achievements were once popular in Luoyang, and noble women rushed to imitate them. She deserves the title of “the first beauty makeup blogger in the Eastern Han Dynasty”.
The team members of the group designed a ancients “Beauty Event”, which used Sun Shou's beauty invention to show Han‘s makeup aesthetics.
One of Sun Shou‘s inventions: Chou Mei (愁眉, frowning brows makeup), and on this basis, she invented Ti Zhuan (啼妆, cry makeup), which wipe the face with foundation, apply rouge under the eyes, and then match it with frowning brows makeup. It is a very popular makeup in the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Yu Ji
In the story of “Farewell My Concubine”, the king of the Western Chu suicided in Gaixia, and Yu Ji (虞姬), who accompanied the hero on his last journey, also became part of the legend. At the last minute, Yu Ji danced with drawing her sword. Then followed Xiang Yu to die. But Yu Ji has not left too many records in history books, the year of birth is unknown, and even her surname can't be judged correctly.
In “The Mews”, Yu Ji was acted by Zhang Yuqi. Perhaps because Yu Ji's image in too many picture books is red, the program team chose red hanfu-style costumes. The exaggerated skirt length, made her appear under surrounded on four sides by the songs of Chu, which has more visual impact.
The hairstyle is also thick, the huge bun hangs behind the head, the hair accessories and earrings are weakened, and the broken hair left at the corners of the forehead fits the chaos of the war. The focus of makeup is clearer, Yu Ji's makeup should be more concise and elegant, neat eyebrow shape, eye makeup that protrudes upper eyeliner and eyelashes, and low-key red lips.
Wang Zhaoyun
You may feel strange about the name, but if she was introduced as Su Dongpo's concubine and confidant, a beautiful and elegant image will slowly come to your mind. She is a fresh and pure famous West Lake prostitute, after being accepted as a concubine by Su Shi, she accompanied him to live in Huizhou. Su Shi used “wise and righteousness” to describe Zhaoyun and her intelligence and courage.
In the program, there are two Wang Zhaoyun (王朝云), one of which is the young Wang Zhaoyun, played by Wang Yiren. When she appeared, she was carving patterns on melons and fruits according to the customs of the Double Seventh Festival. The color of the costume is mainly fresh and playful, and the makeup is also simple instead of complicated, highlighting her youth and cleverness.
Wang Yiren's facial condition is that of both juvenile form and decency. Whether from the perspective of facial folding or facial layout, she belongs to the type of wide-faced beauty.
At the same time, a gentle and calm stature promotes a sense of wisdom and calmness. Thng Zhaoyun played by Wang Yiren gives people the feeling of precociousness. In the song and dance class, she is not proficient in poetry and books, but she looks same like she knew everything clearly.
The Wang Zhaoyun played by Huang Ling, which is the time period when she meets Sushi and accompanies him. The stage restored the scene of “Xi Yuan Ya Ji Tu (西园雅集图)”. Among the paintings, Su Shi, Su Ziyou, Huang Tingjian, Qin Guan, Mi Fu, and other literati drank wine and wrote poems, played the zither, and sang, and Wang Zhaoyun accompanied Su shi as a concubine. She can always make up for Su Shi when his words are offended, and she always warms up the stages and adjusts the atmosphere. After a few dialogues, it shows her wisdom.
Huang Ling‘s clothing was more daily, although the color was brighter, the style was more concise and generous. The bun is wrapped in a headscarf, the thin and transparent gauze headscarf can highlight the elegance and flexibility of people. The way to deal with makeup is very simple, long narrow eyebrows, small red lips, totally pure.
Traditional Costumes in “The Mews”
Han Dynasty
The clothing colors of the Han Dynasty were mainly single-color, and advocated the faintly colored system, which looked dignified and elegant, plain and natural.
The beauty of Qin and Han clothing lies in the “short on the top and long on the bottom”, wearing big sleeves clothes, long skirts, and walking reveals dignified and elegant beauty. In the program, Zhao Feiyan, a Han Dynasty dancer played by Zhang Yashu, danced on the stage with her skirt flying and her body light as a swallow, so beautiful!
Tang Dynasty
The clothing style of the Tang Dynasty was luxurious and elegant, the colors were bright, the patterns were meticulous and complicated, and they liked contrast color matches.
During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, culture and art flourished, and there were many kinds of costumes. It had a gorgeous, beautiful, free, and unrestrained artistic style, showing the beautiful and plump posture of the beauty of the Sui and Tang Dynasties. In the program, the pear garden under the Tang Dynasty is as bright as a pearl, and all kinds of flowers bloom. The costumes and makeup of different characters are completely different, showing the diverse and open aesthetics of women in the Tang Dynasty.
Gongsun Daniang (公孙大娘), played by Wang Feifei, wears a bright red and blue dress. When she danced, her sword shook in all directions, full of the lofty and unyielding character of oriental women.
Song Dynasty
Unlike the colorful Tang Dynasty, the clothing aesthetics of the Song Dynasty tended to be elegant and simple beauty of more unique, and taking elegance as a fashion. The makeup of the Song Dynasty was relatively simple and elegant. The unique “pearl makeup” of the queen and concubine was unique and special. The grains of pearls were set on both sides of the temples, revealing the unique simple elegance and low-key of the Song Dynasty.
In the program, several hanfu costume shows were also staged.
Han Dynasty Costume Show
The common civilian costume highlights the original form of Chinese hanfu costume culture, which is reflected in the character “衣” in oracle bone inscriptions.
The length and width of working people's sleeves are much shorter.
At that time, noble women's clothing was most common, there were two forms, the “Yi Chang system” and the “Shenyi system”.
- Yi Chang system: Clothes on top and skirts on the bottom. The top is made of four pieces of cloth, symbolizing the four seasons. The bottom is made of 12 pieces of cloth, symbolizing 12 months, which are the embodiment of the worship of heaven and earth and the best proof of the etiquette system of “the unity of heaven and man”.
- Shenyi system: It is divided into “Zhiju” and “Qiju”, the “Quju” has beautiful lines and is also the most distinctive characteristic of the Han Dynasty.
The official dress is generally black, distinguishing the post rank with official hats and accessories.
In addition to the style, the pattern is even more wonderful. Exquisite embroidery and silk weaving technology were well established in the Han Dynasty.
Chinese Armor Show
From the Qin and Han Dynasties to the Song and Ming Dynasties, there were 36 pieces of armor in various dynasties, and different styles of armor and weapons are displayed.
Porcelain and Traditional Colors
Five famous kilns that are renowned at home and abroad Ding, Jun, Ru, Guan, and Ge are treasures of cultural heritage. The anthropomorphic performance allows for a dialogue across time and space between Shu Jiao, a famous porcelain maker of the Song Dynasty, and ceramics. More than 300 kinds of Chinese traditional colors, each has its own name, and each name has endless imagination.
It is not that young people don't love tradition culture. It may be long overdue to show the inheritance of preaching methods in a more modern way, embrace it, interpret it, and love it. The beauty of the traditional style condenses thousands of poetry and connects us from generation to generation.
The lights of modern civilization are bright, illuminating, and moving forward day and night so that we are gradually moving away from the culture of the past. However, we are all inheritors of oriental beauty, we should keep and pass on these beauty.
