History & Culture

The Zhou Dynasty, which lasted from 1046 to 256 BCE, was a period of great cultural and artistic achievements in China. One of the most notable aspects of this era was the fashion and beauty trends that emerged among the ruling class. From elaborate hairstyles to intricate makeup designs, the dress and appearance of the Zhou Dynasty were highly symbolic and reflected the social status and cultural values of the time. In this article, we will explore the fascinating history of dress and makeup during the Zhou Dynasty, revealing the intricate details and rich symbolism behind these ancient fashion trends.   The Clothing of the Zhou Dynasty During the Zhou Dynasty, which was the third slave society in Chinese history following the Shang Dynasty, there were a total of 32 monarchs and 37 kings who ruled for 790 years. The clothing system in ancient China was already well-established during the Zhou Dynasty. There were even official positions designated to manage the imperial clothing. The clothing style during the Zhou Dynasty era consisted of top and bottom – the upper part being called “Yi”, which was slightly looser than the clothing during the Shang Dynasty and had two types of sleeves…

In the rich cultural heritage, Hanfu and traditional Chinese instruments are not just symbols of China's long history; they are also bridges that combine modern aesthetics with traditional charm. This article will guide you through how to integrate nine typical Chinese traditional musical instruments into the art of Hanfu photography, showcasing their unique cultural significance and visual impact. From the tranquil elegance of the Guqin to the flutes, each musical instrument can add a unique charm to Hanfu.   1 - Guqin The Guqin, also known as the Yaoqin, Yujin, or Seven-stringed zither, is a traditional Chinese plucked string instrument with a history of over three thousand years. The Guqin has a wide range of tones, deep timbre, and lingering resonance. It is recorded in ancient texts that Fu Xi made the qin, and there are legends of Shennong, the Yellow Emperor, Tang Yao, among others, being involved in the creation of the instrument. Emperor Shun set the qin to have five strings, King Wen added one string, and King Wu defeated King Zhou and added another string to make it seven strings. This demonstrates the long-standing and profound cultural heritage of the ancient Chinese Guqin. There are over 3360…

Vocab “Step ban” or “walking ban” - Jin Bu (禁步, jìn bù) - an accessory often matches with hanfu. It is an accessory that is threaded together with jade stones and hung over a hanfu dress.  Jade pendant - Yu Pei (玉佩, yù pèi) - also an accessory made of silk threads, beads, and jade stone that hung at the waist. But yùpèi are much simpler than Jin Bu, oftentimes it is just a jade with one or two beads tied together with thread. Oftentimes there will be no silk or bead tassels at the bottom like Jin Bu.   Materials Jin Bu are usually made up of colored silk threads, jade beads, and jade pendants combined together. There may or not have tassels made up of silk thread at the end of the accessory. If not, the tassels may also be made up of threaded beads.  Jin Bu in the past were made up of precious stones, and since they are threaded, they will clash together when walking making jade clash. If this is heard now people might not think much about it, but the etiquette and customs were stricter in ancient times, especially on feminine etiquette and how…

History has annihilated all the past prosperity, and we can no longer witness the traditional dress aesthetics, but can only get a glimpse from the scrolls and terracotta figurines. But the search for Chinese traditional costume culture never stops, looking back at the lost costumes of the years, restoring them and recreating the glory of today. In the first issue, Modern Hanfu collated the styles that directly applied ancient paintings to Hanfu, while in the second issue, the restored Hanfu styles that will be presented to you are those that appear in ancient paintings and ceramic figurines.   The Night Revels of Han Xizai "The Night Revels of Han Xizai" is a painting by Gu Hongzhong, a painter of the Southern Tang Dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Depicting the scene of Han Xizai, an official, holding a night banquet at his home, with songs and music. There are five scenes in the scroll, and each scene is cleverly separated by a screen. This set of restored hanfu is based on the costume of the musician girl in "Han Xizai's Night Banquet", with a dark pattern on the top, a flower pattern on the skirt, and an…

