However, up to now, the widely understood meaning of ancient costumes has transformed into the clothes worn in ancient costume dramas, mainly used for filming. These clothes are often subject to various artistic creations for the needs of drama, without fixed forms, entirely dependent on the designer's creativity; they merely appear to have an ancient aura on the surface. Therefore, within this context, ancient costumes are not Hanfu, and one should not attempt to look at Hanfu through ancient costume dramas to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
In recent years, the rise of domestic animation and the aesthetic trend set by ancient costume dramas have increased interest in Hanfu culture. Li Qian, head of the marketing department of NetEase Games, said that the national style PC game “Justice” under NetEase has sparked a Song Dynasty culture craze among young people, launching multiple Song-style Hanfu designs in collaboration with the Northern Song Dynasty drama “The Song of Glory,” experimenting with the synergy of “ancient costume drama + games + Hanfu brands.” The popularity of Hanfu has brought about positive effects. Hu Mengjie, the director of Hanfu design at Hangzhou Ruohong Culture Co., Ltd., most intuitively feels that the costumes in ancient costume dramas and domestic animations have become increasingly meticulous.
Most interviewed netizens come into contact with Hanfu culture through channels such as ancient costume dramas and social media platforms; secondly, Hanfu promotion activities, news reports, and related interest groups are also ways for the general public to engage with Hanfu culture. Analysts from iiMedia Research believe that the resurgence of cultural confidence is driving the popularity of traditional cultural products like ancient costume dramas, and the aesthetic trends set by these dramas are heating up interest in Hanfu culture; furthermore, due to Hanfu being a culture that gains popularity through visual appeal, the rise of visual social media platforms like Douyin, Weibo, and Bilibili can more effectively promote Hanfu.
And when you want to buy Hanfu, especially when shopping online, be sure to check if it is original Hanfu or counterfeit. Generally, if the description mentions “original,” it is mostly authentic; those described as fairy-like, ancient costumes, or cosplay are likely counterfeits. It is crucial to remember that Hanfu is not an ancient costume nor cosplay! In recent years, Hanfu has been developing towards the ancient costume style of photo studios, so it is essential to distinguish between them.
In Qi Yong's studio, various Hanfu outfits hang, with one particularly magnificent red robe catching the eye of reporters. Qi Yong explained to the reporter, “This is a Ming Dynasty ‘red woven gold bull-fighting robe.' Its design, craftsmanship, and materials are all high-end, selling for around 3,000 yuan per piece. Currently, the Hanfu I sell focuses on the high-end market, with each high-end Hanfu design being my original creation. I love the ancient costume drama ‘The Glory of the Great Ming,' and influenced by it, many high-end Hanfu designs are based on Ming Dynasty styles. The blue-embroidered golden dragon robe and the colorful embroidered incense-colored dragon robe are two of the featured products currently.”
LOOK2: Original ethnic clothing is not for daily wear but for its visual impact in photographs. Thus, besides Hanfu, there are some excellent original national costumes in ancient costume dramas. Modern ancient costumes designed under the influence of Eastern aesthetics and classical costume styles feature both compliance with TV drama requirements and the elegance of classical charm. The costumes in “Knowing Whether or Not” come from classical Chinese painting designs, with their styles derived from Hanfu. Their combination presents a clean yet classically charming appearance. The silhouette is neat yet imbued with Eastern flair, the fabric has texture, and the design is of high quality.
The Chinese film and television industry has never lacked ancient costume dramas. Apart from factors such as actors' acting skills and fame affecting viewership, the costumes and styling of characters in dramas are also one of the critical reasons viewers choose to follow a series. Who could refuse to watch a visually pleasing and historically accurate ancient costume drama during their free time? When discussing the costumes in ancient costume dramas, we cannot help but mention Hanfu. If you think Hanfu simply refers to Han Dynasty clothing, then you are greatly mistaken!
And when you want to buy Hanfu, especially on Taobao, be sure to check if it is original Hanfu or counterfeit. Generally, if the description mentions “original,” it is mostly authentic; those described as fairy-like, ancient costumes, or cosplay are likely counterfeits. It is crucial to remember that Hanfu is not an ancient costume nor cosplay!! This point is very important. In recent years, Hanfu has been developing towards the ancient costume style of photo studios, so it is essential to distinguish between them.