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

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

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

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

"Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk (Dao Lian Tu, 捣练图)" is a famous Chinese painting of the Tang Dynasty. It showing noble women ironing, sewing, and pounding the silk. It is an important custom painting of the Tang Dynasty, and is one of the more chic works among the paintings of ladies in the Tang Dynasty. It is the work of Zhang Xuan (张萱), a painter of the Tang Dynasty, and has had a great influence on the style of later paintings, and is also a great help to the study of modern Hanfu styles. Let's see the special details of this painting. Zhang Xuan of Tang Dynasty "Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk" was originally painted by Zhang Xuan in the Tang Dynasty, the painting "Lady Guoguo's Spring Outing (虢国夫人游春图)" is also a painting by him. Zhang Xuan mainly depicts the leisurely life scenes of royal and noble women, such as spring Outing, dressing up, drumming the qin, playing music, and enjoying the snow. flourishing Tang Dynasty Copied by Emperor Huizong Tang and Song history recorded dozens of Zhang Xuan's paintings, many also repeatedly copied by many painters, but out of Zhang Xuan's own handwriting of the original work,…

Ancient Chinese Costume Culture ExhibitionLaunch date: February 6, 2021Venue: North 18 Exhibition Hall, National Museum of China (Beijing) Clothing is not only a necessity for people's life, with the practical function of "sheltering from the cold and heat, protecting from the wind and rain, covering the body", but also an important carrier of ancient culture, with the cultural function of "distinguishing between superiority and inferiority, distinguishing between nobility and inferiority, and distinguishing between affinity and alienation". The development of Chinese clothing culture over the past thousands of years not only reflects the development trajectory of ancient material and spiritual civilization, but also outlines the continuous life of the Chinese people. On February 6, 2021, the "Ancient Chinese Costume Culture Exhibition" was officially opened at the National Museum of China. The exhibition is based on decades of academic research by Mr. Sun Ji and other scholars, divided into six sections according to historical periods, the exhibition features nearly 130 artifacts (sets) covering jade and stone, bone, pottery, costumes, gold and silver accessories, and calligraphy and paintings, with more than 40 auxiliary exhibits, about 170 pictures, and multimedia facilities, making it an extraordinary exhibition. If you are interested in ancient Chinese costumes,…

The short drama "Escape from the British Museum" has become popular. This three-episode short video series, co-created by online media personalities Jianbing Guozai and Xiatian Meimei, is the most anticipated work in the film and television industry recently. It not only generated a lot of buzz on major online platforms but also received recognition and encouragement from numerous media outlets. Using personification as a narrative technique, it tells a sophisticated story: a delicate Chinese jade pot escapes from the British Museum and encounters a Chinese journalist named Zhang Yong'an, who is working overseas. They then embark on a journey back home together, fulfilling the task entrusted to her by the Chinese artifacts in the British Museum. With a total duration of less than 20 minutes, despite the insufficient maturity of its production elements such as scenes and props, the storytelling logic is complete, the emotions are abundant and solid, and the conveyed values are positioned at a very high level. It serves as a low-cost, high-level Chinese short drama model. After the release of the final episode, it directly sparked an explosive wave of praise. Many netizens were deeply moved by the scene where overseas cultural relics read letters to…

The program of "Eight Masters of the Tang and Song" unveils the magnificent and dramatic life story of a generation of grandmasters through the mode of "immersive real-life performance + cinematic filming + XR innovative presentation", and explores the moments of the birth of "Tang and Song masterpieces". Immersive real-life performance: The "Cultural Exploration Team" personally experiences the plot, with scenes built on real-life settings. Cinematic filming: Through techniques such as plot rhythm and camera movement, the visuals are crafted to have a cinematic texture, enhancing the artistic and aesthetic qualities of the work. XR innovative presentation: By combining reality and virtuality through computers, it brings the participants a seamless immersion between the virtual world and the real world. Let us follow the "Cultural Exploration Team" of the program "Eight Masters of the Tang and Song" and step into the depths of history to take a look at the experience of Han Yu in the great Tang Dynasty. Han Yu lost his parents at a young age. At the age of 12, his older brother Han He passed away in Shaozhou, and Han Yu returned to Heyang with his sister-in-law to bury his brother. Since then, the burden of supporting…

