The ancient Chinese revered the saying "Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles" as the supreme path to pursuing knowledge. While traveling ten thousand miles requires venturing out into the vast lands, where should one go to read ten thousand books? Some may argue that in the past, there were examples like Kuang Heng of the Han Dynasty who read by the light coming through a hole in the wall, or Che Yin of the Jin Dynasty who read by the light of fireflies in a sack. As long as there is a desire to read, does it really matter where one reads? Is a specific location truly necessary? Ancient literati believed that they were a group with aspirations, where each day included moments of quiet contemplation, accompanied by tea, poetry recitation, writing poems, and ultimately, writing in the Shu Zhai (书斋, study room). The study room was a specific space for literati to read and write, akin to a modern-day studio. However, the study was not merely a functional physical space; it encompassed rich spiritual and cultural symbolism, existing as a unique entity in the minds of literati. From site selection, design, construction, and decoration, to naming, couplet…

The bronze mirror had a special meaning and use for the ancients. After the death of Wei Zheng, Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty, said, "Using copper as a mirror, one can arrange one's clothes; using history as a mirror, one can know the ups and downs of history; using others as one's own mirror, one can know one's gains and losses every day." It can be seen that the mirror is not only a cosmetic appliance, but also rose to the humanistic meaning of mirror for people. Before the widespread use of mercury glass mirror, the ancients by adjusting the ratio of copper, tin and lead, so that the bronze mirror is a necessary tool to reflect the face of ancient Chinese people when dressing. Han Dynasty Female Terracotta In order to prevent the bronze mirror surface from becoming blurred by air oxidation, on the one hand, mirror boxes were needed for storage and preservation, and on the other hand, the mirror needed to be wiped and polished from time to time. So the mirror table, mirror frame, mirror trousseau, mirror box and other devices came into being, mirror polisher craft also passed down for thousands of years.…

The pavilion (Ting, 亭) is a type of traditional Chinese architecture, originating from the Zhou Dynasty. Often built along roadsides, it serves as a place for pedestrians to rest, cool off, or enjoy the scenery. Pavilions are usually open-sided structures, without surrounding walls, and their roofs can take various shapes such as hexagonal, octagonal, or circular. Due to their lightweight design, diverse materials, and flexible layout, pavilions are widely used in garden architecture. The Forbidden City's Imperial Garden boasts twelve pavilions, while the Summer Palace features over forty pavilions. In the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Garden of Pleasance, pavilions actually make up more than half of all the structures in the gardens. "No pavilion, no garden" - you may have encountered pavilions to a greater or lesser extent in various gardens, but only briefly stopped to rest or admire the view, without truly observing the pavilions themselves. Are they square or circular? Hexagonal or octagonal? What decorations adorn the pavilions? What wisdom lies in the arrangement of pavilions? Some say, "Pavilions are one of the simplest architectural types." But are pavilions truly that simple, to the extent that they are overlooked by most people? Architecturally, pavilions have actually reached…

Ming Dynasty Hanfu clothing refers to the clothing system in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, inherited the costume style of Zhou, Han, Tang, and Song Dynasties and re-established the costume system in order to rebuild the national pride and etiquette and remove the influence of ethnic minorities. In the middle and later period of the Ming Dynasty, there were some new styles, such as stand collar, and a large number of buttons were used in the conspicuous part of a garment. It was gradually banned during the Qing Dynasty, but there are still a few styles and features that have been handed down to this day.   The characteristics of Hanfu in the Ming dynasty In the Ming Dynasty, a series of measures were taken to develop production, which made the industry and commerce develop continuously, and the production technology of each industry has improved. After the rise of the citizen class, the aesthetic interest has become the aesthetic orientation of the general dress in the Ming Dynasty. "Secularization" of the aesthetic and cultural sources and a relatively general, casual, and loose historical and cultural environment.…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

Kesi (缂丝), the most traditional type of silk weaving in the Chinese silk industry, which is highly appreciated for its decorative qualities. Kesi is a kind of pattern with warp and weft, forming a pattern border, with the effect as if was carved, and rich two-sided three-dimensional sense of silk crafts. The knitting technique of Kesi is different from the embroidery and brocade. Suzhou Kesi painting is also known as the "Four Great Weavers" of China, along with Hangzhou silk painting, Yongchun paper painting and Sichuan bamboo curtain painting. The Kesi technique has appeared many times in the collection of ancient costume dramas, such as the delicate Kesi fans in the hands of the concubines of “Story of Yanxi Palace”, adding endless style to them. The another drama “Marvelous Women” which take the Qing Dynasty as the background, has restored the weaving scene of the Kesi.   The Uniqueness of Kesi Different from the weaving method of Song brocade, Shu brocade, cloud brocade which are woven through the warp and weft. Kesi with raw silk as the warp, a variety of colorful cooked silk threads for the weft, which are dug and woven by the method of passing through the…

