History & Culture

Chinese incense culture has a long history. As an important part of incense culture - Chinese traditional scented sachet culture, it also carries a large amount of cultural information, reflecting the aesthetic concepts and social customs of people in different periods, as well as the achievements of Chinese textiles and fine manufacturing. Nowadays, due to the emergence and use of aromatherapy, perfume, and other items, incense sachets have rarely been used except on specific festivals and occasions, but they have left a strong mark in the history of incense used in China.   The History of the Traditional Sachet Scented sachet (香囊, Xiangnang) is a folk embroidered craft created by ancient women, originally developed from Peinang (佩囊), a small cloth pocket used by the ancients to hold small objects. There were no pockets on the clothes of the ancients, so some portable necessities, such as seals, hand towels, coins, etc., were stored in this kind of pouch, and when they went out, they put it on their waist, so it was called "Peinang". Scented sachet belongs to a kind of Peinang, which is named after the spices stored in the sac. According to the literature, the history of wearing scented…

In recent years, Hanfu has received more and more attention. More and more Hanfu cultural festivals are being held in different cities in China, and worldwide, and thousands of Hanfu enthusiasts are participating in them. The Beauty of Hanfu Is in the Heritage So why is Hanfu so popular? In today's society, people have higher and higher requirements for aesthetics, and the special classical beauty of Hanfu attracts countless people to love it, and then to pay attention to it and understand it. So it is no wonder that Hanfu is so popular. And the beauty of Hanfu is not just on the surface, but in the thousands of years of traditional etiquette and civilization of the Chinese nation that it carries. Today we bring you some of the Hanfu collections from "Yi Guan Da Cheng-Ming Dynasty Costume Culture Exhibition", these collections come from the Shandong Museum and Confucius Museum, most of them are Ming Dynasty clothing, which is not only beautifully made and complete sets, but also very significant for costume research. I hope you can also learn something from these collections. Detailed video about "Yi Guan Da Cheng-Ming Dynasty Costume Culture Exhibition":  Based on the previous dynasty,…

In the bustling city of Foshan's Chancheng district, nestled amid the echoes of its rich industrial past and the promise of innovative futures, a cultural phenomenon known as "Guochao" is reshaping the landscape of manufacturing. What began as a resurgence of national pride has swiftly evolved into a powerful consumer trend, influencing everything from creative industries to household names in electronics and automotive sectors. A recent report titled Insights into Guochao Brands and Young Consumers reveals an astonishing growth of over 500% in Guochao's popularity compared to a decade ago, with millennials and Gen Z contributing a whopping 74% to its consumption. This surge isn't merely a manifestation of cultural confidence but also a beacon of new opportunities for urban industries across China. Foshan, renowned as the epicenter of China's ceramics industry with a history spanning millennia, now finds itself at the forefront of this cultural and industrial fusion. Ventures like Mu Ci (慕瓷) , innovators in the traditional ceramics sector, have witnessed unprecedented success with products like the matte finish Xiangyunsha (香云纱) tiles, blending ancient craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. Similarly, HEA, a fashion brand inspired by the vibrant Lion Dance (醒狮) culture of Lingnan, has expanded rapidly across the…

"Under the Microscope: The Tax Case of Silk" is arguably the most exciting historical costume cdrama of 2023 so far. Unlike most costume cdramas, "Under the Microscope" presents an exciting taxation curiosity case of the Ming Dynasty in only 14 episodes. The tight plot and accurate restoration of the Ming Dynasty make everyone start looking forward to the second season (there are six stories in the original, and the silk tax case is the first one). The drama is set in the Ming Dynasty time, showing Chinese aesthetics and authentic Ming Dynasty costumes. Shi Yue from Han Fu Shi Dai has compiled a list of the classic hanfu styles that appear in the drama, so let's learn about them.   Shuhe & Zhiduo Shuai Jia Mo, the main character in the drama, is a mathematical genius who relies on measuring land to earn a modest income. He was not enrolled in the civil service and was a commoner. Shuai Jia Mo often wears Shuhe and cloth shoes, highlighting his simple and unpretentious temperament. Shuhe (裋褐): also known as Heyi (褐衣), Buyi (布衣), refers to the rough cloth clothes worn by ordinary people. Feature with cross collar, narrow sleeves, usually shorter,…