Cheongsam, as one of the traditional Chinese dresses, can be seen as one of the tags of oriental women. It is like an ink-scented rice paper, which writes the history of Chinese dress, and like an inscription of the ancient time, even the folds of which contain the scent of ancient culture. It is not only a garment, but also a carrier of traditional Chinese culture. As one of the key elements of the composition of cheongsam, the collar shape has a very important influence on the style of cheongsam. Traditional cheongsam collar, often with a stand collar design, formed an elegant effect, with good effect in highlighting the lines of the female neck and body. The details of the cheongsam collar, show the workmanship, also the soul of the cheongsam. The right collar type can fit perfectly with the body, but also with the cheongsam as a whole, to the overall style of cheongsam into more exquisite aesthetic temperament, from the fundamental focus on temperament.   The origin of the cheongsam collar The relationship between modern cheongsam and Qing dynasty Manchu robe is still controversial, but it is undeniable that there is an inextricable relationship between cheongsam and Qi…

During the Ming dynasty, the categories and styles of gold and silver ornaments had greater innovation and development based on the Song and Yuan dynasties, showing different visual aesthetic experiences and artistic styles. Among the various types of gold and silver in the Ming dynasty ornaments, "San Sher (三事儿, sān shèr, three things)" is a unique example. Unlike other ornaments, the "San Sher" are daily life tools, used for repairing and cleaning, and their main components include hooks, chains, connectors, pendants, etc. Some of them also have storage tubes, and the pendant objects are usually toothpicks, ear picks, and tweezers, which can be worn by both men and women. The "San Sher" is a common name in the Ming Dynasty, but in fact, the number of pendants can be increased or decreased, and the types are also different. The Ming Dynasty gold and silver "San Sher" are exquisite and unique, reflecting the high design aesthetic appeal, and also have a rich cultural connotation.   Design aesthetics of Ming dynasty Ornaments - San Sher   01 Small and applicable: the form of pendant design The gold and silver "San Sher" of the Ming Dynasty pursued unity in form, and the pendant…

The Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE) is widely recognized as a golden age in Chinese history, marked by significant advances in science, technology, and arts. Among the many cultural treasures of this era, one item that stands out is the plain gauze robe. Despite its simple appearance, this garment played a crucial role in shaping the fashion and social etiquette of the Han Dynasty. In this article, we'll take a closer look at three points to understand anew this exquisite plain gauze dress. Plain gauze robe from the tomb of the Marquis of Dai at Mawangdui Over two thousand years ago, in the Western Han dynasty, the Chancellor of Changsha, Li Cang, and his wife stood on equal footing with one another. Mrs. Xinzhui, his wife, possessed remarkable beauty and wore light makeup that truly complemented her looks. The undyed raw silk was weaved into plain gauze without any lining, which paired perfectly with Xin Zhui's appearance. As moved, the sleeve would release a faint yet enchanting fragrance.   The Fashionable Style of Han Dynasty's Women "Thin as cicada wings, light as smoke," the plain gauze robe unearthed from Mawangdui Han tomb number one in Changsha, Hunan province,…

Cheongsams or Modern Qipao are a kind of figure-flattering Chinese dress perfect for showcasing a lady’s features gracefully. It is no wonder they’re becoming ever more prevalent to wear, particularly for special occasions like your wedding. But the modern qipao can be worn anytime for any event. Although there are nearly too many choices when shopping for the Western wedding outfit, purchasing Chinese wedding clothing or Modern Qipao (cheongsam) can be a maddening experience if you don’t know what to look for in a Modern Qipao dress. How will you get the best Cheongsams or Modern Qipao if you don’t know them well? Fortunately, we have reviewed a complete list of 5 vital things to check before you buy a cheongsam or modern qipao dress in this article below. It will certainly help you to get the best qipao China dress from anywhere in the world!   What Is a Modern Qipao or Cheongsam Chinese Dress? As a type of Chinese dress, qipao is at all times a classic option for women. Cheongsams or qipao originated almost a century ago in Shanghai in China as a contemporary take on the Chinese Manchu dress, and then it remained among the most…

The 2024 "Silk Road Week" grandly opened at the China National Silk Museum! The highlight of this event is the grand exhibition "The Silk Road's Chang'an," officially launched with over 210 artifacts on display, including more than 50 first-class relics. The exhibition is divided into five sections, showcasing a vibrant, diverse, open, and integrated Chang'an through aspects such as politics, economy, culture, lifestyle, and its long-standing connections with Zhejiang. Chang'an, the ancient name for Xi'an, located in the central Guanzhong Plain, is one of the cradles of Chinese civilization. Historically, over ten dynasties, including the Western Han, Xin, Eastern Han, Western Jin, Former Zhao, Former Qin, Later Qin, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, and Tang, established their capitals here over a span of more than a thousand years. It is the city with the longest history, most dynasties, greatest influence, and richest heritage in Chinese history. During the Han and Tang dynasties, Chang'an was the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, a crucial node connecting the Eurasian continent. With its thriving economy, splendid culture, and inclusive nature, it became an undeniable global metropolis and a center of cultural exchange between China and the world. This year marks the 10th…