Flower Festival, even if few people know, but when you look up and see the flowers blooming, you will become gentle, because we are convinced that the "beautiful", always accompanied by the flowers blooming. Every year in mid-spring, is also a great time to compete with the flowers, among all the flowers, the earliest plum blossom, from camellia, daffodils, spring to peach, plum, pear, and apricot bloom all over the mountain when, "flower festival" will come. The "Flower Festival (花朝节, huā zháo jiē)", commonly known as the "Flower God Festival" and the "Birthday of the Hundred Flowers", is a traditional Chinese festival. Generally held on the second, twelfth or fifteenth day of the second month of the lunar calendar, the festival is held roughly between the Jingzhe (惊蛰) and Chunfen (春分) of the traditional Chinese calendars, at this time, everything revives, the grass is green, the flowers are either in the bud, or in bloom, and people are convinced that the beauty will come with the flowers. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, "Tao Zhu Gong Shu (陶朱公书)" has recorded: "February 12 for the birthday of the hundred flowers, no rain and hundred flowers ripe." In the Tang…

As requested by user @Wei on my Mamianqun article, here’s a little summary of all the most popular hanfu skirt (qun or types and what the difference between them is! I’m not going to go into as much detail as the previous article since my goal is to go through them all quickly and teach you the differences between them, but I’ll be including some brief details on their name, history, construction, and features so that you can better understand the huge variety of skirts in hanfu. Let’s start off with some basics rules hanfu skirts tend to follow. Skirts are made up of one or two pieces of fabric, usually, and they take the shape of a flat piece of pleated or non pleated cloth that gets wrapped around the body and tied in place by ribbons/ties. There are very few exceptions to this, except in hanyuansu, which is modified hanfu for convenience and style. The waistband of the skirt is usually 6-8cm wide and made with a different piece of fabric than the body of the skirt, which the body of the skirt is then attached to—this is referred to as the skirt head (. But even with…

In the subways of the city, a group of grandmas wearing cheongsams have become a unique landscape. Though they are over fifty years old, they show the everlasting charm with their confident and elegant postures. These "subway cheongsam grandmas" use their dressing and temperament to interpret for people what true fashion and beauty are. The Charm of Cheongsam: Inheritance and Innovation As a traditional female costume in China, the cheongsam has a long history and profound cultural heritage. With its unique cutting and design, it shows the elegance and graceful figure of women. However, with the change of times, the cheongsam is also constantly innovating and developing. Modern cheongsams retain traditional elements, and incorporate fashionable designs and elements, making them more suitable for modern women to wear. These subway cheongsam grandmas choose the cheongsam as their daily dress, which is not only the inheritance and promotion of traditional culture, but also the display of their own beauty and confidence. They use their own ways to put on the traditional costume with a new style and charm. Tips for Selecting Cheongsam For the grandmas who are older, it is not easy to choose a suitable cheongsam. The following are some tips…

Speaking of the Dragon Boat Festival customs, we can certainly think of many. In addition to delicious Zongzi, dragon boats, are also about decorating objects that symbolize good luck to drive away poisonous, as well as a variety of commemorative activities. But do you know what costume elements were used in the Dragon Boat Festival throughout history? Today, let's follow the Hanfu Culture Society and take a look!   Catering to the festive atmosphere, the ancient dressing ideas are generally based on the corresponding seasonal elements, these pattern elements decorated on clothing and accessories. Undoubtedly, in the Dragon Boat Festival, the most common of these patterns is the Wu Du (五毒, five poisons) patterns. Wu Du patterns In the ancient view, the lunar calendar in May is not a good month, that May is prone to disaster, and the fifth day of May, that is, the day of the Dragon Boat Festival is particularly dangerous. Therefore, the ancients called the lunar month of May for the "evil month (恶月)", also known as the "poison month (毒月)", and the Dragon Boat Festival this day (May 5) is called "evil day (毒日)". Therefore, the main activity of the Dragon Boat Festival is…