In recent years, there has been an upsurge of Hanfu in China, and more and more young people are wearing Chinese traditional clothing Hanfu. Why is that? In fact, the popularity of Hanfu is not only because of its beautiful appearance, but also because it contains historical factors. In terms of the background of Hanfu trend, we can sum up the following points: Click to See the Details 1.Traditional Cultural Identity Enhanced and The Revival of Traditional Culture There was a discontinuity in the historical inheritance of Chinese Hanfu, and the appearance of modern Hanfu as a symbol of national costume, to a certain extent, soothes people’s need for “root seeking” of national identity, and gradually builds a sense of identity with traditional national culture. Click to See the Details 2.Design Keeps Pace with the Times, Meet the Aesthetic and Needs of Modern People As a unique cultural symbol, Hanfu is also a systematic reflection of national character, aesthetic taste, and folk culture. The media reports on the revival of Hanfu are more focused on traditional festivals or etiquette activities, so they often give people the impression that Hanfu is good-looking but not practical. But in fact, after improvement, modern…

Hey everyone, thanks for waiting! Our next topic is gonna be pretty exciting for most of you who love the classic ruqun aesthetic: we’re going to be going over the historical relics for the Wei/Jin and Northern/Southern Dynasty! Since there are so few of these relics, this article is going to focus on the Wei/Jin Dynasty as a whole, including restored relics, art references, and misconceptions about the Wei/Jin Dynasty. It might be a bit of a shorter article due to little material, but I know that people are really interested in this period of time, so let’s get to it! 魏晉南北朝/魏晋南北朝/wei4 jin4 nan2 bei3 chao2/Wei/Jin and Northern/Southern Dynasties refers to the period of time between 220 and 589CE. Also known as 六朝/六朝/liu4 chao2/Six Dynasties, this set of dynasties are compressed into one general block of time by historians because of the rapid exchange of power. Following the Eastern Han dynasty, the Three Kingdoms period had the Cao Wei kingdom at its forefront, with the Western Jin Dynasty coming right after ruled by Sima Yan. This was followed by the Northern Dynasties, when the Northern Wei, Western Wei, Easter Wei, and Northern Zhou and Qi Dynasties followed each other rapidly,…

As a typical representative of Chinese traditional clothing culture, cheongsam has fascinated people around the world with its outstanding form. Although there are still many disputes over the definition of cheongsam today, it remains one of the most splendid and formal dress cultures in China's long history. At first, the style of Chinese cheongsam had tight cuffs, narrowed edges, slightly embroidered patterns and slightly longer hemlines. In the late 1920s, influenced by Western skirts, cheongsam underwent more obvious changes, tightening waistline to highlight curves and simplifying decorations. Cheongsam became a fitted curve shape that first reflected women's features such as concave-convex lines and laid a foundation for today's basic characteristics and fashion trends in women's wear. After the 1930s and 1940s, Chinese cheongsam reached a perfect maturity in design becoming world-renowned classic attire - this was also the peak period for cheongsams. High-collared necklines with waists sucked-in tightly; short sleeves fastened with knots or buttons; slanting fronts often opened high on one side; some dresses were short while others were long; cutting styles followed western skirt designs emphasizing smoother lines which made Chinese Cheongsams fit better to display female beauty figures. When wearing a Chinese Cheongsam dress woman’s graceful figure…

We have introduced several casual dresses from the Ming Dynasty (Zhiduo/Zhishen/Taoist robes/stand collar Hanfu shirt) before. This article will introduce the history of the Ming Hanfu robes Yuanlingpao and its use as a formal dress for grand occasions. On many traditional ceremonial occasions, the most popular dress set for men is the Wushamao and Yuanlingpao, and for women, is the Fengguan Xiapei and Yuanlingpao.   Men's Formal Dress: Wushamao & Yuanlingpao [Structure and History] Wushamao (乌纱帽), is a Ming dynasty imitation of the Tang dynasty form of Futou (幞头), the shape is tall and dignified, behind the insertion of two straight and wide wings, mostly square or oval, can be said to be a standard issue for wearing Yuanlingpao. Yuanlingpao (round collar robes, 圆领袍), The origin can be traced back to the North and South dynasties and has been used as the formal dress of officials during the Tang and Song dynasties, and the round collar robes with Buzi (补子) were used as the regular dress of officials during the Ming dynasty and later as the formal dress of ordinary people. Yuanlingpao, also known as pan collar (盘领) Youren (右衽); with big sleeves; the body is slit below the waist…

