History & Culture

The magnificent filigree inlay, representing the pinnacle of precious metal production technology, from the old days dedicated to the court, to nowadays spread to the folk, there has been a lot of people contact, wear filigree inlay products, and for its exquisite and intricate technology by.   What is Filigree Inlay? Filigree inlay (花丝镶嵌), also known as "fine gold craft", is a long-established traditional Chinese handicraft technique, mainly used in the production of ancient Chinese royal jewelry, by the combination of "filigree" and "inlay" two production techniques. Filigree Inlay Art in THE GREAT SHOKUNIN Filigree refers to drawing gold and silver into fine wire, using filling and weaving techniques to make crafts. Inlay refers to the hammering of gold and silver flakes into vessels, and then burin out the pattern, set with pearls or gemstones, and become. As one of the "Eight Unique Skills of Yanjing", the art of filigree mosaic was included in China's national intangible cultural heritage list in June 2008. The objects that can be applied with filigree inlay can be divided into three categories. The first category is jewelry, including bracelets, necklaces, earrings, brooches, pendants, cufflinks, etc. The second category is the display category, mainly indoor…

China is an ancient civilization with a history of more than 5,000 years. There are many kinds of handicrafts, and they are all dazzling. Chinese traditional handicraft, each of them is a treasure of Chinese culture, and these handicrafts are worth inheriting and protecting.   1 Tuanshan Tuanshan (团扇), also known as Gongshan (宫扇) and Wanshan (纨扇), is traditional handwork and art of the Han nationality in China. It is a round fan with a handle, which represents a friendly and auspicious reunion. Fans have long circles, plum blossoms, hexagonal and other shapes; and making with silk, thin silk and so on; the craftsmanship includes Suzhou embroidery, Kesi, gold and silver inlays, and so on; the fan handle has wood, bamboo, bones, and so on. A Tuanshan contains too much learning.   2 Cheongsam The cheongsam (旗袍) is one of the traditional women's clothing that can represent Chinese characteristics. The cheongsam was formed in the 1920s, and some scholars believe that its origin can be traced back to the Shenyi of the pre-Qin and Han dynasties. Although its definition and timing are still controversial, it is still one of the most gorgeous phenomena and forms in China's long-standing clothing culture.…

You might think, 'Is the author crazy? A full article about windows?' Yes and yes. But you know the saying - something about eyes and windows... I don’t know... So keep your eyes on THESE windows and let me make it even worse by inserting a poem. The article will not take more than 5 minutes, less if you only look at the pictures (yes, I see you!). Quiet Night Thought (Chinese: 靜夜思) by Li Bai 床前明月光 疑是地上霜 舉頭望明月 低頭思故鄉 Thoughts in the Silent Night, translation by Fercility Jiang Moonlight shining through the windowMakes me wonder if there is frost on the groundLooking up to see the moonLooking down I miss my home town The connection between windows and nature has been referenced in Chinese poetry throughout the ages. There are many types, styles, and colors of traditional Chinese windows, combining beauty with practicality and tradition with novelty. These windows are always in harmony with nature, as is typical in Chinese architecture, allowing the feeling of wind, rain, and light to pass through (hence the poems!). Buildings and windows, included, have had to consider feng-shui, the forces of "wind and water" in traditional geomancy (earth divination), as well as the…

Decorative patterns are the wisdom creation of mankind into civilized society. In order to perfect oneself and beautify one's life, human beings need not only the satisfaction of material life, but also the communication of spiritual life. Decorative patterns, through the beautification of practical objects of clothing, food, housing and transportation, make aesthetic ideals reflected in the practical life and play a subtle role, thus further promoting the improvement and development of human civilization. -- Chinese Decorative Patterns Through the Ages Today, let's follow the Modern Hanfu and learn about the history and modern application of the classic Tang Dynasty patterns.   History of Traditional Patterns As early as the Neolithic era, patterns appeared, and the ancestors painted their inner desires and aesthetic interests into various patterns, which were entrusted with good luck and good wishes, and incorporated them into their lives. These patterns can be found on pottery and stone carvings, and probably on costumes as well, but unfortunately we do not have many costume artifacts yet. The culture of costume is closely related to the development of society, as early as before the Han Dynasty, dyed fabrics have been printed (with) traditional Chinese patterns, with the opening and…

