Ancient China is called “Huaxia”, with “Hua” referring to the elegance of costume and “Xia” the greatness of etiquette. Following the development through the Zhou, Han, Tang and Song dynasties, the costume in the Ming dynasty had distinct Chinese cultural characteristics and was the epitome of Chinese apparel, which had a wide and profound impact on the costume and aesthetics of later dynasties and neighboring countries.  The Ming Dynasty had fully restored the costume tradition, which had been inherited for thousands of years. Being magnificent and elegant, the Ming costume is the epitome of Chinese costume culture. Ceremonial court dress was usually worn by civil and military officials at formal and grand occasions such as court meetings. It consisted of court hat, red silk robe, white silk gauze shirt, knee-covering，silk belt, leather belt, etc. Normal court dress, well-known to all, was a symbol of the Ming Dynasty costume, for example, the red silk gauze round-collar robe with subtle pattern and square patches embroidered with cloud and crane design, black silk gauze hat and so on. Festive dress was worn by officials on various festive occasions and in some ceremonial activities. The yellowish-brown linen pleated robe with Feiyu design, woman’s…

Chinese ancient clothing culture has a long history, which has left a precious heritage for the world. Han clothing was shaped in the Zhou Dynasty and inherited in the Qin Dynasty. Hanfu, with a long cultural history in China, is worthy of the quintessence of the country. Hanfu is not only a kind of life aesthetics but also the continuation of the lifestyle of countless Chinese people. Primitive Society Period The costumes of primitive society showed obvious cultural characteristics of worshipping heaven and earth and formed a more typical clothing style of cross collar, right lapel, lace-up, upper garment, and lower garment. Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties The clothing of Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties has the distinct characteristics of the combination of practicality and aesthetics and also has distinct characteristics of hierarchy. It has made detailed provisions on the crown dress system of nobles and common people, and the rulers show their dignity by strict grade clothing. Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period During the spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States period, each state had its own affairs and different cultural customs, which led to different regional and national costumes with their own characteristics. Moreover,…

For some Chinese costume female fans, they want to wear Chinese costumes out and about even in the heat of summer. Today, we will talk to you about what are suitable fabrics, shapes, and some summertime artifacts for wearing Hanfu in the summer.  Choose Comfortable & Cold Fabrics  Available fabrics: cotton, silk, tencel, ramie. Natural fabrics are more suitable for summer wear, these types of fabrics are more breathable, very absorbent, not easily bored in the summer. Silk and cotton are very skin-friendly and suitable for close to the body, and it is also true that these types of fabrics are slightly more expensive than other fabrics. In addition, wearing cool material doesn't mean you won't get hot, the breathable fabrics are just more absorbent and will make your skin feel better.  Chinese Costume Female Shapes for Summer  Many people say that the summer is not suitable for wearing Ming-style Hanfu, but it's not, as long as the material of the clothes is frivolous, you can still wear it in the summer, though Whether it's hot or not has little to do with the shape, some shapes really make it cooler to wear. Shape: Round Collar Shirts, Fitted Shirt As…

In the process of evolution, there are dozens or even hundreds of styles of Chinese clothes. This article mainly introduces the most classical styles of Chinese Hanfu clothes. Women's clothing Suit Ruqun(襦裙) Ruqun is a kind of hanfu, also call: Shanqun (衫裙), short clothes worn on the upper body, call "Ru", and the dress of the lower body, call "Qun", together call "Ruqun". It is a typical "Shangyi Xiachang(top clothes and underdress) " form. Ruqun has an obvious feature: short top and long dress. The Ruqun appeared in the Warring States Period, Ruqun was worn by ordinary people(female) until the end of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Jiaoling Ruqun/ Shanqun(交领襦裙/衫裙) Jiaoling Ruqun is a kind of Ruqun, the main feature is: the top collar is cross. It is quite common in the Song Dynasty. Wearing method: First: Wear top clothes, Align the collar of the top clothes; Tie a knot in right Jin(襟, the chest part of the top); Tie a knot in left Jin. Second: tie up the dress, Put the dress in front of you, wrap the skirt behind you; Two sides of the dress overlap behind; Folding outwards the pressing on the inner layer of dress; Adjust…