Hanfu movement is the abbreviation of “Hanfu Cultural Renaissance Movement”, which is an active part of the Chinese cultural renaissance movement. Background Of Hanfu Movement Hanfu is the abbreviation of the traditional ethnic costumes of the Han nationality. From the Shang Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty, the style of Han clothing has never been interrupted for thousands of years. However, after the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, the clothing of Han people disappeared. The Hanfu movement occurred in a period after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, but more importantly, at the beginning of this century, with the rise of China’s national strength and the awakening of a part of the Chinese people’s consciousness of being a great power, the Han culture enthusiasts as the main body, the youth group, the commercialized group, the intellectuals as the main force, the Internet as the main platform of public opinion, and the return of Hanfu as the starting point to revive the Chinese language A folk movement of cultural rejuvenation. The Beginning Of Hanfu Movement Around 2002, in view of the fact that people generally believed that Tang costume (i.e. Manchu style clothes, Qipao and Mandarin coat) was the clothing of Han…

The Duanwu Festival (端午节, Dragon Boat Festival) has long been transformed into a concrete and profound contemporary cultural symbol in the annual ritualistic repetition of the action. As the fifth day of the fifth lunar month approaches, various flavors of Zongzi are marketed, many traditional villages begin preparing for dragon boat races, and Chinese office workers and students await the holiday with great anticipation. Are there any other traditional Duanwu customs that have continued from ancient times? And how did the ancient people prepare for the Duanwu Festival? Let's search the Duanwu Festival in the classic paintings that have been passed down through the ages.   Eat Zongzi Whenever the Duanwu is mentioned, Qu Yuan is the most familiar to people. In order to commemorate Qu Yuan, who committed himself to the Miluo River, on every fifth day of May, people throw Zongzi into the river; at the same time, they make dragon boats to expel the augur dragon so that Qu Yuan's flesh will not be robbed. This is also the most widespread source of Zongzi and dragon boat racing. As the most ritualistic necessity of the Duanwu Festival, eating Zongzi has long been a popular habit for all Chinese. Many…

Beizi (褙子), a kind of traditional Chinese attire, began in the Sui Dynasty, both men and women can wear it. The style of Beizi is mainly straight collar and Duijin, with no stitching from the armpit on both sides. It is often worn outside other clothes. Popular in Song and Ming Dynasties.   Beizi began in the Sui Dynasty. There are two ways of saying about the origin of the name of Beizi, one is Beizi means that when a person walks, his back should be straight to support his back and body; the other is the clothes that Beizi used to wear by servant, because the servant often stands behind the mistress, so gets the name. In the Song Dynasty, both the queen and the nobility, as well as the maidservants and ordinary people, all liked to wear Beizi. At the same time, it is also the formal dress of women in the Song Dynasty. Style Song Dynasty In the Song Dynasty, there were three kinds of collar styles: straight collar style was worn by women; slant cross collar style; round collar style was worn by men on formal occasions. The length of the Beizi varies, the front is…

Hanfu sleeve types include many classic styles, such as wide sleeves, chuihu sleeves, and drooping beard sleeves. Each sleeve type has its unique historical background and design characteristics. These gorgeous sleeve shapes have undergone a long process of development, forming an important part of the Han costume culture, and have been loved and inherited by many Han costume enthusiasts in modern times. The sleeve types of Hanfu clothing are very diverse, with different sleeve designs for different periods, social status, and occasions. The following are some common Hanfu sleeve types. Straight Sleeves Its characteristic is that the sleeve is straight and tubular, with no too many wrinkles and folds from the shoulder to the cuff, which is relatively simple. During the Han Dynasty, straight sleeves were one of the formal clothes worn by officials, literati, and other upper-class men, usually worn in combination with long shirts, mandarin coats, and other lower clothing. There are generally two types of straight sleeves: long sleeves and short sleeves. Long sleeves generally reach to the wrist and are suitable for wearing in cold weather, while short sleeves are suitable for wearing in warm seasons. The straight sleeve design is simple and straightforward, and is…

