History & Culture

Unlike modern clothing, which is updated so frequently, the development of antique Chinese clothing was not only accompanied by the change of dynasties, but also combined with the level of fabrics of the time. However, there is no doubt that different periods in ancient China had distinctive fashion items.   01 Shenyi in Han Dynasty In 1972, when the three-month archaeological excavation ended, the archaeologists of Tomb No. 1 of the Mawangdui Han Tomb in Changsha were still excited. During the subsequent work, they discovered a dozen pieces of well-preserved Western Han costumes, thus opening a window for later generations to peek into the aesthetics of the dress worn by ancient Chinese 2000 years ago. The relics of the tomb that the archaeologists cleaned were from the tomb of Xin Zhui, the wife of Li Cang, the prime minister of Changsha in the early Western Han Dynasty. Based on archaeological and textual records, we know that there were two main types of clothing for the ancient Chinese during the Qin and Han dynasties. Type Yichang (衣裳), in which the clothing of the upper body and the lower body were not connected; Type Shenyi (深衣) in which the upper garment and…

Vocabulary Moon-shaped fan; 团扇 (tuánshàn). Also called 宫扇(gōng shàn), 纨扇 (wánshàn), 合欢扇 (héhuān shàn), a fan that is made from silks, embroideries, golds, beads, etc. later on into the period.  Barrier fan; 障扇 (zhàng shàn) - one of the earliest version of fan from ancestors. Made with pheasant’s feathers and has a long handle. Also known as 长扇 (Chǎng shàn)、掌扇 (zhǎng shàn)、五明扇 (wǔ míng shàn). It is under the category of moon-shaped fan (团扇). Imperial carriage; 辇 (niǎn). Also known as chariot. This is the earlier versions of traveling vehicles primarily used by prestigious people for ceremonial processes, imperial tours, and any other formal occasions. The usage of this is closely related to imperial court instead of public, such as for emperor, queen’s mother, empress, and imperial concubines. These types of carriage are still man-drawn, and are made of simple designs with either a cushion or a chair for the individual seating on it.   History of Tuanshan The moon-shaped fan, also known as 团扇 (tuánshàn), is a traditional handicraft tool of the Han people from ancient China. It consists of four main components: the fan's frame, handles (usually short in length), the fan's surface (made of semi-transparent or opaque…

History of Lotus Pattern The origin of the lotus pattern in China can be traced back to ancient times. During the Western Zhou period, bronze lamps were decorated with lotus patterns as ornaments. In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, lotus patterns remained an important decorative pattern for bronze vessels, with the Lotus and Crane Square Vessel being a representative example showcasing the skilled craftsmanship of the time. The vessel featured double-layered lotus petals as decoration on its lid, with intricately carved empty spaces between the layers, displaying exquisite artistry that seemed almost supernaturally created. In both ancient India and China, the symbolic meaning of the lotus was very similar, making it the ideal bridge for the spread of Buddhism. During the Wei, Jin, Southern, and Northern Dynasties, Buddhism was widely spread throughout the Central Plains of China, with lotus patterns becoming an important decorative design due to their high aesthetic and expressive value. This had a significant impact on the development of indigenous lotus patterns in China. During the Qin and Han dynasties, lotus patterns in China mostly took on a round flower shape, in keeping with traditional design concepts. However, as Buddhism continued to…

Sleeves in Hanfu The sleeves in Hanfu, also known as "Mei (袂)", its shape is quite unique in the history of the national costume of the whole world. Sleeves are usually called "narrow sleeves" and "large sleeves", also known as small sleeves and wide sleeves. The popular sleeves of different dynasties are different, but most of them are developed at the same time, only the shape is slightly different. So what's the difference between the sleeves in Hanfu? Straight sleeve (直袖) The straight sleeves of Hanfu can be simply divided into the narrow straight types and wide straight types. The former usually opens at about half of the upper body and extends horizontally outwards; the latter is wider and extends outwards from the waist opening. The square straight sleeve is open beside the belt, extending horizontally outwards, in a thin rectangle. Pipa sleeve (琵琶袖) Pipa sleeve is a kind of sleeve type of Hanfu, which is often seen in the Ming Dynasty. Pipa sleeve is used for Shenyi and other clothing. It is named Pipa sleeve for its large sleeve and smallmouth, narrow armpit and Pipa like shape. The sagging part of the sleeve is round and wide. The cuffs…