The Tang Dynasty was the heyday of China's feudal society, especially during the years of Zhenguan (贞观) and Kaiyuan (开元) when the political climate was relaxed and people lived and worked in peace. The typical styles of the Tang Dynasty Hanfu are Gongfu (公服, official uniform), round-necked robe, Banbi (半臂), Pei (帔, large-sleeved formal dress), and so on. From the Sui to the Tang (618-907), the development of ancient Chinese Hanfu clothing reached its heyday, political stability, economic development, advances in production and textile technology, frequent foreign exchanges, etc. contributed to the unprecedented prosperity of clothing, clothing styles, colors, patterns, etc. were the unprecedented new situation. The women's costumes of this period are one of the most exciting chapters of Hans costume, with their rich beauty and splendor, and their exotic decorations are breathtaking. Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty was the political, economic, and cultural center of the time and, at the same time, the center of East-West cultural exchange. There were more than three hundred countries that had friendly relations with the government of the Tang Dynasty. The splendid Chinese culture, spreads to the world. To this day, some countries in East Asia still use the Tang Dynasty dress…

The development of Chinese motifs has a rich history, with each era having its own unique design themes and styles. Throughout history, it has been discovered that from the graphics and symbols that emerged during the primitive era of humanity, to the present day where we classify art into different categories, some commonly used themes such as floral motifs, dragon and phoenix motifs, cloud motifs, and geometric motifs have continued to exist from ancient times to the present day, and have even remained unchanged. What has changed is that the same theme has different characteristics in different eras due to differences in the expression of artificial craftsmanship. Traditional Chinese Hanfu clothing emphasizes a harmonious blend of temperament and style, and in order to not destroy the overall effect of the clothing while also making its style versatile, changes in the motifs along the lapel edges of the clothing have become an important means of decoration. From the perspective of artistic expression, motifs can be divided into abstract, figurative, and imagery forms. In the application of clothing edges, motifs are generally divided into geometric, animal, plant, and auspicious character motifs.   Abstract form - geometric pattern The decorative motifs in the…

Hanfu vs Qipao, both are excellent representatives of traditional Chinese costumes. Hanfu (汉服), Han national traditional costume. Qipao (旗袍, cheongsam), the women's clothing of the Republican era. Whenever traditional Chinese clothing is mentioned, the cheongsam is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But with the expanding influence of Hanfu, a costume that better represents Chinese history is being preferred by more and more people. What exactly are the differences between the two costumes?   1. Hanfu vs Qipao in Different Origins Origin of Hanfu Ancient hanfu was the traditional clothing and accessory system of the Han Chinese from the time of the Yellow Emperor to the middle of the 17th century AD (late Ming and early Qing dynasties). Tang Dynasty Hanfu Origin of cheongsam Cheongsam was formed in the 1920s and later became the most common women's clothing at that time, being one of the most splendid phenomena and forms in China's long-standing dress culture. The controversy of the origin of cheongsam There are still many controversies about the definition of cheongsam and the time of its production, focusing on the following. 1. It is believed that cheongsam is developed directly from the robe of Qing Dynasty. 2.…

We often see in Chinese TV dramas or movies scenes of the emperor and his ministers discussing political affairs together (called Shangchao, 上朝), with the ministers standing or kneeling opposite the emperor in order of rank, dressed in tidy clothes (Chaofu). So, what is so special about the ministers' clothing? And are the different eras of Chaofu the same? What is the Chaofu? Name: Chaofu (朝服, cháo fú) Alias: Jufu (具服) Function: used at major ceremonies Succession and change: from Zhou to Ming dynasties Before the Zhou Dynasty, Chinese clothing was mainly made in one form, the upper Yi (衣) and the lower Chang (裳) system. The Book of Rites - Yuzao (礼记·玉藻, a chapter describing the ritual) recorded that "Chao Xuanduan (玄端), Xi Shenyi (深衣)", meaning that ministers were required to wear Xuanduan in the morning to attend the Shangchao, while worn Shenyi at home in the evening. The style and development of Chaofu in different dynasties The earliest Chaofu - Pibian Fu Judging from the literature, there were Chaofu as early as in the Zhou Dynasty. The first Chaofu was the Pibian Fu (皮弁服, pí biàn fú), which was made of fine white cloth, and the Yi and…