It's Qingming Festival again. Around the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Qingming became a festival centered on ancestor worship and tomb sweeping, blending the Cold Food Festival tradition with other activities like the Double Third Festival spring picnic and kite flying. Wearing a willow twig as a head accessory was also a custom of ancient people during the Qingming Festival. Apart from folding willows, there is also the tradition of flying kites during Qingming. Ancient people believed that the wind during this time of year was suitable for kite flying. Nowadays, cities like Weifang and Wuhan hold kite festivals every april, where thousands of kite enthusiasts gather to celebrate this grand event that began in the Tang Dynasty. In addition, ancient people would start cockfighting from Qingming and continue Summer Solstice, but why did they choose this time? It was because people discovered that wild chickens mate and hatch eggs during this period, and the roosters would fight each other to find a mate. Domesticated roosters also exhibit fierce behavior during this time, making for an exciting spectacle when two roosters engage in a battle. The "Zuo Zhuan" contains the earliest record of cockfighting in China, and by the Tang Dynasty,…

In modern society, everyone is equal. There is no difference in clothing. What you want to wear is optional. But in ancient times, there was a very strict hierarchy, which clearly stipulated that emperors, nobles, officials, rich people, ordinary people, servants, people of different identities had relevant dress regulations on different occasions. So what are the Chinese peasants wear? As early as the Xia and Shang Dynasties, the hierarchy of clothing has been initially established. In the Zhou Dynasty, a set of the more complete hierarchical system was established, and the form, texture, color, pattern, and ornament of clothing were specified in detail, which became an important part of the etiquette system of the Zhou Dynasty. Peasants, as the largest part of the ancient Chinese common people, mostly wore Duan Da (短打) clothes that could do farm work. Duan Da is a kind of ancient Chinese Hanfu, made of coarse cloth, include with top and lower trousers, the length of the coat is generally above and below the hips and knees. Duan Da is also called "Shu He (短褐, 裋褐)", the word "He (褐)" refers to clothing woven from hemp fabric or animal hair. So, the original meaning of the…

You must be no stranger to this traditional lantern, which often appears as a prop for photography with hanfu. Let's learn more about it.   What is Jiang Sha Deng Jiang Sha Deng (绛纱灯), a type of ancient Chinese lantern with a long history, is a common type of lantern used by both the court and the folk, Jiang means dark red, Sha means gauze, and Deng means the lantern. The most important function of the Jiang Sha Deng is lighting, but certainly, it is more decorative than other lighting appliances, which is the reason why it was loved by the and the court. The ancients liked to use Jiang Sha Deng in processions at festivals and wedding ceremonies, and often took it on trips for the simple reason that they looked beautiful. The traditional Jiang Sha Deng with metal bracket to separate the gauze, do not worry about the candle fire to burn it, while the modern Jiang Sha Deng with electronic lights.   What is Jiang Sha Deng made of? Bamboo wood as the skeleton, copper candle plate, wrapped with red, green and blue gauze outside. The pole is colored with dark red lacquer. The head of the…

The Tang Dynasty was known for its admiration of plumpness and loose clothing style, which emerged after the appearance of Yang Guifei. By examining these reliable historical materials, we can discover that the Kaiyuan and Tianbao periods were the fastest-changing phases in fashion during the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, we will use Yang Yuhuan's life as a reference to explore the history of women's fashion during the flourishing Tang Dynasty, focusing on four stages: her childhood in the early Kaiyuan period, her time in Luoyang during the middle of the Kaiyuan period, her status as a noble concubine in the early Tianbao period, and her tragic end in the late Tianbao period. From the early Tang Dynasty to the Wu Zhou period, the trend of women's fashion can be summarized as follows: from the slender and conservative style at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, to the gradually opening up under the reign of Emperor Dezong, and finally to the magnificent and flourishing Wu Zhou era. This was a time when the aesthetic ideals of Tang Dynasty women were characterized by elegance, confidence, and the willingness to showcase their figures. It was closely related to the influence of Empress Wu Zetian,…