This article focuses on the changes in the popularity of traditional Chinese women's clothing from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the early Republic of China. Please read in conjunction with "Ming-style Hanfu collar types diagram" The early Ming dress continues the style of the Yuan dynasty Duanyi (短衣, short clothes), inherited the style of dressing with Duijin (对襟, symmetrical lapels) worn as Jiaojin (交襟, cross lapels) in Song and Yuan Dynasty At this time, also called Dui Jiao Chuan (对交穿). There is also a Jiaoling Youren (交领右衽, wrapping the right side before the left) style. In the mid-Ming period, the sleeve type and skirt door gradually widened, and there was a Tao sleeve (裪袖, sleeve edge protruding from the cuff) structure. According to cultural relics, the stand collar Duijin Shan appeared in the palace system during this period, and was fixed with metal sub-buttons. The style of Dui Jiao Chuan (对交穿) was also excavated in this period, and the more special one is the Mamian skirt with narrow sleeves and thin pleats. Regarding the style of the Mamian skirt, according to the research of excavated cultural relics, the structure of [trapezoidal pleat] and [wide sleeve door] was popular in the…

It's Christmas soon, and everywhere is full of cheerful atmosphere! Today, we'll share with you 4 Christmas-themed hanfu.   The design of styling one is very ingenious, the combination of bunny and Christmas elements, especially cute and festive.   The Bijia with fluff has a sense of winter atmosphere. The dark green Mamian Qun, with the theme of "deer, plum blossoms, and lanterns", looks great.   Bijia's fur trim design is very unique, is the feeling of moose. Christmas deer pattern is very delicate. Mamian Qun also uses the Christmas elements, super in line with the scene, the overall sense of atmosphere full!   This Ming Hanfu set is mainly in green color, and there is a cute little embroidery of Christmas elements on the body, which is cute and eye-catching. The lower skirt with white woven gold Mamian, both the atmosphere and suitable for daily wear.

In autumn and winter, this time of year, how to wear warm but not bloated? Layering, of course! With good layering, hanfu items can be used across seasons, and the temperature difference between day and night can be given more freedom to combine. So not only can fashion be used for layering, but hanfu is also very suitable for layering. Following the Han Time winter hanfu layering tips to create your own winter hanfu style.   Tip 1: Comfortable The first is comfort, many hanfu have relatively wide sleeves or too tight, not suitable for layering inside. If you feel tight and unfit when you wear it yourself, it's definitely not comfortable. These are the small details that are easy to catch when layering. So in order to emphasize the comfort, inside the clothes as loose as possible, and looseness from the outside to inside is a gradual process of becoming smaller.   Tip 2: Good-looking A big part of looking good lies in the material matching. Generally speaking, we are used to tweed, knitted material in the autumn and winter seasons as the first choice for purchase, these clothes of similar thickness will cause a bloated feeling if layering. Relatively…

The hanfu looks fairy full, wearing the body is a unique feeling, and hanfu has so many styles, materials also have their own characteristics. For those of you who like to wear hanfu, do you know exactly how to take care of your hanfu? There are two main parts to the maintenance of your hanfu, one is the cleaning of the hanfu and the other is the storage of the hanfu. These two parts are crucial, as they determine how long your hanfu will actually last. It's all about attention. How to clean Hanfu First of all, let's talk about the cleaning of hanfu. Hanfu is not the same as ordinary clothes, some hanfu is a complete set, and the skirt and sleeves are longer and wider, cleaning needs more careful. There is also the matter of deciding how it should be cleaned based on the different materials of the hanfu. 1. The correct way to wash hanfu should be turned over to wash, and try to hand wash. If you wash it in a washing machine, then put a dust bag on the outside of the hanfu, and then put it in the washing machine, and use a gentle…

