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…

Two weeks ago, at a significant meeting on the "Archaeology of China" project, held in Huainan, Anhui Province, a major discovery was announced. Archaeologists revealed that a bronze Ding unearthed from the "Wu Wangdun" site, the largest and most intricate high-status Chu tomb excavated to date, set a new record for the largest Chu cultural Ding found in China. Measuring 88.3 cm in diameter and about 1.2 m in height, this vessel surpasses the renowned Zhuke Dading (or "Chu Dading"), a prized artifact of the Anhui Museum. Although it doesn't rival the monumental Houmuwu Ding, its discovery has still sparked great excitement. As China national treasure, each bronze vessel is not only a marvel to craft but also a supreme symbol of power. Historically, the Ding size indicated one's status and authority. Records show that ancient nobles cooked various meats separately in different vessel, directly serving from them. Later, the Zhou Li stipulated a hierarchy of Dings: nine for the emperor, seven for lords, five for ministers, and three for officials. Thus, their size and weight took on special meaning, remaining a point of fascination even today. We know the largest and heaviest Ding in China is the Houmuwu Ding,…

"Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Haired Girl" stands as a flagship endeavor in the realm of live-action adaptations of beloved comics, boasting a star-studded cast featuring top-tier actors for both male and female leads. With its pre-release marketing campaigns pulling out all the stops, it seemed almost inevitable that the series would make a splash upon its premiere. However, beneath the surface of initial excitement lies a simmering undercurrent of discontent surrounding "Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Haired Girl." Despite its promising credentials, the series has faced a barrage of criticism from audiences, who have taken aim at its lackluster plot and simplistic dialogue, likening it to children's programming and dubbing it "baby fairy tale martial arts" for turning a revered Chinese comic IP into what feels like juvenile entertainment. As the dust settles after the initial broadcast of "Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Haired Girl," the debate over its merits continues to rage within the online community. While some viewers praise its visual appeal and the performances of its star-studded cast, others remain staunchly critical of its narrative shortcomings and perceived lack of depth. One of the primary grievances leveled against the series is its treatment of the source material. Fans of the original comic,…

Everyone probably has a dream of martial arts, mastering the "Wave-like Subtle Steps", bringing the sword alone, and travel around the world. For most, such a situation exists more only in the Wuxia drama. However, in reality, there really is a girl who did. Her name, Yang Liu (杨柳). She is 24 years old this year and has spent 17 years practicing the stunt of crossing the river with a bamboo. On the bamboo, doing various difficult movements, dancing ballet and traditional Chinese dance. Come and listen to her story. Learn Du Zhu Piao for the first time Yang Liu, born in Zunyi, Guizhou, likes to dance since she was a child, and her dream was to be a dancer. However, she was born with a weak and petite body. In order to keep her fit, her grandmother, who is a member of the local Du Zhu Piao Association, started to take her to practice this skill. Du Zhu Piao (独竹漂, single bamboo rafting) is a folk skill in northern Guizhou. The ancestors who lived on the banks of the Chishui River learned to use bamboo to cross the river in order to overcome the inconvenience of transportation.But as the…

The desire to look attractive is universal. Since ancient times, the pursuit of beauty has never stopped. Throughout traditional Chinese makeup history, not only women, but also men love beauty, and some men even know more about makeup than women, and there are many of them who are the best. The earliest archaeological discovery of makeup tools was used by men. Hubei Zaoyang Jiu Lien Dun No. 1 Chu tomb unearthed "portable" makeup box, the box is divided into bronze mirror, wooden comb, scraper, powder box, and small wooden comb. Men's make-up, although not as elaborate as women's, but their own pursuit. Today, we will introduce how men makeup in different periods in ancient times.   Qin and Han Dynasties During the Qin and Han dynasties, men already began to pay attention to the elaboration of hair ornaments and clothing, like the complex and diverse hair-binding rituals of the Qin dynasty, which made it easy to distinguish the status and rank of each person in the way of hair-binding. In the Han Dynasty, many male tombs were also buried with abundant make-up appliances. In the Han Dynasty, it was recorded in the book "Han Shu • Ning Xing Zhuan (汉书•佞幸传)"…