If you often watch Chinese historical dramas, certainly have an impression of the ancient Chinese official hats, especially the Wu Sha Mao, people are still accustomed to the "Wu Sha Mao" as a symbol of the official, "lost the Wu Sha Mao" means be dismissed from office. Today to introduce the history and characteristics of the Wu Sha Mao and other periods in the history of the Chinese official hats. Wu Sha Mao (乌纱帽, black gauze cap) is an ancient official hat, the original is a common civilian cap, the official wear Wu Sha Mao originated in the East Jin Dynasty, but as a component of the official uniform, began in the Sui dynasty, flourished in the Tang dynasty, to the Song dynasty, plus the "double wing", after the Ming dynasty, Wu Sha Mao only formally become a synonym for officials.   The origin and shape of the Wu Sha Mao Wu Sha Mao is evolved from the Futou (幞头) in Sui and Tang Dynasty, and it is also directly called "Zhe Shang Jin (折上巾)" in the official literature of Song Dynasty. The Futou was originally a black square fabric with four corners, and after covering the top of the…

In the magnificent long river of traditional Chinese culture, the cheongsam is like a wonderful flower, exuding eternal charm. Entering the Chinese Cheongsam Museum is like starting a journey through time and space, allowing people to appreciate the unique charm and profound cultural heritage of this classic dress. Here, not only the evolution process of the cheongsam is displayed, but also through one exquisite exhibit after another, we can get a glimpse of the social features and aesthetic changes in the Republic of China era. The Precipitation of History and the Inheritance of Beauty In the depths of the cheongsam museum, there are precious photos of famous ladies and stars in the Republic of China era wearing cheongsams. Their elegant postures and the magnificence of the cheongsams complement each other, forming a series of moving pictures that make visitors can't help but be intoxicated. The bright red satin round flower auspicious dress robe in the Qing Dynasty, with its luxury and solemnity, makes people respectful. As a formal dress for grand occasions under the conditions of the Qing Dynasty ritual system, women could not expose curves like in modern times, and the ingenious concealment of the female curves in its…

Wuxia clothing is a fantasy martial arts garment, and also called as xianxia clothing in immortal wuxia novels. In most cases, Wuxia clothes are made specifically for filming movies and costume TV series, so there are many kinds. Martial arts clothing is based on the traditional Chinese Hanfu Version (loose fit design and is worn left over right), but it is not a simple copy. Because there are few strict textual research on historical clothes, and designers can freely design them, most of the martial arts clothes we see in the film do not exist in history. Strictly speaking, it is a kind of modern clothing. Many excellent wuxia films and ancient Chinese dramas have good appearance, kungfu movements, and dancing beauty design. They keep innovating in following the ancient culture, the background of the times, the character's personality, etc. Both fabric selection and color matching are carefully designed to ultimate beauty and strive for perfection. It can be said that wuxia clothing is exquisite modern art. So let's explore the fantastic martial arts world through these beautiful wuxia clothes. 1. Xianxia Clothing Taoist xianxia novel is a new kind of novel style in recent years. It grew out of…

Today, Hanfu Culture Society will introduce Zhaojia (罩甲) to you, a very handsome traditional Chinese outfit for males. [Structure and History] Zhaojia, square or round collar, lapels, metal or cloth buttons, sleeveless or short sleeves, slits on both sides. This structure is very convenient for horseback riding and movement, and it is mostly used as an outer garment on top of the Tieli (贴里) and Yisan (曳撒). Zhaojia first originated in the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, and it can be found through ancient painting materials that Zhaojia was generally used as a military uniform in ancient times, and was very common during the emperor's hunting trips and in ceremonial processions. Most of the Zhaojia used by the royal family were decorated with patterns such as woven gold dragons in Yunjian (云肩) and Xilan (膝襕), the famous Asian Art Museum of San Francisco has a piece of Zhaojia (from the twenty-third year of the Wanli) in its collection, which is decorated with a dragon motif and a prominent gold "卍" pattern. The bottom of this Zhaojia is decorated with dragon, colorful clouds, and mountain and sea patterns, which is very gorgeous. In addition, Zhaojia still popular in the folk,…

