For a very long time, everyone thought that “Princess Huaiyu” was played by Xu Huayu… The reruns of “Huai” in Taiwan were similar to our reruns of “My Fair Princess.” This drama is divided into four parts, with more than 0 episodes, and it was launched when the two parts of “My Fair Princess” were at their peak. It immediately became popular on both sides of the strait, making the lead actress Zheng Jiayu a household name, so much so that even today, people still think of Princess Huaiyu when they see her. Later, when Zhang Nara came to mainland China to shoot “The Naughty Princess,” no matter how you look at it, it seems like a copy of “Huai.”
With the rapid development of society, more and more people enjoy watching various TV dramas or movies on TV or mobile phones. Among them, historical dramas are one of the most popular genres of TV series now. However, most of the costumes in these dramas are not the actual clothing that existed in history; they are artistic representations of ancient attire. Historical costumes focus more on time periods and artistic effects, so they are not the same as Hanfu. Historical costumes mostly refer to costumes used for film and television performances, photography, and stage performances.
Zheng Jiayu, an actress, starred in the movie “Wandering Stage” in 1995. In 2000, she became famous for starring in the historical drama “Princess Huaiyu.” In 2002, she played Qiuxiang in the historical comedy “The Witty Young Scholar Tang Bohu.” In 2003, she appeared in the mystery and suspense drama “The Eighth Pawnshop.” In 2004, she began developing in mainland China and played Ye Xiaohu in the historical drama “The Legend of Jing Ke.” In 2006, she starred in the inspirational romance “Go! Xiaohui.” In 2009, she starred in the historical comedy “There Is Bao Qingtian in Kaifeng”; the same year, after filming the movie “My Left Hand and Right Hand,” she retired from acting. In 2013, she made a comeback by appearing in the idol drama “Happiness Street Exit 3.” In 2014, she appeared in the Golden Bell Award-winning drama “Thanks for Your Patronage,” for which she was nominated for Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie at the 49th Golden Bell Awards. In 2016, she appeared in the TV drama “Teacher Jiang, Have You Ever Fallen in Love?” On February 4, 2020, she appeared in the movie “Strange Will,” which was released on Youku. Zheng Jiayu, an actress, starred in the movie “Wandering Stage” in 1995. In 2000, she became famous for starring in the historical drama “Princess Huaiyu.” In 2002, she played Qiuxiang in the historical comedy “The Witty Young Scholar Tang Bohu.” In 2003, she appeared in the mystery and suspense drama “The Eighth Pawnshop.” In 2004, she began developing in mainland China and played Ye Xiaohu in the historical drama “The Legend of Jing Ke.” In 2006, she starred in the inspirational romance “Go! Xiaohui.” In 2009, she starred in the historical comedy “There Is Bao Qingtian in Kaifeng”; the same year, after filming the movie “My Left Hand and Right Hand,” she retired from acting. In 2013, she made a comeback by appearing in the idol drama “Happiness Street Exit 3.” In 2014, she appeared in the Golden Bell Award-winning drama “Thanks for Your Patronage,” for which she was nominated for Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie at the 49th Golden Bell Awards. In 2016, she appeared in the TV drama “Teacher Jiang, Have You Ever Fallen in Love?” On February 4, 2020, she appeared in the movie “Strange Will,” which was released on Youku.
Many people believe that the historical costumes in TV dramas are the same as Hanfu, but there is actually a difference between the two. Historical costumes refer to the clothing worn in ancient China, and while Hanfu is a type of historical costume, it is a smaller subset within the broader category of historical costumes. Therefore, we should have a correct understanding of Hanfu. Many TV dramas have their own designed costumes, which are also considered historical costumes, but these costumes often feature modern designs and differ significantly from traditional Hanfu. Each dynasty in Chinese history had its own unique characteristics in Hanfu, so when choosing Hanfu, one should select based on personal preference and the cultural context of different dynasties.
The influence of Hanfu gradually expanded after 2008, with the Beijing Olympics reigniting national pride. The rise of historical dramas such as “Chinese Paladin,” “Palace: Lock Heart Jade,” “Step by Step in the Palace,” “Empresses in the Palace,” and “Empress Wu Zetian” also increased public interest in “historical costumes.” Online shops selling “Hanfu” inspired by TV dramas began to appear. “These TV dramas made many people discover the beauty of Hanfu,” said Lin Shiqin, a student from Shangrao City, Jiangxi Province, who was the first president of the Hanfu Club at Shangrao No. 1 High School. She and several classmates established the city's first Hanfu club at school. “When we first started the club, we required participants to wear Hanfu for activities. Many club members bought their first set of Hanfu during this time. I remember when some students asked if they could buy the same dress that Fan Bingbing wore in ‘Empress Wu Zetian.' At that time, I explained to them that the costumes in TV dramas are not authentic Hanfu but modified historical costumes, and it's best not to buy those.” Although the costumes in these early “historical costume dramas” were heavily modified, their appearance undoubtedly played a significant role in popularizing Hanfu among the masses.
Many TV dramas have gained popularity, and their themes vary widely. China has a long history, and many TV dramas adapt historical stories into dramas. These historical dramas have successfully attracted many viewers. The costumes in these dramas are also very beautiful, especially the Hanfu worn by concubines and ladies in court dramas, which have captivated fans of historical dramas. The charm of Hanfu is hard to resist, and the rise of these historical dramas has sparked a Hanfu trend.
However, in the early days of the Hanfu community, it was common to view the historical costumes in TV dramas as standards and use them as promotional materials. Not only did people imitate the costumes and poses from TV dramas, but they also compared them to passersby when explaining the cross-collar style. The current impression that wearing Hanfu is like acting in a TV drama is a result of the early behavior of the Hanfu community, which is now often criticized by Hanfu enthusiasts as ignorance among the general public. The first Hanfu shop, “Caiwei Workshop,” was founded by Qiu Jinchao in Wuhan on October 30, 2003, and it uploaded the first set of Hanfu product photos. “Caiwei Workshop” was also the first Hanfu shop in the Hanfu movement.
In recent years, the rise of historical dramas has sparked a wave of traditional Chinese culture. For example, nowadays, you can see many young men and women wearing Hanfu on the streets, which was rare in the past. The popularity of historical dramas has also boosted the trend of traditional Chinese culture. Today, the editor of Lightning Dubbing will introduce some classic dubbing lines from historical dramas, hoping that you will find them useful. The editor of Production Helper | Yuezhen will also recommend some popular music from historical dramas, hoping to help you.
The editor has compiled information about songs related to Hanfu, such as “3000 Yuan for Hanfu Stitching,” “What Song Did the Beautiful Woman in ‘Bian Mei Ji' Walk to,” “Hu Ge's Latest Historical Drama,” “All of Hu Ge's Historical Dramas,” “What Song Has the Lyrics ‘Diligently Weaving Without Jest,'” a Chinese-style song with a Hanfu-themed MV, and “What Is ‘Hanfu for a Thousand Years.'” For more details, please refer to the main text below!
When men wear Hanfu, they exude an elegant and graceful demeanor, which is why many young men and women enjoy wearing Hanfu during their leisure time. This is one of the reasons for the rise of Hanfu. Additionally, the rise of Hanfu is also closely related to historical dramas and movies in recent years. As the living standards of Chinese residents improve, people have more leisure time, and they enjoy watching TV dramas and movies. Many people who look ordinary in modern clothes become strikingly handsome in historical dramas, which further fuels the love for historical costumes.