Traditional Chinese pants, as important clothing, have a long history in China. Han people generally wear trousers, not only from the Han Dynasty. On the contrary, the Han nationality is considered to be one of the first nations in the world to wear pants. Traditional Chinese pants can be divided into two types: one is called Kun(裈) and the other is called Ku(袴). traditional Chinese pants in ancient paintings from the Ming Dynasty   Kun(裈) Kun is an ancient underpants with the crotch, according to the present archaeological evidence, Kun can be traced back to the late Neolithic. It can be divided into two types: one is very short and similar to the contemporary triangle underpants, which was called " Dubi Kun (犊鼻裈dú bí kūn)" in ancient times; "Dubi Kun" has a history of more than 5000 years and is still used in some parts of Contemporary Asia. the other is slightly wider and similar to the contemporary beach pants, which have two obvious pants with knee-length. Compared with the "Dubi Kun" to be more formal, so it has been widely used in the past dynasties, especially in hot areas. Usually, in ancient times, few people will directly expose Kun…

In 1904, the construction of the Bianluo Railway began. As a part of the later Longhai Railway, this transportation line passed through Mangshan to the north of Luoyang city, an ideal place for emperors, officials and civilians to choose their burial grounds since at least the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. The construction of modern railways undoubtedly broke the peace of another world, but it also allowed underground treasures to see daylight again. Among many damaged Tang tombs, a type of color-glazed ceramic funerary object that had never been seen before by people drew attention from antiquarians; this is "Tang Sancai". Since then, people have been indulging in the gorgeous and lustrous colors of Tang Sancai as if all the grandeur and majesty of Tang Dynasty were condensed into such an object. It was an era completely different from that during Qing Dynasty; gazing upon and playing with Tang Sancai might help one temporarily withdraw from chaotic times and dream peacefully in a book room filled with sandalwood aroma.   The Legacy of the Tang Dynasty In fact, although they are called Tang Sancai, there is no record of such object names in historical documents. The name "Tang Sancai (唐三彩, Tang Tri-color…

Wuxia (武俠), which is a type of Chinese fantasy with a lot of martial arts. It’s a lot of attractive people flying aroundwith swords using powers, and it’s amazing. What you see wuxia world in dramas, what you think is the ancient Chinese cultural ideal world is actually created within the last say a little bit over half a century in the 1950s. In this post, I am going to attempt to explain the rather complicated concept of Wuxia and Jianghu that even a lot of Chinese native people actually don't quite know about that. So if you're coming from a different cultural background and you don't speak the language it might be even more confusing for you to understand what jianghu. So first we have to understand the word Wuxia, and then the concept of Jianghu. Wuxia World in Chinese Dramas If you have been watching a lot of Chinese dramas, you may realize a large proportion of current Chinese dramas are of the period drama genre and within this genre. A large proportion is the Wuxia genre or versions that branch off from this genre or even if it's really a serious political or Romantic period drama, which…

The Chinese ancient armor protecting the head was called Zhou (胄, helmet) in the pre-Qin period. In oracle bone inscriptions, the helmet is painted as a shield with a vertical tube at the top. And many of the bronzes excavated from the Yinxu tomb in Anyang are fully consistent with this phenomenon. However, there is a lack of a standard for the definition of other ancient helmets without vertical tubes in Western Zhou and Spring and Autumn Warring States. Therefore, the emergence of iron head armor as the dividing line, before that, regardless of whether they had vertical tubes or not, they were called Zhou regardless of whether the material specifically leather or bronze, after that, they were divided into two categories: Dou Mou (兜鍪, helmet) and Kui (盔, helmet). But those with vertical tubes with feathers as decoration were still called Zhou, such as the unified style of the Qing Dynasty.   Ancient helmets from the pre-Qin period Bronze Zhou (胄) of the pre-Qin period is bounded by the Shang and Zhou (周) dynasties. The surface of Zhou in the Shang Dynasty is generally cast with Taotie, round sunflowers, and other patterns, and the unearthed objects in Xingan County,…