Have you ever heard of Morning Wine? This phrase might sound unfamiliar, but a quick search on platforms like Bilibili or Douyin will reveal videos with hundreds of thousands or even millions of views—scenes depicting a leisurely meal in the early hours, complete with small glasses of wine and a table laden with dishes. This tradition of enjoying a relaxed breakfast with a few drinks has quietly captured the admiration of many, drawing young people to regions like Hubei, Sichuan, and Chongqing, where Morning Wine culture thrives. In the heartlands of China, beyond the bustling cities and serene countryside, lies a breakfast tradition steeped in camaraderie and cultural richness—the practice of Morning Wine (晨酒). Contrary to its name, Morning Wine is not merely about alcohol but embodies a convivial morning meal paired with modest spirits, celebrating local flavors and community ties. Originating along the banks of the mighty Yangtze River, Morning Wine is more than just a meal; it's a social ritual deeply ingrained in the fabric of everyday life. Traditionally enjoyed by laborers and farmers to kickstart their day, it has evolved into a cherished custom celebrated across generations. Beyond Just Morning Drinks: The Allure of Meat At first…

From the Spring and Autumn period to the prosperous Tang Dynasty, from idealism to realism, the first two seasons of the epic documentary "China" made a strong entry into the realm of high-scoring documentaries, receiving unanimous acclaim. Unexpectedly, the "China Season 3" took a different approach, starting from mythology and embarking on a reverse journey through time: from early myths to ancient history, from primitive society to agrarian civilization, the establishment of the state, and the development of rites, allowing us to glimpse the civilization codes shimmering in the galaxy of history. What is even more noteworthy, the "China Season 3" incorporated a large number of the latest archaeological discoveries and invited 183 outstanding young artists to create 443 Chinese paintings. Through special effects, the paintings came to life, combining storytelling and aesthetics to provide us with an artistic feast.   Unique realm of romantic imagination Every civilization has its own creator god. Just like a prelude to life, in Chinese mythology, Pangu is the god who broke the chaos, bringing light to the world, creating the first mountain and the first river. Nuwa, with a human head and a snake body, represents the gods of eternal life and reproduction,…

Which ancient China period is the most fascinating? The Tang Dynasty may be the best choice. As the most powerful and advanced existence in the world at that time, the Tang Dynasty has strong national power, a booming economy, and splendid culture. There were prosperous scenes of different countries from all over the world coming to visit, but also the wonderful legends and stories of countless capable people. This undoubtedly provides a wealth of creative materials for contemporary film and television creation, among which the suspense works are quite representative. From "Amazing Detective Di Renjie" starring Liang Guanhua, "Detective Dee" series of films directed by Xu Ke, "Legend of the Demon Cat" directed by Chen Kaige, to "The Imperial Coroner" and "Luoyang" in the past two years. Nowadays, when a new drama "Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty" of the same type is popular, let's follow Peng Xiao Xian and the four elements: city, palace, market, and stagecoach to explore the story of the Tang Dynasty.   01 City At the beginning of the drama "Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty", Chang'an county magistrate Wu Daqi was killed by a demon cat and died strangely. And the main character Su Wu Ming…

Previously we have discussed the Ming Dynasty men's clothing: Zhiduo (直裰), Zhishen (直身), and Taoist robe (道袍). And today we are going to discuss the Daofu. Daofu (道服, Dào fú) has two meanings in Chinese: refers to Taoist clothing, the robes worn outside by Taoists; one of the Chinese traditional costume Hanfu styles: Ming Dynasty costume for males. Obviously, they are different kinds of clothes, today, let's learn about the traditional sense of "Daofu" through the Hanfu Culture Society!   [Structure and History] Daofu, Jiaoling Youren (交领右衽, wrapping the right side before the left), wide sleeves, with dark edging at the collar edge, sleeve edge, and placket, sometimes with a Huling (护领, collar protector) in collar edge. Daofu: Jiaoling Youren (交领右衽, wrapping the right side before the left); wide sleeves; with dark edging at the collar edge, sleeve edge, and placket; sometimes with a Huling (护领, collar protector) in collar edge; the slit is embellished with an inner hem; both inner and outer have the strap; In simple terms, it can be seen as a "Taoist robe" with edges added. In fact, the similarity between Daofu and Shenyi can be seen through its appearance, it is a style inherited from…