  Vocabulary Velvet Flower - 绒花 (rónghuā) - a realistically made flower made artificially from silk threads and copper wire. Palace Flower - 宫花 (gōng huā) - another way to call ronghua with the rise in popularities of ronghua to females in the palace. Untwisted Silks - 无捻蚕丝 (wú niǎn cánsī) - when it comes to silk threads, depending on the type and material of the threads, one single thread can be made up of thinner threads twisted together. Untwisted silk thread means there are no smaller twisted threads. You can directly skip to the brushing steps in ronghua making process. Hunan Embroidery Thread - 湘绣线 (xiāngxiù xiàn) - another type of thread used in ronghua making. Suzhou Embroidery Thread - 苏绣线 (sūxiù xiàn) - another type of thread used in ronghua making.   History 绒花, rónghuā, an artificial handcraft head accessories made from materials such as silks and coppers. It existed since the Qin Dynasty. There are many known “brands” of ronghuas, such as Nanjing Ronghua. In the Tang era, Wu Zetian listed Nanjing Ronghua as a royal tribute to the Yangzhou area becoming a luxury only princes and princesses can use. Eventually, Nanjing Ronghua became something that represents Nanjing but also…

What is Da Hu? Da Hu(褡护, dā hù), also known as "搭护", which was a type of Bianfu(便服, casual wear) in the Ming Dynasty. The Tong Ya says: "Da Hu is a shirt with bald sleeves", which means sleeveless, indicating that the Da Hu was a long garment with short sleeves or no sleeves, and had a certain origin with the Banbi of the Tang and Song dynasties. The "Juyi Record" records that: "The name of the Da Hu, or along with the Yuan dynasty, its style is not the Yuan dynasty Da Hu, when it is a slightly longer than the Gua (褂), a short-sleeved clothes." The basic form of Da Hu is cross collar, wrapping the right side before the left (交领右衽), with white collar protector, short sleeves or no sleeves, slit on both sides of the body, and the slit is connected with the outer or inner hem. In the Ming Dynasty, the Da Hu was a kind of half-sleeved dress with a hem outside, which was part of the dres's system of Ming officials. How to wear the Da Hu? What to wear inside the Da Hu? Da Hu early is often used as a jacket,…

Hanfu & Traditional Chinese Dress for Kids Hanfu is becoming more and more popular among young people, and traditional clothing has also attracted more attention. And children have always been cute pronouns, but what kind of surprises will there be for children to wear traditional Chinese clothes. This issue brings traditional Chinese dress for kids, so that they can also wear Chinese clothes and feel the power of traditional culture together. What kind of clothes did children wear in ancient China? It is generally believed that children in the history of China do not have their own clothes, and children have been wearing a reduced version of adult clothes, but in fact, but it's not all that. Ancient Chinese Dress for Kids Qiangbao (襁褓, swaddling) The clothing of newborn babies is more common: Qiangbao. Qiangbao was widely used in ancient China from the court down to the people. According to the literature, Qiangbao as an ancient child care product has been widely used as early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties. The term "Qiangbao" was later used to refer to babies under the age of one year. Doudu (兜肚) Doudu, with naked back when wearing, has the function of heat…

Why did the Qin dynasty dress admire the black color? What were the forms of women's clothing in the Qin, Han, Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties? What are the characteristics of men's clothing in different dynasties? How was the style and pattern of Hanfu chosen? How did the ancients choose different styles of Hanfu for different occasions? What were the characteristics of makeup in different periods of history? If you are new to Hanfu (traditional Chinese dress), you certainly have many questions and will feel that Hanfu is very complicated. Moreover, the Chinese Hanfu costume covers not only the dress, but also the makeup, hair, and accessories. So we will compile in this post documentaries on Hanfu, if you are interested in Hanfu and Hanfu related culture, you may get your doubts solved through them.   李白 / Li Bai "Li Bai" is divided into four episodes, attempting to sketch a clearer and more complete outline of this artistic giant through the life of Li Bai, and tracing the spiritual character of the Chinese people for thousands of years. To vividly tell the important episodes and present the atmosphere of Li Bai's literary works, "Li Bai" combines realistic scenes and…