Introduction The Flower Festival (花朝节, huācháo jié), simplified as 花朝 (huācháo), is also known as the "Flower Goddess Festival (花神节, huāshén jié)," "Hundred Flowers’ Birthday (百花生日, bǎihuā shēngrì)," and "Flower Goddess’ Birthday (花神生日, huāshén shēngrì)." It is a festival where people can admire the blossoming flowers and show their respect for nature and the goddess of nature. The emergence of this flower festival has led to some confusions. Some claim it began during the Spring and Autumn Period, others during the Pre-Qin era, and some argue it emerged during the Tang Dynasty. The exact historical origins of this festival are not well-documented from the artifacts unearthed. Even with some historical records, it is still a challenge to pinpoint the exact dynasty for this festival. Perhaps they were called by a different name or a different festival slowly evolved into the flower festival known in the Tang Dynasty. What we can be certain of is that by the Tang Dynasty, the festival existed; whether it started before or during that period is still a matter of speculation. The earliest evidence of its existence dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period in the work of "táozhū gōngshū (陶朱公书)." Ancient Chinese society…

In the vast river of history, each dynasty has left its unique cultural imprint and artistic lifestyle. Among the many dynasties, the Song Dynasty, with its distinctive cultural charm and refined way of life, has become an indispensable chapter in Chinese history. Its delicacy, tolerance, and openness endowed this era with unparalleled artistic and cultural allure. Recently, Henan TV launched "Chinese Banquets." This cultural documentary takes us back to the Song Dynasty, a time filled with cultural atmosphere and artistic lifestyle, where the banquet rituals reconnect us with the ancient tranquility and elegance amidst the modern hustle and bustle.   Background of "Chinese Banquets" From ancient times to the present, whether it is the noble emperors and nobles or the common people, on special holidays or significant occasions, banquets are hosted to entertain honored guests or close relatives and friends as a sign of respect. The Chinese banquet has become an etiquette of hospitality. "Chinese Banquets" extends the concept of Chinese festivals and, as a member of the cultural family, it reconstructs and reenacts Chinese dining rituals, exploring the Eastern sense of ritual, Eastern aesthetics, and Eastern wisdom associated with food. Features of "Chinese Banquets" While recreating the scenes of…

Traditional Chinese nail guards (Zhi Jia Tao, 指甲套), also known as "Hu Zhi (护指, finger protection)". The ancient palace noblewomen used gold and silver to make nail guards to protect their nails and show their status, were extremely fine and gorgeous, with a wide variety. If you have watched the wonderful historical TV drama Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace, you may have noticed that the concubines in the drama have long nails on their slender hands and wear nail guards on their end fingers, showing their nobility and elegance. Such luxurious Chinese nail guards, in addition to showing the identity status characteristics, what is its role, today let's explore it!   History of keeping long fingernails Everyone has a love of beauty. Since ancient times, it has been every woman's wish to have a pair of delicate hands, and the ancient Chinese had three main aesthetic standards for women's fingers: pointed, long, and white. The direct purpose of keeping long nails for women in ancient times was to make the nails extend the fingers, making the hand shape look sharp and long. And in ancient times, both men and women pursued long nails for beauty, many noble families and literati,…

The illustrations in this series of articles are from the work of Chinese illustrator Xiao Ling Chun (小鈴春) Xiao Ling Chun combines the features of Chinese historical relics and shows the characteristics of women's hanfu clothing in different periods of ancient China through illustrations.   Han Dynasty The Han Dynasty was a great unification dynasty after the Qin Dynasty, divided into the Western Han and Eastern Han periods, with a total of 29 emperors and reigning for 405 years. The Han Dynasty was the first golden period in the history of China's development, and the Han Chinese were named during this period. Although the names of the dynasties have changed since the Han Dynasty, the status of the Han as the main ethnic group in China has remained unchanged. Western Han (202 BC – 8 AD) Xin dynasty (9–23 AD) Eastern Han (25–220 AD)   Wei, Jin, the Southern and Northern Dynasties Wei, Jin, the Southern and Northern Dynasties were the most frequent period of regime change in Chinese history, mainly divided into the Three Kingdoms (Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu), Western Jin, Eastern Jin, Sixteen Kingdoms, Northern and Southern dynasties. The development of Chinese culture during this…