Perhaps you often see some Ming styles of Chinese female outfits with complicated names, such as: Duijin Shuling Pipa Xiu Duan Ao (对襟竖领琵琶袖短袄, short jacket with vertical lapels and pipa sleeves), Xiejin Shuling Long Ao (斜襟竖领长袄, long jacket with slanting lapels). But if you break these names down and analyze them, they are actually very easy to understand. In this article, Zhua Xiao Ye will introduce to you the structure and naming rules of the Ming Chinese female outfits for women, and hope it will help you if you are particularly fond of the Ming-style Hanfu. Step 1: Ling (领, collar) Ling is the collar of the clothes. There are more kinds of collars in Hanfu, the most common one is the Jiaoling (交领, cross collar), which is characterized by Jiaoling Youren (交领右衽), that is, the left lapel covers the right lapel (when wearing, but if viewed from the front, that is the right lapel covers the left lapel), showing a "y" shape, which started from the Shang and Zhou period and was used until the Ming Dynasty. In addition to the cross collar, more types of collars were developed in the Ming Dynasty: Yuanling (圆领, round collar), Fangling (方领, square…

Diji and Tiaopai are two magnificent pieces of traditional Chinese hair jewelry, often paired with Ming-style Hanfu. The Ming dynasty was one of the most commercialized periods in ancient Chinese history, particularly in the Jiangnan region. From the point of view of hair jewelry, the most significant change shown in gold and silver jewelry during the Ming dynasty, compared to the Song and Yuan dynasties, was an increase in the number of types and styles, and a more detailed distinction in names. Various types of traditional Chinese hair jewelry, have different names, depending on where they are worn, or on their decoration, style, and even their length. Today we will focus on the Diji and Tiaopai. Diji (䯼髻, dí jì) [History and structure] Diji is a new type of wig bun that appeared in the Ming Dynasty, generally made of gold and silver wire or horsehair, and hair, covered with soap-colored yarn and worn over the top bun. The appearance of the Diji was influenced on the one hand by the wearing of Guan by women from the Northern Song Dynasty onwards, and on the other by the popularity of the 'Baoji (包髻)' hairstyle during the Jin and Yuan Dynasties.…

Su embroidery (苏绣, Suzhou Silk Hand Embroidery Art) is the general name of embroidery products in Suzhou, the traditional folk arts. It is one of the four famous embroideries in China and was listed as one of the national intangible cultural heritages in 2006. Su embroidery (苏绣, Suzhou Silk Hand Embroidery Art) is the general name of embroidery products in Suzhou, the traditional folk arts. It is one of the four famous embroideries in China and was listed as one of the national intangible cultural heritages in 2006. The origin of Suzhou embroidery is in the area of Wu County, Suzhou, and now it has been widely distributed in Wuxi and Changzhou. Embroidery is inseparable from silk reeling, so it is also called silk embroidery. The Qing Dynasty was the heyday of Suzhou embroidery, with many different styles and famous embroiderers emerging. Su embroidery has a unique style with beautiful patterns, exquisite ideas, meticulous embroidery, lively stitching and elegant colors, and strong local characteristics. The most famous Su embroidery is from Zhenhu town, and about 80% of the Su embroidery products come from Zhenhu.   History of Su Embroidery Su embroidery is an art of intertwining and blending between cloth…

Chinese opera (戏曲, xìqǔ) can be tracked to as far back as the Northern Qi Dynasty, and since then has grown into the instantly-recognizable spectacle of music, costumes, and drama it is today. Its characters are especially memorable as they sing, act, and fight across the stage. There are four main types of roles in opera: Dan, Sheng, Jing, and Chou. Dan Dan (旦) is a broad term that refers to all female roles in Chinese opera. Subtypes within the Dan role include Guimen Dan, young women whose parts focused on vocal performance, Zheng Dan (also known as Qingyi Dan), older higher-class women, and Wudan, who specialize in acrobatics and do not often sing. Up until the late Qing Dynasty, all roles, including the Dan, were played by men. Mei Lanfang, considered one of the “four great Dan,” was one such male Dan performer who pioneered an entire new subtype of Dan and was considered by some to be the greatest vocal artist in modern China. Mei also played a key role in popularizing Chinese opera outside of China over the course of a 50-year career. Male Dan roles were made obsolete during the Cultural Revolution, but the legacies of those…