As one of the earliest people to wear shoes, ancient Chinese once created a very rich Hanfu shoe culture. Among them, there are many "secrets" on the shoe tip, even more unexpected. Regardless of left and right feet Shoes are divided into left and right feet, which is now known as common sense. But if time can go back to 1000 years ago, the shoes are divided into left and right feet, which is quite another phenomenon. Are left and right shoes hard to wear? No! Most of the materials used to make shoes in ancient times were very soft. For example, straw shoes, flax shoes, even with animal skin can also be handled very softly. What's more, the Hanfu shoes worn by the ancients were relatively loose and large in size, so they would not be worn or worn. Although shoes are not divided into left and right, the ancients still talked about left and right when buying shoes. When trying on shoes, usually try on the left foot first, as long as the left foot can be put on, and no need to try on the right foot. This is because the left foot is generally a little…

Chinese fashion has had an independent, complete, and comprehensive cutting system since ancient times. However, since modern society, it has gradually been replaced by Western cutting techniques. Even traditional and ethnic clothing has to use Western cutting structures in order to survive. This state persisted until the revival of Hanfu. As one of China's traditional clothing, Hanfu not only has considerable influence but also has a different cutting method from Western fashion. However, this did not stop Hanfu from exploring fashion. For the past 20 years, there have been roughly four stages of exploration.   Traditional Shape · Daily Style - The First Exploration of Hanfu Fashionization In the 20 years since the revival of Hanfu, the road to fashionization has been difficult and challenging, but it has never given up moving forward. The audience of Hanfu continues to update, but there are always a group of people who are keen to explore the styles that are more suitable for modern daily life among the historical Hanfu styles. They make subtle adjustments to the size or structure based on the aspects where the wearing experience is not very good through daily wearing practice, making these styles more suitable for daily…

When was the traditional Chinese fan born and what did it first look like? These are no longer available in kind. According to the speculation of Mr. Shen Congwen, the traditional Chinese fan was used at least not later than after the appearance of pottery in the Neolithic period.   Pre Qin Dynasty In ancient times, human beings picked a leaf of a plant or a feather of a bird in the hot summer, and simply processed it to fan the wind and take shade from the sun, which is the prototype of the original fan. In the initial era, the fan was called "箑(shà)" or "萐(shà)", and also "翣(shà)”", and only in the later development was it unified and called "扇(shàn)". The above-mentioned different fan of the ancient name, but also reflects the material of the fan at that time are bulrush, feathers, bamboo, and so on. Bian Mian The oldest fan excavation artifact at present is a short-handled bamboo fan, also known as Bian Mian (便面), unearthed from an ancient tomb of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty in Jing'an County, Jiangxi. As the earliest image of a fan, it appears on a bronze pot unearthed in Chengdu, which belongs…

The Xia Dynasty, believed to be the first dynasty in Chinese history, lasted from around 2070 BCE to 1600 BCE. Despite its importance, little is known about the Xia Dynasty's customs and traditions. One area that has captured the interest of historians and anthropologists is the clothing and makeup worn by the people during this period. In this article, we will take a brief look into the fascinating world of Xia Dynasty costumes and makeup, exploring their styles, materials, and cultural significance.   The Clothing of the Xia Dynasty After successfully controlling the floods, Yu the Great was spontaneously supported by the people and established the Xia Dynasty. The system of succession was changed from abdication to hereditary. There were a total of fourteen generations in the Xia Dynasty, which lasted for about 471 years. This dynasty marked the formation of China's slave society, and the clothing system developed during this period, known as the "Guanfu" system, was one of the earliest forms of dress code in Chinese history. In ancient primitive times, clothing was primarily a result of aesthetic and sexual competition needs, followed by the requirement for warmth. During the periods of the Yellow Emperor, Yao, Shun, and…