In the New Year when everything is reviving. There is nothing better than a wedding banquet to bring people joy. It is undoubtedly the dream of many Hanfu lovers to hold a Hanfu wedding. In a traditional Hanfu wedding, the vintage costumes and rituals, the dreamlike wedding scenes, the unchanging love, and vows, are revisited again and again in the traditional ceremony, becoming more profound and ritualistic. The blogger "Jingzhishisui (静知时岁)" spent two years preparing a Ming-style wedding for herself, from etiquette, clothing, to the process, are very attentive, rich in detail and full of ritual are breathtaking, let's take a look. 01 Costumes for Chinese Hanfu Wedding Thousands of years ago, the old ancestors gave us the main color of the Chinese wedding scene - red. In order to better prepare for this Chinese Hanfu wedding, the first thing that "Jingzhishisui" did was to choose and match the wedding costumes, the main wedding costume was a Mangpao (蟒袍) and a Dashan Xiapei (大衫霞帔) , while the groom's main wedding costume was a Douniu round neck robe (斗牛圆领袍). The headdress is also very elaborate, the bride's headdress is "Sanlongliangfengguan (three dragons and two phoenix crown)", using traditional techniques, the style…

At the recent red carpet of the movie event, Na Ran became the focus of everyone's attention with her astonishing beauty and unique style. She was dressed in a black cheongsam and held a folding fan, transforming into a classic beauty, showing a kind of transcendent and refined classical charm, which made the whole place amazed. Na Ran's black cheongsam is undoubtedly the highlight of her entire look. This cheongsam perfectly outlines her figure curve, showing her elegance and sexiness. The black fabric exudes a mysterious atmosphere and complements Na Ran's temperament. The delicate embroidery and detailed processing on the cheongsam add a touch of nobility and magnificence, making people can't help but admire it. And the folding fan in Na Ran's hand adds a touch of agility and playfulness to her look. The folding fan has always been a symbol of women's elegance and wisdom in traditional Chinese culture, and Na Ran skillfully used this element to create a beautiful woman full of classical charm. She gently shakes the folding fan, sometimes showing a charming smile, and sometimes showing a sharp look, as if telling an ancient and touching story. Na Ran's skin is as smooth as jade, which…

According to legend, in the Tang Dynasty, during spring, Emperor Li Xian would order his servants to take out "colored flowers" from the inner palace and give them to the concubines of the harem to welcome the new spring, and these "colored flowers" referred to the Rong Hua (绒花, velvet flower). Today, Rong Hua is often worn with traditional hanfu and has become one of the most popular accessories in Chinese traditional costumes. The flower hairpin was always one of the most popular decorative styles of the ancients. In the painting "Court Ladies Adorning Their Hair With Flowers" by the famous Tang Dynasty painter Zhou Fang, the woman is wearing a high bun and wearing a flower as a hairpin, which is as elegant and beautiful as a fairy in a fantasy world. But flowers are limited by the season and easily withered, and the petals often wither. So the ancient noble ladies wished to have flowers that would last forever as accessories, and that's when the handmade Rong Hua came into being. The Chinese word for velvet flower is similar to the pronunciation of "Rong Hua (荣华, prosperity)" and has been given a meaning of good luck and blessing. The…

A brief history of waist fan (yaoshan) and steps to DIY one for anyone interested. Vocab Tuan Shan: moon-shaped fan, 团扇, tuánshàn; Zhe Shan: folding fan, 折扇, zhéshàn; Yao Shan: waist fan, 腰扇, yāo shàn; Ping Feng: screen, 屏风, píngfēng.   Introduction When it comes to hanfu, one accessory that it is paired with is a fan. Well-known types of fans are moon-shaped fan and folding fan. But there is another type of fan known as Yao Shan, which translates as "waist fan." The reason why it is called a waist fan is that it can easily be secured at the waist when not used. When the fan is needed, you can just slip it out of the belt and open it up by twisting. It's unlike others where you will either have to constantly hold or unable to close it to take up less space. Waist fans contain characteristics from both moon-shaped fans and folding fans. It took the common round surface of a moon-shaped fan and the ability to close and open when needed from a folding fan. But the round shape is just a common shape everyone goes by. Moon-shaped fans have expanded from simply using a circle…