Hanfu is not equal to the Han Dynasty costume, it is the general name of Han nationality clothing. And in the vast history, there are many kinds of patterns for men’s Hanfu. ShenYi Shenyi belongs to Hanfu. It originated from the Yu family, the first king of the Yu Dynasty. It wrapped the tops and skirts together and cut them separately but sewed them up and down. Generally speaking, it means that the upper garment is connected with the lower garment, and the edge is made of cloth of different colors. The feature is that the body is hidden and elegant. The reason why Shenyi is the leader of group clothing is not only in its system form but also in the upper and lower clothing, which has been popular for the longest time. Although it is a Han suit, its history has been developing to the Qing Dynasty. After the similar robe and other clothing types are based on deep clothing, gradually developed. Da Chang The modern meaning of cloak is coat and overcoat, which is the most common coat style in Hanfu. The cloak is one of the traditional clothing of Han nationality, also known as a cloak,…

Oral health has always been important in the rich fabric of human history. The way ancient civilizations approached dental care provides us with a fascinating glimpse into the diverse practices that shaped the maintenance of healthy teeth over centuries. In this exploration, we turn our attention to the oral hygiene habits of ancient Asian cultures, seeking to unravel the secrets behind their enduring smiles. From herbal remedies to unique techniques, these societies employed a variety of methods to ensure their dental well-being, leaving behind a legacy that continues to intrigue and inspire. The Nightly Ritual Among the intriguing practices of ancient Asian cultures was their commitment to a comprehensive nightly dental routine. Imagine stepping back in time and observing the meticulous care individuals took before drifting into the realm of dreams. In the quiet hours of the evening, an ancient Asian might have engaged in a ritual that involved not just cleaning but also aligning their teeth. It’s like nighttime aligners but crafted from natural materials like bamboo or animal bones and worn during sleep to encourage proper tooth alignment. This innovative approach to orthodontics speaks volumes about the emphasis placed on dental aesthetics even in ancient times. Herbal Elixirs…

China is a developed country with advanced technology but one that treasures and respects ancient traditions. As a college student, studying ancient Chinese history is fascinating. China is the world’s oldest country. Written records date back to 1250 BCE, and the first dynasty in China lasted over 3,500 years. Its long history is filled with all kinds of adventures, challenges and events the world can learn from. Develop a solid grounding in historical research and study Doing historical research will help you to broaden the way you think about historical events and what kind of influence they have on today’s world. You will probably start by learning more about the Paleolithic period in ancient China. Modern humans probably appeared in China about 200,000 years ago. By 5000 BCE, there were village settlements in several regions with fortified walls built around them. It was between 2000 and 1600 BCE that the Bronze Age emerged out of the diverse Neolithic cultures. Get help from an essay writing service The study of history in college can be challenging due to the amount of research you need to do. If you can’t find the time to write essays, essay service EduBirdie has professional writers who…

Many people who love Hanfualways ask a question: what is Hanfu made out of? Hanfu is composed of style, color and material. Material is the most basic element. Clothing materials refer to all the materials that constitute clothing, which can be divided into clothing fabrics and clothing accessories. This article mainly introduces the knowledge of Hanfu fabric. When choosing the fabric, we should know the style of the Hanfu and consider what part of the garment the fabric is used for (such as body, collar edge, belt, etc.). The style of Hanfu changes little, and the selection of fabric plays an important role in the style and temperament of clothing. Commonly used Hanfu fabrics 1. Silk fabric Silk fabrics, such as brocade, gauze, yarn, spinning, etc., are high-grade textiles with high price. They belong to high-grade fabrics in ancient and modern times. It mainly refers to the fabrics with mulberry silk, tussah silk, man-made silk and synthetic fiber filament as the main raw materials. Silk fabrics are characterized by good moisture absorption and air permeability, comfortable to wear, light, soft, smooth, elegant, gorgeous and comfortable. The disadvantage is that it is difficult to master when making and it is not…

