From the perspective of the Hanfu system, this is a dance costume designed specifically for dance performances, using the historical prototypes of Qufu deep robe and Ruchun skirt. This case of dance costume can fully demonstrate the grand vitality of our Hanfu system. It is an inexhaustible cultural treasure house from which countless works of art can draw inspiration and bloom beautiful flowers. This is sufficient to prove that the Hanfu system can interact with other cultural systems in other fields and create touching literary works.
In 2002, a netizen published an article titled “Lost Civilization: Han National Costume” on the military history forum of Sina Ship Knowledge Network, causing a huge stir; In 2004, “Xuan Yuan Mu Xue” wore Hanfu to participate in the first Traditional Martial Arts Competition in Heilongjiang Province, finding a new “entry point” for Hanfu; In 2005, more than ten Confucian scholars performed sacrificial rites at the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong; In 2007, Fujian Hanfu World was approved by the Culture Bureau to become the first officially recognized Hanfu culture association in the country.
Clothing and Ritual Music Association, Han Network, Ru Network, Huayun Sinology Network, Sinology Gathering Network, Panlong History Network, Brazilian Elegance Hanfu Society, British Han Culture Association, Canadian Fule Hanfu Society, Japan Hanfu Association, Cross-Strait Cultural and Art Exchange Center, Ru Society, Xiaoci Pavilion, Sinology Society of Renmin University of China, Zhejiang Zhoushan City Han Culture Association, Qufu Ru-Lian Hanfu Hall, Jiangxi Bailuzhou Academy, Tianjin Xungen Hanfu Society, Guangzhou Liuyi Academy, Kunming Hanfu Dianyin Traditional Culture Association, Guangzhou Huanghan Mutual Aid Association, Baijiao Calligraphy Society, Haikou Confucius Classroom, Ruxing Yunnan Sinology Hall, Jinning Sinology Hall, Chuxiong Sinology Hall, Zhaotong Sinology Hall, Qufu Hanfu Promotion Center in Shandong, Yunnan Chengyun Hanfu Society, Shanghai Daoqi Pavilion (Society) and Charity Benevolence Merit Association, Hunan Jiuyi Han Society, Most Trendy Sinology Media, Guangxi Nanning Min Academy, Sichuan Guangyuan Jinghong Hanfu Society, Tianjin Yifang Education Classroom, etc.
In fact, this ceremony of offering vegetables in Jinan was also seen as a “rehearsal” for the Yi You Spring Sacrifice. On April 7, 2005, dozens of netizens from Tianjin, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and other places, wearing Hanfu, performed the Ming Dynasty's ritual of offering sacrifices at the Confucius Temple in Qufu, known as the “Yi You Spring Sacrifice.” This was the first time in contemporary mainland China that a Confucian scholar autonomously held a ceremony to honor their teacher, Confucius [2]. The image of the “Yi You Spring Sacrifice” in Qufu, Shandong, on April 7, 2005 [3][]. Provided by netizen ufe, authorized for use.
According to statistics, the Confucius Mansion in Qufu houses approximately 8,000 pieces of textile artifacts, including clothing, headwear, jewelry, tablecloths, and chair covers, among which there are two Yuan Dynasty garments and over a hundred Ming Dynasty costumes, most of which are still collected in the Confucius Mansion. The total number of Ming Dynasty costumes existing across the country is less than what is stored in the Confucius Mansion. According to the “Qufu County Annals,” “The Confucius Mansion has been treasuring the Yuan and Ming Dynasty costumes, treating them as precious treasures and storing them in the inner treasury.” Due to political factors and dynastic changes, it is extremely difficult to preserve physical Ming Dynasty costumes. However, these costumes in the Confucius Mansion have survived, partly due to special storage conditions and largely because of the unspoken relationship with the status of the Confucius Mansion.
After taking the first step, it becomes easier to accept wearing Hanfu when going out. Especially last year, Meng Changyuan and her roommate wore Hanfu to stroll around the snack street outside the east gate of their school. An elderly lady who passed by stared at them for a long time and then sincerely said, “Look at how nice these young girls' clothes are.” Recalling this moment, Meng Changyuan, a native of Jinan, specially imitated the old lady's words in the Qufu dialect, with pride in her tone.
Qule Robe: The Qule Robe is a type of deep robe with an extended back skirt, forming a triangular shape at the hem. In Qufu, it can be divided into single-wrap, double-wrap, or triple-wrap based on the number of times the collar is wrapped. Depending on the length of the garment, it can be divided into long and short versions. It usually has a waistband and long ties. The appearance of the Qule Robe in Qufu is related to the initial absence of crotch in the hooded pants. With such multiple layers of protection at the hem, it became more reasonable and polite. Therefore, from the pre-Qin period to the Han Dynasty before the invention of Kufu, the deep robe of Qufu was quite popular. Both men and women can wear it.
But why did the team focus on the Ming Dynasty from the beginning? This has to do with Chen Cai and Wu Yicheng's Hanfu business. After delving into Hanfu research, Chen Cai and Wu Yicheng realized that the most artifacts unearthed were from the Ming Dynasty, especially the large number of Ming Dynasty costumes passed down from the Confucius Mansion in Qufu, which provided ample reference materials for Ming-style Hanfu. They believed that since the development of traditional Hanfu was interrupted after the Ming Dynasty, they should start by continuing the tradition of Ming-style Hanfu. Thus, they immediately decided to focus on Ming-style Hanfu and study Ming history.
The enthusiasm for Confucian culture and Sinology has led to the acceptance of Hanfu by the mainstream. Yang Yitang said, “Now in Qufu, you can see four groups of people wearing Hanfu every day.” “In recent years, many Sinology schools have been built in Qufu, with over a dozen on a large scale. These students often wear Hanfu to move around in class and after class,” Yang Yitang said. “On the streets and in the Confucius Temple, tourists also wear Hanfu, some renting and some bringing their own. At the Mencius Temple in Zoucheng, parents hold coming-of-age ceremonies for their children who have been admitted to university, and young people hold weddings in Hanfu, all of which are very common.”
The Hanfu movement has been ongoing for four years. In the first year, Hanfu entered people's sight, attracting much attention, prompting people to think and gradually moving away from the misconception of cheongsam and mandarin jackets, realizing that Hanfu is the traditional costume of the Han nationality. This led to thoughts about why it disappeared and why it reappeared on the streets. This was the year when the concept of Hanfu began to take shape. Later, Hanfu entered ceremonial activities, such as the sacrifice to Yuan Chonghuan, personal sacrificial rituals, and the Hanfu ritual at the Confucius Temple in Qufu, elevating Hanfu activities to a higher level.