Since the Chinoiserie style became very popular, Dunhuang culture has naturally become one of the focuses. Many Chinese actresses and hanfu models have tried the Dunhuang flying apsaras. Dunhuang flying apsaras, as the top popular exotic culture, how is it possible to combine grandeur and ebullience in such an ingenious way? It all starts with the Dunhuang murals.   The Origin of Dunhuang Frescoes During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the divisive political situation made people’s lives turbulent. The concept of Buddhism’s compassion and salvation provided comfort to suffering people and developed rapidly. There was a monk on way to the west, passing through Dunhuang and encountered a golden light spectacle, identified as a holy place. He hired the craftsman to dig caves here and carve Buddha statues. Over time, not only the princes and nobles, and even the common people have come to Dunhuang to excavate Buddhist caves, then the scale of the grottoes gradually expanded. Gradually, Dunhuang, located at the west end of the Hexi Corridor, has become a true fertile land for the spread of Buddhism, forged a rich treasure house of art and culture. Grand, magnificent, and surpassingly beautiful, Dunhuang has an unparalleled aesthetic background, known…

As a symbol of good fortune, Ruyi (如意, scepter) is a traditional handicraft unique to China that emerged during the Warring States period and has evolved in form and cultural connotation through the Han, Wei, and Jin dynasties, Tang, Song, and even Ming and Qing dynasties. Interestingly, the initial function of the Ruyi is the same as the backscratcher we use today. Only later did it evolve from a practical tool to a beautiful display at a later stage. Origin of Ruyi According to the National Palace Museum, Ruyi originated from the "Sao Zhang (搔杖)" (now called backscratcher) used by the ancients to scratch an itch. The earliest Ruyi, the end of the handle in the shape of a finger, to reach that the hand can not reach, so that can follow heart to relieve the itch, so-called Ruyi. Later, the "Sao Zhang" was combined with "Hu (笏, referring to the hand board used by courtiers to record their business at court)", and the shape gradually evolved into a curved head, and the end of the handle changed from straight to small Lingzhi-shaped, cloud-shaped and other shapes. The head and tail echo each other, the main body is streamlined, the…

In history, there have been many beautiful clothing styles in every period, such as the Chinese cheongsam, which has formed a unique clothing culture, and the Pan Kou, which was born in response, has gradually developed from an ancient sash to a cheongsam accessory that is both practical and decorative, thus forming a unique handcrafted skill.   01 Origin of Pan Kou The button of the cheongsam is called Pan Kou (盘扣, Chinese frog closures) or Pan Niu (盘钮), which is a kind of button used in traditional Chinese clothing, used to fasten the lapel or decoration, it is developed from the ancient Chinese knot. The Bei Zi (褙子) unearthed in the Southern Song tomb in De'an, Jiangxi, was tied with Pan Kou. This shows that as early as the Song Dynasty in China, people used Pan Kou to fasten loose clothes. The role of Pan Kou in the evolution of Chinese clothing has changed, it not only has the function of connecting the lapels, but is also known as the finishing touch to decorate clothing. It vividly expresses the decorative interest of Chinese costumes that emphasize meaning, connotation, and theme.   02 The production and types of cheongsam button…

The "Jiaoling Youren (交领右衽, cross-collar-and-right-wrapped, the left lapel covers the right lapel when wearing)" based on flat cutting is a typical collar that has been passed down in the Chinese civilization for thousands of years. It fully embodies the diverse and integrated pattern since ancient times, carries Chinese common cultural connotation as a nation, and is a symbol of the spiritual essence extracted from the long history of Chinese civilization. Chinese traditional costumes are profound and have a long history, Jiaoling Youren is like main threads linking thousands of years' of flowery clouds together to inherit continuously with boundless beauty. The character "衣 (clothing)" already existed in oracle bone script which reveals its structural feature: two lapels overlap each other forming into textual symbols.   01 What is Jiaoling Youren One of the most prominent features of Hanfu is the collar design that crosses left over right to form a "Y" shape known as the Jiaoling Youren style. This collar design has more than 5,000 years of history since Zhou Dynasty. Even though Hanfu keeps innovating with different styles such as straight collars, tank tops, and stand-up collars, the cross-collared Hanfu still maintains its mainstream position among these styles.  …