In China’s 5000 years of history, the wuxia culture based on national heroes is an important part of Chinese culture. The Chinese people have a profound national plot for the wuxia culture, and the chivalrous morality promoted in the wuxia culture is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Wuxia stories all have their specific historical background. According to some famous national heroes, their archetypes are put into some folk legends and displayed through film and television or literature and art. And readers or movie fans, through reading and watching movies, seem to be in their time. It is the most attractive part of the wuxia story to watch them happy in the wuxia world. This kind of wuxia life that everyone yearns for but doesn’t understand is the spiritual satisfaction that people pursue. However, the “Wu” in wuxia does not mean simply playing with swords and guns, but refers to the pursuit of martial arts by chivalrous people and sublimation into a natural realm. Therefore, they have developed into top-level martial arts skills and have the ability to get rid of the evil and stabilize the good. The word “Chivalry” is more representative of a temperament, which refers…

The ancient Chinese wedding dress, FengguanXiapei (凤冠霞帔), is the most secret dream of many ancient girls. In classical literary works and our imagination, FengguanXiapei often represents the conclusion of a good marriage, which is the most classic Chinese wedding dress. 1. What is "Fengguan"? Fengguan is the most solemn headdress in the Ming Dynasty. It is famous for its Phoenix-like ornaments. Fengguan had taken shape in the Han Dynasty. According to the records of historical materials, when the Empress Dowager participated in the sacrificial activities, she would wear jade ornaments in the shape of Phoenix. After the Han Dynasty, the headdress of Phoenix has been very popular. From the Song Dynasty, Fengguan was officially designated as the dress of Mingfu (命妇, women with titles in ancient times). When attending the important ceremony, Fengguan was needed. Apart from the dragon and phoenix, the gem is also an important part of Fengguan. According to the objects unearthed, the twelve dragon and nine phoenix crowns of the empress Xiaojing (孝靖皇后), including one hundred and twenty-one precious stones (fifty-three ruby, sixty-two sapphires, four emeralds and two pieces of topaz). Fengguan was a luxury that all the women of the Ming Dynasty longed for at that…

The popular Xianxia drama "Till The End Of The Moon" has adopted a large number of Dunhuang styles in costumes and makeup, which is different from conventional dramas. In addition to receiving a lot of praise, it has also made more people aware of and started to like Dunhuang costumes. As for the modern art form that integrates with the Dunhuang style, there has long been one. "Silk Road Flower Rain" is a famous Chinese ethnic dance drama, which is created based on the Silk Road and Dunhuang murals. Since its birth in 1979, it has been continuously performed, keeping up with the times, and enjoying a great reputation. The dance drama takes Dunhuang as its main theme, and the dance costumes have a strong Dunhuang style. Moreover, the dance "Thousand-Hand Guanyin" at the 2005 China Spring Festival Gala received rave reviews, which is also in Dunhuang style. The artistic expression of Dunhuang themes is very popular among audiences, and there are also many Dunhuang-style dances and costumes in some dance variety shows. Naturally, Dunhuang-style Hanfu has also been very popular among consumers. If you have been paying attention to Hanfu, you must be familiar with Dunhuang costumes, but are…

Hanfu is the Chinese traditional national costume. It covers a wide range of time. Different dynasties have different styles of Hanfu. This article will sort out the most classic Hanfu styles of each dynasty so that you can quickly understand the classic Hanfu styles of each dynasty. Qin and Han Dynasties The Qin and Han Dynasties are the two unified dynasties in Chinese history, the first imperial era in Chinese history. After the unification of China in the Qin Dynasty, the dress system was established, and the standard etiquette of Han clothing was more obvious. The clothes of the Qin and Han Dynasties mainly inherited the influence of the Zhou Dynasty, and still took the robe as the typical clothing style, which was mainly divided into straight trains and curved trains. In daily life, the difference between men and women is not significant. Both men and women wear wide sleeves with large lapels. The difference is that men tie leather belts around their waists, while women tie them only with ribbons. Wei and Jin Dynasties During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, influenced by social politics, economy, and culture, the style of Hanfu was free and easy, simple and elegant, and…