Mamian skirt, Qixiong dress, and the hundred-pleat skirt; wearing traditional Hanfu has become a new trend in public attire in recent years, whether it be for sightseeing, wedding ceremonies, shopping, friend gatherings, and various other occasions. The "Hanfu craze" continues to rise, blending tradition with modernity, activating cultural resources, igniting the consumer market, and driving industrial development. In recent years, Hanfu has gradually gained popularity among the younger generation, with their youthful expression and fashionable presentation bringing Chinese traditional culture into daily life in a tangible and palpable form. The long-standing Chinese traditional clothing culture embodies a blend of Chinese aesthetic interests, reflecting not only a consumer choice but also the Chinese people's love for outstanding traditional culture.   Demand exceeds supply During the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival of the Year of the Dragon, the activity of "wearing Chinese costumes for free to visit the Confucian Temples" in Qufu City, Jining, Shandong, has been well received. Wang Chunling, a visitor from Liaoning, traveled a long distance with friends to play here, attracted by the lively atmosphere of night tours in the ancient city of Qufu and folk performances, and dressed in Hanfu to join the parade. This year, garments…

Just jumped out of the New Year's festivities and the countdown to the Chinese New Year is about to begin again, are you ready for your New Year's clothes? If you are still struggling with how to wear Chinese New Year traditional clothing in order to be successful and eye-catching when taking photos or visiting friends and relatives in the New Year, then grab a pencil and paper to take notes, let me tell you! Chinese New Year Traditional Clothing for Girls This orange Chinese tunic not only looks good on you, but it's also made for a super New Year's Eve that will definitely be the most noticeable in a crowd. The fluffy square collar is cute and good-looking, and you can absolutely get a bunch of positive feedback when visiting friends and relatives, and it can also be paired with a Mamian-skirt or a fashion skirt. For the Year of the Rat, it's obvious that you should prepare Chinese New Year traditional clothing! The cute little squirrel is holding a small golden pine cone, surrounded by grapevines, which is both cute and auspicious with the meaning of "good harvest and prosperity". A Mamian-skirt is one of the must-have…

Traditional hanfu is very beautiful and will make a very strong impression. Sophisticated, elegant, and full of rich details, it looks more appropriate for a formal traditional festival or occasion. This is certainly one of the most correct ways to wear it, but fashionable hipsters who wear hanfu always manage to incorporate fashion into their outfits. What is the best way to incorporate traditional hanfu into modern clothing, or in other words, how to wear traditional hanfu in a modern way? I have found a few good examples. They are much lighter to wear and don't take too much time to get ready. Song Dynasty Beizi + sling long dress   Hanfu square neck half-sleeve + fashion tailored dress Hanfu Bijia + A-Line dress Hanfu Tang Dynasty Banbi+ Jeans Hanfu Mamian skirt + shirt Airplane sleeve top+ Song Dynasty Xuan dress That's the beauty of hanfu. If you have enough time, you can prepare a complete hanfu look, including makeup, hairstyle, clothing, and other accessories. If you just want to have some elements of hanfu in your outfit today, you can refer to this article for some additional styling options. Contributed article from Xiayang (2021 Hanfu Free Giveaways & Contests -PLAN…

Fans of Hanfu will often see that all the games will launch a collaboration with Hanfu so that the players can break the sub-dimension and have the same style as the Paper Man. Let's go through a list with the game's collision with the Hanfu/Chinese elements today, it's interesting for what kind of collaborations will be created.   Eastward Legend: the Empyrean collaboration with Hanfu Eastward Legend: the Empyrean（Abbreviation: E3） launched a collaboration with Chinese elements for the "10th Anniversary" in August last year. - the lovely wedding costume of Tang Wedding and invited ten chivalrous couples to "Chang'an", the ancient capital of the Tang Dynasty, to recreate the Tang wedding in the Tang Hibiscus Garden, it can be really admired. Now, this Hanfu is on the shelves, including two kinds of wide sleeve shirts, two kinds of round collar robes, shirt & skirt set, and the Qixiong Shanqun set, etc. It is estimated that many people who are both E3 players and Hanfu fans are going to be in love with each other in reality.   Fantasy Westward Journey collaboration with Hanfu Fantasy Westward Journey（Abbreviation: XYQ） 3D End 2019 launched Wang Yibo the same Han element collaborative clothing, and…