The Tang Dynasty (from 618 to 907) was extremely important in the history of China. Many Chinese TV dramas and movies have been filmed with the Tang Dynasty as the background. We have introduced the costume culture of the Tang Dynasty before, today we will show you the beautiful makeup and the history of the rise and fall of the Tang Dynasty through the Hanfu drawing of illustrator @Yucha Guozi (御茶菓子) and the Hanfu model @Zhende Caicai (真的菜菜), present the stunning makeup and the history of the rise and fall of the Tang Dynasty, and feel the aesthetic spirit of the Tang Dynasty which is diverse, confident and inclusive.   Early Tang dynasty: the first year of Wude: 618 AD (武德元年) Narrow-sleeved short garments were popular in the early Tang dynasty. The picture shows a double-bun maid, wearing a shawl collar, a half-sleeved garment with a long skirt, and a skinny shape.   Gaozong period of the Tang Dynasty: 628-683 AD (高宗时期) Next is a "woman in men's clothing", during the Tang dynasty, women often wore men's clothing. This is because during the period of Gaozong, society gradually became more elegant and open, and the body shape that was favored…

In the annals of the internet's memory, Hanfu made its debut in the public eye in 2003 when a power worker strolled through the streets of Zhengzhou clad in Hanfu, sparking widespread intrigue. Back then, donning Hanfu in public would undoubtedly invite curious gazes and discussions from passersby. However, times have indeed changed. Nowadays, it is no longer a novelty to encounter boys and girls in Hanfu on the streets, let alone in the online, where exquisite Hanfu photoshoots, vintage makeup tutorials, and hairstyling guides are readily available. There is also a plethora of gatherings for Hanfu enthusiasts. While participation is easily accessible, delving deeper into the subject may surprise many, as Hanfu is far more than just a visually appealing garment. In this article, author Acheng (TOPYS) will share his perspective about hanfu. The Hanfu community has long been subjected to ridicule and prejudice, with many still holding the belief that most Hanfu enthusiasts are merely superficial admirers of beautiful clothing. Throughout history, Hanfu has been intricately intertwined with the development of Chinese culture, spanning numerous historical epochs and reflecting distinct characteristics alongside the evolution of societal ideologies and aesthetic standards. Dongjin Shangyu Dongjin Shangyu has been immersed in…

The rejuvenation of modern hanfu is inextricably linked to the redesign of many hanfu styles and the incorporation of modern elements. However, hanfu is still more based on traditional forms, and most Hanfu styles are currently restored based on books, cultural relics, murals, and collections. And speaking of hanfu collections, you may have heard of one place, the Kong Family Mansion (孔府). As the largest noble house in China, the Kong Family Mansion holds a large collection of heirloom clothing objects, which is unique in the world for its quantity, completeness of system, and orderly transmission, and is a masterpiece of traditional costume culture. Today, we will introduce you to the Kong Family Mansion and its Hanfu collection. Kong Family Mansion, also known as Yan Sheng Gong Mansion (衍圣公府), is the official and private residence of the descendants of Confucius, located in Qufu City, Jining, Shandong Province, China, and is a typical Chinese noble gateway house. It was built in 1377 and rebuilt in 1503, covering an area of 240 acres. The Kong Family Mansion, together with the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius, is known as the "Three Confuciuses", and was listed as one of the first major cultural relics…

Wearing armor, riding a horse, holding a traditional weapon, fighting on the battlefield. Such a scene may have appeared in the dreams of many people when they were young. But there is a person who turned the traditional Chinese armor in the dream into reality, he is the first person to restore the ancient armor of the Tang and Song dynasties, Wen Chenhua (温陈华). He has highly restoration the armor of the Song dynasty, which has been lost in China for 700 years, after 6 years. He founded the Lian Kai Tang (炼铠堂), and with his own strength, he promoted the obscure armor restoration craft, and let Chinese armor on the world-class combat stage.   #01 The first person in traditional Chinese armor restoration There are only about 1000 armor restorers in China, 90% of them are Wen Chenhua's students, and for 40 years, he has been restoring Jiazhou (甲胄, traditional Chinese armor) to the extreme. On Wen Chenhua's social platforms profile, there is only a simple sentence "Top Chinese Jiazhou maker" as an introduction. However, he has shared a lot of armor design drawings and finished armor photos, all revealing his deep love for Jiazhou. Traditional armor restoration and…