The ancient Chinese were designed the clothing and crown system with distinct rank differences, to conform to the social order. Women's clothing is the same as men's, was constrained by system and etiquette. This article, centered around Ming Hua Tang's hanfu, introduce you to the detail of royal hanfu dress for noblewoman (Ming Fu, 命妇) in the late Ming Dynasty.   The Definition of Ming Fu According to Ming Dynasty regulations, officials from the first to fifth ranks are eligible for the "Gao Ming" (诰命). The title "Gao Ming" is mandated by the imperial court. It is the "sacred decree" commonly known as folklore, like the exhortation came from The emperor himself. The "Gao Ming" is all vouchers for the court to grant officials and their relatives. According to the rank of officials, obtaining a "Gao Ming" sometimes requires considerable effort. For example, have made achievements in politics or the military. Women follow the rank of their husband or son. A woman who is granted a "Gao Ming" is called a "Ming Fu" (women with imperial exhortation). According to the rank from high to low, there are titles such as Fu Ren(夫人, the Honorary), Shu Ren(淑人, the Kindness), Gong Ren…

Unlock the aesthetics of the Song Dynasty and its people through this selection of elegant and inspiring paintings. "The Song, Painted" is a digital exhibition launched by CGTN, which comprehensively presents the living scenes of ancient people in Song Dynasty paintings. Several artists, scholars, and curators share their professional insights to analyze the historical and cultural elements hidden within the Song Dynasty paintings. In this article, let's follow the Hanfu Shidai and renowned designer Chu Yan into the world of Song Dynasty paintings to appreciate the beauty of Song Dynasty costumes and makeup in detail. Song Dynasty costumes were renowned for their refined and elegant beauty. -- Chu Yan During the Song Dynasty, there was a significant shift in female body aesthetics. While plumpness was considered beautiful in the Tang Dynasty, thinness became the beauty standard in the Song Dynasty. Simple and elegant clothing styles were widely popular during this time. In "Palace Concert Rehearsal," we can see characters dressed in simple and modest Beizi (long-sleeved garments) with straight collars and side slits. The loose fit and narrow skirt worn with a tight chest wrap fully showcased the slender and graceful physique of Song women. The painting "Enjoying the Moon…

In the vast ocean of fashion, there are always some classic elements that can stand the test of time and become eternal popularity. As a traditional dress for Chinese women, cheongsam has always attracted much attention with its unique charm and appeal. Nowadays, with the change of times and the update of aesthetic concepts, an improved new Chinese-style short cheongsam dress has emerged and become a new favorite in the fashion industry. This short cheongsam dress not only retains the classic elements of the cheongsam, but also incorporates modern fashion designs, which are quite eye-catching. Let's follow Yanran's footsteps to explore the unique charm of this short cheongsam dress! When classic and tradition meet modern elements, there will always be unexpected sparks. This improved new Chinese-style short cheongsam dress is one of the outstanding ones. The designer skillfully combines the classic elements of the cheongsam with modern aesthetics, making this short dress radiate a different kind of vitality and energy. The small standing collar design is elegant and generous, highlighting the noble temperament of women; the combination of the slanting opening and the button makes it not only retain the traditional charm of the cheongsam, but also add a sense…

What is Wanxiu Among traditional Chinese embroideries, there is a very unique type of embroidery: Wanxiu (挽袖), which is the detachable part at the end of the sleeve of a traditional Chinese Qing Dynasty woman's dress. It is about 66cm long and 13cm wide, and is embroidered in pairs; the motifs range from small bridges and flowing water, pavilions, plum, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums, to Four arts (Qin, Qi, Shu, and Hua), talented men and women, etc. With exquisite patterns and workmanship. he Wanxiu is both decorative and functional, with thread sewn into the clothes when in use, and rolled out when worn, which is both beautiful and can adjust the length of the sleeves, and women in the Ming and Qing dynasties interpreted their personal understanding on the sleeve pattern, making it a rich and delicate emotional trust unique to women, reflecting the subtle connotation and profound meaning of women's art. Han style dress deeply influenced the Manchu court Manchu women's clothing style, the royal family in order to show the elegance, in the production of excellence, and the integration of the Manchu culture. To the early Republic of China, the influence of Western dress culture, coupled with the…