This article focuses on the changes in the popularity of traditional Chinese women's clothing from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the early Republic of China. Please read in conjunction with "Ming-style Hanfu collar types diagram" The early Ming dress continues the style of the Yuan dynasty Duanyi (短衣, short clothes), inherited the style of dressing with Duijin (对襟, symmetrical lapels) worn as Jiaojin (交襟, cross lapels) in Song and Yuan Dynasty At this time, also called Dui Jiao Chuan (对交穿). There is also a Jiaoling Youren (交领右衽, wrapping the right side before the left) style. In the mid-Ming period, the sleeve type and skirt door gradually widened, and there was a Tao sleeve (裪袖, sleeve edge protruding from the cuff) structure. According to cultural relics, the stand collar Duijin Shan appeared in the palace system during this period, and was fixed with metal sub-buttons. The style of Dui Jiao Chuan (对交穿) was also excavated in this period, and the more special one is the Mamian skirt with narrow sleeves and thin pleats. Regarding the style of the Mamian skirt, according to the research of excavated cultural relics, the structure of [trapezoidal pleat] and [wide sleeve door] was popular in the…

Hey everyone, long time no see! It's been a while and I promise I'm still working on the Song Dynasty sections of Hanfu Unearthed—in the meantime, enjoy this not-so-short cheat sheet to all of the most commonly used fibers and weaves in hanfu, whether historically or in the industry today. Fibers Fibers are the material from which threads are spun to be made into fabric. These include synthetic fibers made in labs or factories by humans, as well as animal fibers that are grown as fur or silk by animals, or plant-based fibers that we harvest from various fibrous plants. Tencel Rising in popularity, especially last summer, tencel is a kind of semi-synthetic fiber made from cellulose, also called lyocell, originally made to imitate silk. Made by dissolving cellulose into pulp and using dry jet-et spinning to reconstitute the fibers, it’s a clean process that creates a kind of synthetic fiber using natural materials: easier to dye than cotton, more breathable than polyester, moisture-wicking, and softer than linen. The one downside of tencel is that it’s easily wrinkled, but its smooth draping quality and breathability make it a first choice for hanfu manufacturers today. Other rayons are also used, but…

Traditional Chinese painting has a long history, and classic heirloom paintings not only give us an idea of how the ancients lived, but some hanfu styles are even inspired by ancient paintings. The paintings we are going to learn about today have even been "printed" directly on the Chinese hanfu costumes. The traditional style of the hanfu combined with the retro tones of the paintings, makes a difference.   A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains The painting "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains (千里江山图)", now collected in the Palace Museum in Beijing, is one of the ten most famous Chinese paintings, the work of Wang Ximeng of the Song Dynasty. He was only 18 years old when this painting was completed. Wang Ximeng's "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains," 51.5 cm wide and 1,191.5 cm long, is painting on silk in green and blue, lavish in its elegance, combining the majesty of a thousand miles of rivers and mountains with the smoky atmosphere of life. There are not only magnificent mountains and rocks in the whole work, but also inhabitants on the riverside, who are either moored or working, adding dynamic beauty to the painting. The whole…

When it comes to winter, everyone's choice of clothing color scheme may focus on black, white and gray, or darker colors that are grayish. But in traditional hanfu winter wear, you can be as imaginative as you want, whether it's the color scheme or the pattern design. Take a look at these three winter hanfu wearing styling and let them inspire your winter hanfu matching!   Look 1 Generally speaking, wearing clothes with lower color purity will highlight the merits of the features, the first set using lotus root pink color scheme, breaking the gray winter a touch of mild bright color. The pattern is inspired by the Ming dynasty Shu brocade pattern - diamond lattice flower group pattern brocade, meaning auspicious and reunion. The Duan Ao with a standing collar generally makes the wearer long and slender, highlighting the beauty of the body. The fabric is made of high-grade double-sided tweed fabric, warm and comfortable, girlish. Baidie skirt using silk embroidery thread, embroidered all over the skirt, the thread quality is soft, excellent luster, the surface is silky smooth. The planets with the track and snowflakes intertwined play, winter atmosphere is also warm and harmonious. The embroidery of the…