We have previously detailed a few ancient Chinese robes from the Ming Dynasty (Zhiduo/Taoist/Zhishen), most of which are suitable for scholars, but today we will introduce you to 2 more martial styles ancient Chinese robes for men: Tieli & Yisan. You may often find these two classic Chinese costumes at Hanfu festivals or events, they are very eye-catching and handsome. Tieli (贴里) [History and characteristics of Tieli] Tieli is usually worn under a round-necked robe and Dahu (褡护, a type of clothing that belongs to the Banbi), which makes the wide hem of the robe slightly outward and dignified. Tieli is the Mongolian word for the robe and is an import from the Yuan Dynasty. After being inherited by the Ming Dynasty, the garment was lengthened, and the overall structure closer to Shenyi system of the Hanfu, and integrated the Han "orthodox" rituals, and later became the most common ancient Chinese robes, and is a common style of the Ming Dynasty officials (up to the Feiyu suit, down to military uniforms). narrow sleeve Tieli, in the collection of the Shandong Museum of Art Features of the Tieli include: Jiaolingyouren (交领右衽), the front and back of the garment are cut separates…

The ancient armor is to some extent equivalent to the present military uniforms, which is the image of an army and therefore must be decorated. The decoration actually works in two ways, on the one hand, it is to show the good image of the mighty and on the other hand, it is to protect the armor from erosion. Leather armor is easy to rot and iron armor is easy to rust, both need to be protected by some decorative methods. The main methods of Chinese armor decoration are as follows.   Paint, coloring Before Han and Wei either the leather armor or the iron armor, the armor pieces are painted, and repeatedly painted with multi-layer paint. Most of the Warring States' leather armors was black, according to the painted traces of terracotta warriors and horses, and the armor of the Qin Dynasty was mostly black. Many written records of the Han Dynasty armor are called Xuanjia (玄甲, black armor), and the armors of painted warrior figurines are also painted black. The color of black is a bit monotonous, so there is the idea of applying gold and silver pieces on the armor for decoration and painting at the same…

Chinese silk dress has a history of thousands of years in China. Wearing a silk dress has become a symbol of wealth and status. Silk is a special product of China. The ancient Chinese working people invented and produced silk products on a large scale, which opened the first large-scale trade exchange between the East and the West in world history, known as the silk road. History of Silk In ancient times, silk was a kind of textile woven by silk. Due to the expansion of textile materials in modern times, all textiles woven with man-made or natural filament fibers can be called generalized silk. The silk made of pure silk is also called "real silk". Since the Western Han Dynasty, China's silk has been shipped abroad in large quantities, becoming a world-famous product. At that time, the road from China to the West was called the "Silk Road" by Europe, and China was also called the "Silk Country". In ancient times, China began to raise silkworms for silk. In 1925, an antique was unearthed in Shanxi Province. According to the research of archaeologists, is the cocoon shell, it is about 1.36cm long and 1.04cm wide, which provides the earliest…

China has a splendid costume history, but the splendor of the ancients has gone with the years, and we can only recall it through historical records and archaeological discoveries. Fortunately, there is someone who can use his exquisite painting skills to rigorously and meticulously restore the ancient Chinese clothing and trace the history of the delicate and gorgeous. Today, we are going to share with you the ancient Chinese clothing timeline and experience the charm of Chinese clothing together.   Shang Dynasty (c. 16th-11th century BC) Features: The main feature of the Shang dynasty dress is "upper garment, lower Chang (裳), Youren (右衽), hair bunch". The upper half of the body wears clothes, the lower half of the body wears Chang, Chang is the skirt. Noble men's dress (left): The head wears the tall Ge(葛) cloth crown. The Yue-shaped cloth hanging from the front abdomen was a sign of noble status, and was often referred to in later literature as the "Bixi (蔽膝)". The pattern on it is based on the Leiwen depicted on the Shang dynasty Yuge in the collection of the Palace Museum. The boots worn by the feet are painted on the basis of pottery boots excavated from…