The pursuit of beauty is human nature. Beauty is not only a reflection of the mind, but also a reflection of the interest in life. Tang Dynasty women are the best representatives of beauty, because they inherited the mentality of "Dress up for those who like or admire yourself (女为悦己者容)" from ancient times, and pushed the beauty ideal realm to the highest level under the booming economy and the open and tolerant social atmosphere. Court Ladies Adorning Their Hair With Flowers Lively, dignified, noble, the endless types of Tang Dynasty female hairstyles, paired with exquisite makeup, made many literati and scholars unstinting in their talent to depict the Tang women's style. Let's follow ArtMoment to go back thousands of years ago, and enjoy the beauty of Tang female hairstyles in that remarkable era of spiritedness.   Ancient Hairstyle Tips What are Ji and Huan? The ancient Chinese women's hairstyle is commonly known as Ji Huan (髻鬟, jì huán), and according to the method of combing, there are two types of Ji (髻, jì) and Huan (鬟, huán). Ji, solid hair bun, suitable for ordinary women; Huan, ring-shaped hair bun, suitable for young girls. Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk What does…

Bamboo weaving is a handicraft that uses bamboo split into strips or filaments from mountain bamboo to weave various utensils and handicrafts. The craft of bamboo weaving not only has great practical value, but also has a profound historical heritage. In the history of bamboo weaving industry, it was mostly in the form of workshops, often passed down from generation to generation or through master-apprentice relationships based on workshops, where apprentices became independent after learning and then recruited apprentices, passing on their skills through oral and practical teaching. Generally used for daily necessities and agricultural tools. Bamboo weaving has a long history and is the second batch of Chinese intangible cultural heritage. Diao Kuan, a bamboo weaving craftsman born in the 1990s, is from Dangshan County, Anhui Province. As a child, Diao Kuan loved to hang around the old craftsmen, willing to spend a whole day watching them weave bamboo. The old craftsmen's hands seemed to have a magical power, turning ordinary bamboo strips into exquisite handicrafts. The love for bamboo weaving was like a seed planted in the young Diao Kuan's heart. What sets Diao Kuan apart from other craftsmen is that he injured his right hand when he…

As the first half of 2023 draws to a close, various Chinese video platform' top-performing drama statistics have been released. According to the data collected, there have been changes in audience preferences and creative directions within the industry. Despite an overall improvement in Cdramas' quality this year, with particular emphasis on high-scoring productions such as "Three-Body," "The Knockout" and "The Long Season," few stand out as true blockbusters based on viewership numbers alone. After "The Knockout", the second-highest-ranked series was Xuanhuan cdrama "Till The End Of The Moon," with a total view count of 2.71 billion. So far this year, only “The Knockout” has exceeded three billion views during its initial broadcast period; none have reached three billion or more since then. Of course, some of the highly popular works with limited airplay are closely related to the short number of episodes. For example, the summer hottest cdrama "Love Between Fairy and Devil", with a total of 36 episodes, had a playback volume of around 2.2 billion during its hit period. Last year's hottest cdramas like “A Lifelong Journey”, “New Life Begins” and “Love Like the Galaxy,” all had episode counts exceeding forty episodes, with “Love Like the Galaxy” split…

Dear veteran viewers of ancient Chinese costume dramas, I'm sure that for everyone, the plot of the hanfu beauty, palace plot, power rivalry, wrongly paid life, and so on has long been known. However, I wonder if you have caught the details to keep up with the fashion trends of traditional accessories throughout the dynasties? For example, what kind of ornaments did Empress Cao put on her face? Another example is that the "tip set" worn on Ru Yi's fingers was for decoration or for something else? And, did the yellow and red powder applied to Mulan's face before the blind date actually exist in history? Also, will this level of hair volume be standard per person? The story of jewelry is long and wide, fine and splendid. We might as well put together a "Top 10 List of Ancient Traditional Accessories Trends" for all the major categories of accessories, based on their length of popularity, usage, and popularity, etc. Since history is too voluminous to be told in one article, this list temporarily selects the mainstream accessories.   No.10 Hu Zhi - Nail Guards Hu Zhi (护指), also know as Nail Guards, is the Qing Dynasty drama, the aristocratic…