Any good things are tempered, and Hanfu is the same. Hanfu has a history of thousands of years, but in the past three hundred years. Hanfu has experienced many setbacks. What is Hanfu Hanfu, the "traditional costume of the Han nationality", is also known as "Chinese clothing crown", "Huafu", "Chinese costume" and so on. It was from the"Xuanyuan, Huangdi is wearing clothes and the world is ruled", until the Ming Dynasty demise. Han nationality with the Huaxia nationality as its predecessor, according to "Zhou Li", respecting "the law of heaven and earth, the unity of nature and man, the doctrine of the mean" and so on, with the "Huaxia-Han" culture as the background and leading ideology. Focusing on the Chinese ceremonial culture, a set of unique Han nationality styles formed in extensive historical practice, clearly different from other ethnic groups' traditional clothing and apparel system. It contains wedding dresses, formal dress, sacred clothes, mourning clothes, uniforms, and other clothing that can adapt to various occasions. Hanfu is the embodiment of China's "state of etiquette" and "splendor China", it carries the outstanding craftsmanship and aesthetics of the Han people's dyeing and weaving embroidery, inherited more than 30 Chinese intangible cultural heritage…

Different traditional colors in China are all uniquely named. Why are traditional colors in China named in this way? Since the Tang Dynasty, ancient people used the term "Yan Se (颜色)" as a general term for the colors in nature, giving colors names based on natural phenomena. Unlike the Western classification of primary colors, China divides colors into five main colors: "Chi (赤, red), Huang (黄, yellow), Qing (青, green), Hei (黑, black), and Bai (白, white)". As the seasons change, colors also transform and blend in countless variations. The recently released documentary series "Amazing Chinese Colors" takes traditional Chinese colors as a starting point to showcase the world of colors. "Amazing Chinese Colors" selects five traditional Chinese colors, and as a point of reference, five artists, namely Zeng Li, Zhang Yifan, Xuan Lu, Jiang Mengjie and Zhang Li, as the recommenders, dig out the history and culture related to such colors, extend the use of such colors in modern oriental aesthetics, show the infinite charm of traditional Chinese colors in the trend, and take the story of each color as the source of inspiration, to create unique traditional Chinese colors in the program. With each color story as the…

Every winter, the whistling cold wind has become the standard, especially in the northern part of China, it is often cold. In ancient times, without heating and air conditioning, how did people survive the cold winter? House Warmth: Fire wall and Kang In cold winter, a warm house is undoubtedly the best way to keep warm. In ancient times, fireplace, firewall, and so on are good heat preservation way. People build the walls of a house into a hollow sandwich wall. Under the wall, there is a fire passage. There are holes at the end of the fire passage, which can discharge smoke. The carbon mouth for adding fire is under the eaves of the house. After the charcoal fire burns, the heat can be transferred to the whole house along the sandwich wall. This kind of sandwich wall is called a “firewall”. Warm Food: Warm wine, hot pot In winter, the human body has a high demand for heat, and ancients will choose to eat some warm food as much as possible. Ginger, mutton, and so on. The ancients believed that drinking alcohol can also warm the body. So people like to sit around the stove in the cold…

After the evolution of different dynasties, there are many styles and collar types. Today, Fashion Hanfu will introduce 6 common collar types of Chinese Hanfu for you. 1. JiaoLing (Cross collar) JiaoLing (Cross collar) Hanfu is a kind of collar type often seen in Hanfu, which is a typical feature of Hanfu collar type. Jiao Ling, as the name implies, refers to the front of the garment left and right intersection. The lapel of Hanfu is usually covered to the right with the letter Y, called the right lapel. The characteristics of right Lapel appeared at the beginning of the birth of Hanfu and have been continuing and influencing some ethnic costumes with deep Sinicization. It is the most original, basic, and a core feature of Hanfu. JiaoLing (Cross collar) 2. TanLing (Tan collar) TanLing (Tan collar), also known as u-collar, is one of the Han collar types. It is a kind of short coat developed by ShangRu since Wei and Jin Dynasties. It was very popular in the Tang Dynasty. So you can see a lot of this kind of dress in Dunhuang murals. The clothing with flat collar is usually tight, such as narrow sleeves and narrow waist.…