Yu Tangchun eventually married Yang Ling and became his concubine. In the drama “Back to the Ming Dynasty as Yang Ling”, Yu Tangchun was originally the top courtesan in a brothel. She always wanted to leave the brothel but had no way of doing so, after all, a courtesan must be redeemed by someone to gain true freedom. And the one who gave her freedom was Yang Ling. Yang Ling redeemed Yu Tangchun and her good sister Tang Xian from the brothel, even bringing both of them back to his home to take care of them. Actually, Yu Tangchun had already fallen in love with Yang Ling, but because her good sister Tang Xian also liked him, she didn't want to be an ungrateful woman, so she always kept her feelings in check. After all, Yu Tangchun was saved by Yang Ling, and Yang Ling's wife, Han Youniang, was always very kind to her. She couldn't hurt Han Youniang just because she liked Yang Ling. Yu Tangchun always concealed her feelings well. But Han Youniang had long seen through Yu Tangchun's feelings for Yang Ling, after all, affection is not easily hidden.
This also explains why so many officials and nobles like to visit such places, which is why brothels have never declined over so many years in ancient times, precisely because many people have this need! During the Qing Dynasty, there was a woman named Sai Jinhua, who was sold into a brothel due to her family's poverty. She was noticed by a scholar and he redeemed her, taking her to explore the Western world abroad.
To cater to modern lifestyles, many merchants specially produce modified styles to help fellow enthusiasts match outfits. Although some major changes may upset traditional Hanfu lovers, everyone essentially isn't against modern-style Hanfu, but rather the deliberate “vilification”. The woman in the photo is a typical negative example. Although ancient courtesans would dress more revealingly to attract customers, they still maintained a certain level of aesthetics. Loose hair? Wearing a bodice outside? Barefoot and bare-chested? This kind of bizarre dressing is probably something even courtesans wouldn't dare to try. Even if you normally wear a skirt, you wouldn't run around lifting it so high. This kind of dressing is clearly not about clothing freedom, but rather using the Hanfu name to skirt the rules and attract attention, so it's no wonder netizens think she's tarnishing the Hanfu community.
But don't look down on these courtesans, in another era, they might be today's celebrities or socialites. Even the famous Coco Chanel wasn't exactly a virtuous woman, yet now her name has become a coveted luxury brand (Note: I hope everyone doesn't look down on them, nor do I encourage worshiping these courtesans or celebrities. I believe that one should have independent thoughts and not be brainwashed by advertisements into believing in someone, some product, or some matter to the point of worship).
The editor has compiled information on how to make Hanfu costumes, techniques for ancient costume photography, and details on ancient beauty types. For more related Hanfu knowledge, see the main text below!
The brothel is one of the scenes we often see in ancient costume dramas, and it is an indispensable element in some TV plots. The buildings of these brothels in TV dramas are often luxurious, and the women in them are very charming. Many stories of talented scholars and beautiful courtesans often happen in such buildings. However, do you know which buildings were brothels if you were to go back to ancient times? Do you know where people went to seek pleasure in brothels?
Friends who enjoy ancient costume dramas know that courtesans often appear in many dramas. Some sell their bodies, others only sell their talents. A brothel is a place for pleasure and entertainment, where officials and nobles spend money to find joy. Luxurious decorations, extravagant spending, and the best wine and food. Regardless, as long as you have money, you can live like a god. Men's favorite things – money, power, and sex. A brothel satisfies men's desires. Today, the editor will take you to explore the real brothels of ancient times.
Just a side note! Returning to the topic of Chanel, if she were born in the East at that time, she might have disappeared into history like any other courtesan, but her designs that could captivate an era would have remained. They would have been popular among courtesans and geishas, much like how what celebrities wear today is imitated by the public. As a result, some virtuous women who were open-minded and sought fashion also followed the trend, making it a symbol of fashion for women during the Republic of China era. Everyone knows that Song Meiling was a loyal fan of cheongsams!
The foot-binding in the Song Dynasty was different from that in the Qing Dynasty. According to historical records, the foot-binding in the Song Dynasty was to wrap the feet straight but not curved, known as “quick mounting.” The shoes used were called “wrong to the end,” with sharp soles made of multiple colors. Such foot-binding shoes have been discovered archaeologically. From the discovered artifacts, it is inferred that the small feet wrapped in such shoes were larger than those in later periods. Brothel culture was a unique aspect of the Song Dynasty. Although courtesans led a hard life, they were not without talented beauties. Known as “the bright moon of the Qinhuai River,” these women of talent mostly lived along the Yangtze River, naturally having a distinctive charm in their attire.
Zeng Li, playing the female ghost Mei Niang, wore an ancient black low-necked costume, with prominent collarbones. Her eyes conveyed tenderness and a hint of killing intent, her features evoking sympathy. Without a word, she exudes a quiet strength, her acting leaving a deep impression on you. With delicate features and allure in every glance, in the drama, she is a courtesan who has always been chaste, selling her talents but not her body. However, she falls in love with the greedy and materialistic man Wang Anxu, and is turned into a female ghost by a fire set by him.