What hanfu styles are from which dynasties? Can you tell what dynasty the cover photo for this article depicts? Hanfu is a catch-all term for clothing that spans a very wide time period, and as a result can have many variations. But what styles of hanfu come from what time periods specifically? What are the characteristics that can help identify what dynasty most likely inspired which hanfu? In truth, while there’s a lot of speculation and artistic license taken by designers, the most popular styles of hanfu from each of the dynasties are very easy to tell apart. Let’s jump in chronologically.     Han 漢朝 (206 BCE–220CE) The Han Dynasty is the dynasty that hanfu gets its name from, as well as the term hanren (the han people, the dominant ethnicity in China). It’s only one of the various dynasties from which hanfu can come from, but it’s one of the older ones and is also pretty easily recognizable. A lot of the most popular han dynasty styles are zhishen, or one-piece robes that go down to the floor and wrap around the body. One of the most commonlyseen versions of this is the quju, the curved-hem robe, with…

Imagine strolling through a bustling market, exploring popular tourist spots, or heading to work or school, all while dressed in a flowing, wide-sleeved hanfu. This traditional Chinese attire, rich with historical charm, has become the latest fashion craze among people in China. Hanfu, with its deep roots in Chinese tradition, resonates with a growing appreciation for cultural heritage and aesthetics. Once reserved for special occasions or photo shoots, hanfu is now becoming a common sight in everyday life, from shopping trips to daily commutes. The Soaring Popularity of Hanfu In recent years, the influence of Chinese traditional culture has surged, bolstered by cultural festivals like China Huafu Day and various tourism events. This cultural wave has significantly boosted hanfu's popularity. A notable incident involving an international brand allegedly copying the "mamianqun" (a type of pleated skirt) further heightened awareness and interest in hanfu. Hanfu is no longer confined to specific groups. Its appeal has spread across genders, ages, and city tiers, reaching a wide audience. From first-tier cities to cultural tourism hotspots, hanfu consumption is expanding geographically. Currently, the primary consumers of hanfu are young women. First-tier and cultural tourism cities are the main markets, with rapid growth rates. Interestingly,…

It’s prom season! Now, I know that the age group for prom is pretty small, but I’m going to prom in an outfit of my own this year (I’ll be uploading an outfit analysis of it once I’m done arranging everything in a separate article) and I thought I’d compile a few ideas for anyone else to follow in my steps. This doesn’t only include prom, of course—homecoming, other formal or semiformal occasions (if it’s black tie or has a really strict dress code playit safe and don’t do something too extravagant), etc. are also great places to show off your hanfu. Matching Ming Dynasty Sets One popular tradition for prom is to match your prom date’s outfit when you go to prom. There’s lots of ways to do this—for western clothing, many people match ties to their date’s dress or vice versa, and a couple wearing both feminine and masculine coded clothing also looks very charming—but, luckily, this tradition matches with a common hanfu trend: couple’s outfits, or CP outfits, as they’re often called. This isn’t just for official couples, of course—plenty of friends, siblings, and the like also wear CP outfits for fun. Some of the most popular…

Fans of Hanfu will often see that all the games will launch a collaboration with Hanfu so that the players can break the sub-dimension and have the same style as the Paper Man. Let's go through a list with the game's collision with the Hanfu/Chinese elements today, it's interesting for what kind of collaborations will be created.   Eastward Legend: the Empyrean collaboration with Hanfu Eastward Legend: the Empyrean（Abbreviation: E3） launched a collaboration with Chinese elements for the "10th Anniversary" in August last year. - the lovely wedding costume of Tang Wedding and invited ten chivalrous couples to "Chang'an", the ancient capital of the Tang Dynasty, to recreate the Tang wedding in the Tang Hibiscus Garden, it can be really admired. Now, this Hanfu is on the shelves, including two kinds of wide sleeve shirts, two kinds of round collar robes, shirt & skirt set, and the Qixiong Shanqun set, etc. It is estimated that many people who are both E3 players and Hanfu fans are going to be in love with each other in reality.   Fantasy Westward Journey collaboration with Hanfu Fantasy Westward Journey（Abbreviation: XYQ） 3D End 2019 launched Wang Yibo the same Han element collaborative clothing, and…