Can foreigners wear Hanfu? Which dynasty's Hanfu style is more suitable for non-Chinese people, Tang, Song, or Ming? Wearing Chinese hanfu costumes, tasting traditional Chinese food, and learning traditional handicrafts, three young ladies from different countries immersive experienced Chinese culture, in the recently released Chinese traditional culture creative short film "They Are All From China" by the Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, China.   Traditional Chinese Hanfu Costume Hanfu is the traditional national costume of the Han people and has a history of over 3,700 years, with different costumes and makeup for different dynasties. In this video, Ms. Ting Yue, the Chinese costume enthusiast and promoter, leads three foreign friends in a special Chinese cultural experience. They put on different dynasties Hanfu to achieve a "gorgeous transformation".   Tang Dynasty Hanfu The Tang Dynasty saw an unprecedented flourishing atmosphere of feudal society, with advanced society, cultural prosperity, advanced silk weaving techniques, and a nationwide tea drinking culture, making it a dynasty in which China exported a great deal of culture, art and technology to surrounding countries. At this time, clothing styles, colors, patterns, and so on, all presented a new situation, the gorgeous crowns and clothing are unparalleled.…

Samfu means shirt and trousers, also called samku in mandarin, is based on traditional female costumes worn in ancient China. Some of the most popular samfu styles are from the Song, Ming, and Qing eras. Those who have studied China traditional clothing say it is a turning point in history and reflects the change of ancient Chinese women's life and social status, before the appearance of samfu, women rarely wore pants outside. Traditional Samfu Suit Now we know that it's a traditional light suit consisting of a shirt (or a jacket) with a high collar and loose trousers/pants, worn by ancient Chinese women. It's the first time that Chinese people has been able to create samfu suit in Song dynasty. The traditional samfu's top, inheriting the style of Tang dynasty clothing, dignified and retro style, beautiful and pure, which makes ladies feel extremely comfortable and natural. Put on this exquisite shirt, decorate the charming woman, show an unspeakable beauty of graceful. Traditional samfu's pants consist of colorfully embroidered patterns and peplum; not long afterwards, loose-fitting, solid color simple style pants became popular nationwide - is very similar to the current wide-leg pants Samfu vs Hanfu Hanfu, also known as Hanzhuang,…

Many of the first time Hanfu wearers may be confused about the layers of Hanfu wear, because we usually focus more on the outermost layer of clothing, so how do you choose the inside of the Hanfu skirt? Is it a Zhongku (中裤)? In this article, Han Time will introduce several styles that are suitable for matching inside Hanfu skirts to dispel your worries. Chen Qun (衬裙) The Chen Qun can be understood as the bottom version of the hanfu skirt, and the shape is the same as the outer skirt, but it can also be inconsistent. The Chen Qun that we see nowadays are mainly Ma Mian Qun style, pleated skirt style, and Po Qun style (破裙款). Chen Qun is worn for three purposes. The first role: is to increase the skirt's sense of fluff, play the role of skirt support. Another role: can be used as decoration, generally, now the Hanfu Chen Qun also has a decorative lace edge pattern, can reveal some of the lightness of the skirt under the outer skirt. The last role: the most important avoid being seen inside your skirt, in general, light-colored thinner fabric if there is no lining (i.e., single layer)…

Tang Dynasty clothing mainly refers to the Tang Dynasty Hanfu clothes. Tang Dynasty is a period of great prosperity of China's feudal society. Both people's thoughts and material production have reached the ancient historical peak. Since the Tang Dynasty, a large number of flower patterns have been widely used in craft decoration. Its composition is lively and free, dense and symmetrical, plump, and mellow. Especially after the combination of wavy continuous patterns and floral plants, it was the popular pattern in that period. Tang Dynasty beauty pictures The style of the Tang Dynasty clothing has taken real flowers, grass, fish, and insects for sketching, instead of the previous creative idea of the "Mandate of Heaven." Still, the traditional mythical animals, like dragon and phoenix pattern, has not been excluded. At this time, the design of costume patterns tends to express the free, open mind and casual artistic style. The Feature of Tang Dynasty Clothing In the Tang Dynasty, foreign trade was developed, and the country was peaceful for a long time. Especially when the Tang Dynasty became the center of economic and cultural exchanges among Asian nations, it was the most glorious page in the history of Asian history. This…