Taoist clothing, which refers to the costume worn by Taoists, belongs to the Han traditional dress system. It is also known as "Fa Fu (法服)", "Taoist uniform", "Taoist dress", etc. The Taoist clothing is the traditional costume of the Chinese nation, and the social costume has changed with the development of the times, but within the Taoist religion is largely unchanged. Daoism attaches great importance to its own traditions and has always been steadfast in adhering to all the beliefs and systems that have been formed. Its dress is just that. Early Taoist clothing, which was not strictly regulated, began to form systems after Lu Xiujing (陆修静) in the Southern Dynasty. Taoism is quite cautious about its dress, both in the Quanzhen (全真派) and the Zhengyi (正一派) Taoism. By the end of the North-South Dynasty, a complete dress system was basically formed. That is to say, according to the years of Taoist initiation and the depth of Taoism, the Taoist is divided into several levels, and specific provisions are made for each level of Taoist clothing, crown, and boots, the fabrics to be used, the colors to be taken, the style to be taken, etc. Each rank of Taoist must…

With the rise of ancient Chinese costume "Hanfu culture" among young people, the China-chic has become an unstoppable trend. The September issue of Harper's BAZAAR e-magazine features a stylish restoration of hanfu, and a closer look at these "trendy elements" from a thousand years ago that are still stunning today.   HAN DYNASTY The restored hanfu shot by Harper's BAZAAR During the Han Dynasty, large-sleeved clothes were popular, called "Zhu Yu (诸于)". The characteristic of large-sleeved clothes is the use of the slanting cutting method, which makes the clothes look wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. This set of hanfu designs in "Harper's BAZAAR" uses this typical slanting cutting method, which makes the model look taller and slimmer, so it can be said to be a "slimming secret". During the Han Dynasty, common women wore Ru upper and Qun underneath, which shows that women in the Han Dynasty wore a skirt and a dress as their daily wear. Han Dynasty costumes in the drama The Han Dynasty was a feudal period with a strict hierarchy, which was also reflected in women's clothing, which could be basically divided into two different dress systems for nobles and commoners. Hairstyle…

Unlike the noble and elegant clothes of women in the Tang Dynasty, when it comes to Song Dynasty women costumes, maybe we are thinking of a graceful and restrained and a plain and neat feeling. The Song Dynasty was the dynasty with the most prosperous literati temperament in Chinese history. Women’s clothing in the Song Dynasty not only inherited the women's clothing system in the Tang Dynasty, moreover, combined with the characteristics of the times, created a dressing mode that belongs to the Song Dynasty. Its aesthetic standard is skinny beauty with fresh and elegant. It advocates slenderness and fit, exquisite material processing, soft tone, lightness, softness, elegance, and it has a strong atmosphere of life. So what kind of clothes did the women wear in the Song Dynasty thousands of years ago? In this article, ArtMoment will introduce 11 classic Song Dynasty women costumes to you.   1-Top In the Song Dynasty, women’s clothing was basically still coat and dress shape, divided into different forms. Tops mainly have Moxiong, Shan, Ru & Ao, Pao, Beizi, Banxiu, and so on. Moxiong Moxiong (抹胸, bandeau) is the most close-fitting clothing for women in the Song Dynasty. Its function is like today’s…

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.…

Weddings are important ceremonies across the globe and one of the most fascinating aspects is the attire worn by the bride and groom. China, in particular, boasts a rich history of traditional wedding clothing that has evolved over thousands of years. From the hanfu of the ancient dynasties to the modern qipao, each style holds significant cultural and symbolic meaning. In this article, we will delve into the captivating history of Chinese wedding attire and explore the significance behind some of the most iconic designs.   Black Wedding Attire in Zhou Dynasty The Zhou Dynasty was known for its emphasis on ritual and its marriage system also highlighted this. The wedding ceremony in the Zhou Dynasty was called the "Hun Ceremony". As the name suggests, "Hun" means dusk, and the ceremony was held at dusk, with a solemn and dignified atmosphere. "The Book of Rites - The Ceremony of the Marriage of a Scholar" is the earliest record of Chinese wedding ceremony, and of course, it is not only applicable to the scholar class. According to "The Book of Rites", the wedding attire of the Zhou Dynasty was mainly black with red as a complementary color. In the eyes of…

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…

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,…