We often see many different Chinese robe styles of Hanfu, but you may not be able to say exactly what the difference is between them. There are many similarities in different styles of Hanfu, but with the development of history, it is gradually optimized, convenient to wear, and also derived from different shapes. This article will introduce the form system of the Hanfu and Chinese robe system.   The form system of Hanfu There are many styles of Hanfu, but they can be divided into the following shapes， Yichang system (衣裳制), is the kind with the separation of the upper and the lower garments. Shenyi system (深衣制), is the one-piece kind that unites the upper and the lower garments together, make separately, and sew together. Paofu system (Chinese robe, 袍服制), cut out the upper and the lower garments with a piece of cloth, no seam in the middle, natural integration.   The uniform system of Chinese robe (袍服) Chinese robes appeared in the pre-Qin period, at that time, were just underwear with cotton, so people have to wear it with their coats. In the Zhou Dynasty, emperors used robes for daily wear. In the Qin and Han Dynasties, the status of robe…

Zimu Kou (子母扣, metal clasp button) is the most common accessory for making Ming-style Hanfu, and if you make a Ming Hanfu yourself, they are a must-buy material. Usually, you need about 7-10 buttons to make a Duijin Duan Shan (对襟短衫) with a stand-up collar. A good-looking Zimu Kou can become the highlight of the clothes, adding texture and a sense of sophistication, and good clothes should find a matching button to complement each other.   About Zimu Kou's selection Metal Zimu Kou is more suitable for autumn and winter Shan and Ao and other outer clothing, but sometimes too thin fabric to support too heavy Zimu Kou. Pifeng's Zimu Kou larger (only one, so need a larger one, can do embellishment, or highlight). Zimu Kou applied to the collar should choose easy to buckle on, the size of the buttons than the size of the garment is a little smaller. Gorgeous button style, more suitable for clothes with woven gold, dark pattern and so on.   About the care of Zimu Kou General copper and silver-plated material button are easier to oxidation, over time will become black. Usually to keep clean, dirty to wipe as soon as possible. If…

China has many historical ancient cities that are suitable for tourism: Beijing, Nanjing, Suzhou, and Hangzhou. However, the popular attractions in these popular tourist cities were already depicted by ancient artists. Let's take a journey into these ancient paintings together.   Beijing Tiananmen was first built in the 15th year of the Ming Dynasty's Yongle reign. At that time, it was called "Chengtian Men," which symbolized "receiving the mandate of heaven and initiating an auspicious era." The name "Tiananmen" was given by Emperor Shizu of the Qing Dynasty when he ordered its reconstruction, meaning "receiving the mandate of heaven and ensuring peace and prosperity." As the main gate of the Beijing Imperial Palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties, Tiananmen, along with the Huabiao and stone lions beside the Jinshui bridge, has witnessed over six hundred years of historical changes. Centuries ago, there were already crowds of foreign envoys coming to pay tribute. After visiting Tiananmen Gate, the next stop must be the Yuanmingyuan Park. The Yuanmingyuan park was built during the Kangxi era and is a royal garden that represents the rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty. In the park, there are not only replicas of famous gardens…

The caves with undulating heights and depths are truly spectacular; the exquisitely crafted statues are vivid and lifelike; the colorful and dazzling murals. For a thousand years, time has silently passed over this desert, proclaiming to the world the former prosperity and bustle of this place. Among them, murals are the most widespread and deeply ingrained art in Dunhuang. Dunhuang, known as the "Great Gallery in the Desert," has 735 caves, more than 2,400 colored sculptures, and over 45,000 square meters of murals. These precious works of human civilization include portraits of Buddha, stories of Buddha's life, myths and legends, Buddhist historical events, and Buddhist scriptures. Despite enduring wind and frost, these brightly colored murals still radiate their brilliance. To appreciate the beauty of Dunhuang, one must learn to understand the rich world within the murals. The following introductory guide to Dunhuang murals from "Art Culture China" will present the most beautiful side of Dunhuang to you.   In the Dunhuang murals, there is a group of people who believe in Buddhism and funded the excavation of the caves. They not only funded the painting of Buddhist themes but also depicted their own popular ideas and life portraits in the…