Recently, major Chinese video platforms have successively released their reserve drama series lineup for 2024, and a group of costume dramas have appeared, sparking anticipation among viewers. The costume fantasy drama "The Legend of Shen Li" is adapted from Jiulu Feixiang's novel of the same name, telling the love story of the ancient divine lord Xing Zhi and the emerald king Shen Li, who was born with a pearl in her mouth. The costume legendary drama "The Legend of Jewelry" is led by Zhao Lusi and Liu Yuning. In the drama resources released by Mango TV, dramas such as "Flourished Peony", "Destiny and Saving", and "The Ming Dynasty Youth" are included. From a comprehensive perspective, a batch of historical dramas such as "The Litchi Road" and "Han Dynasty Epic" will be broadcast in 2024. Previously, concept posters for dramas such as "Feng He Jin Qi Zhang Ju Zheng" and "The Epic of Tang Dynasty" were also released to create early hype. Incomplete statistics show that there are currently more than 10 historical dramas awaiting broadcast, including "Liang Jing Shi Wu Ri," "Silk-Washing Stream," "Legend of Wu Zi Xu," "Peace in Palace, Peace in Chang'An". Among the popular costume dramas aired…

In the vast expanse of Inner Mongolia's Siziwang Banner, amidst the serene landscapes of Amugulang Grassland, a historic moment unfolded on June 25th at 2 PM. It was here that Hu Hao, the chief designer of the Chang'e 6 mission, welcomed back the long-awaited "Moon Maiden (六姑娘)" after 53 days of anticipation—the Chang'e 6 probe, marking humanity's first-ever lunar far-side sample return. Unveiling the Triumph Positioning, searching, checking status—the returner functioned flawlessly, achieving a resounding success for the mission, finally putting Hu Hao's anxieties to rest. Even as Chang'e 6 faithfully brought back nearly 4 kilograms of lunar soil from the far side of the moon, Hu Hao remains tirelessly occupied these days: escorting the returner back to Beijing, overseeing the unpacking of the lunar samples, planning future orbital experiments, and witnessing the initiation of scientific research on the lunar samples. Amidst his busy schedule, he shared with Xinhua News Agency reporters for the first time the untold stories of Chang'e 6. Technological Feats Collecting 1935.3 grams of the first human lunar far-side sample, and achieving a more precise re-entry than Chang'e 5, international payloads also harvested a scientific data "bonanza". Discussing the accomplishments of the "Moon Maiden," Hu Hao's…

The mere mention of the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties often evokes a single thought: chaos. The era was marked by relentless strife: the War of the Eight Princes, the Disaster of Yongjia, the Five Barbarian Invasions, the Six Garrison Rebellions, the Rebellion of Hou Jing... It's a time so plagued by wars that it’s hard to keep track. People lived in constant turmoil, exacerbated by the barbaric and fierce invaders. Traditionally, this period is viewed as one of the darkest in Chinese history.To truly grasp the tumultuous history of the Southern and Northern Dynasties, one must understand the six legendary families that shaped this era.The Most Prestigious Clan: The Wang Family of Langya When the Western Jin Dynasty fell, the Sima family barely escaped with their lives, famously crossing the Yangtze River with just five horses. Sima Rui, with the backing of the powerful Wang family of Langya, established the Eastern Jin Dynasty in Jiankang (modern-day Nanjing), becoming Emperor Yuan of Jin.Sima Rui’s ascent to power was inseparable from the support of the Wang family. As recorded in "Shishuo Xinyu," upon his enthronement, Emperor Yuan insisted that Prime Minister Wang Dao share the imperial bed with him…

"Story of Yanxi Palace" is a drama with a strong sense of history and court aesthetics. Previous dramas of the same kind focus on dramatic conflicts, while Yanxi is particularly prominent in the aspects of palace life, which is extremely rare. The whole drama gives the audience a strong sense of substitution, as if they have followed the characters live in the Forbidden City for 70 episodes. The furnishings in the palace are carefully arranged by the crew, whether it is Shoukang Palace, Chuxiu Palace or Yanxi Palace. Among them, the most impressive is the cloisonne! When it comes to cloisonne, it might not be known to everyone, but it definitely leaves a deep imprint in every viewer's heart. When stepping into the Qianqing Palace, the red-crowned crane and incense burners in front of emperor seat, all of which show the supreme power and dignity of the royal family. Let's learn more about cloisonne, the ancient royal luxury.   The characteristics and history of cloisonne China cloisonne, the national intangible cultural heritage, is one of the famous special metal handicrafts with a history of more than 600 years. It is also known as "copper padding thread weaving vitreous enamel", which…

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…

The market for historical costume dramas, primarily targeting young audiences, has always welcomed the arrival of dramas with higher attractiveness, fresher faces, and more sophisticated costume and set designs. Even before the arrival of summer, various types of historical costume dramas based on IP have flooded the market. Leading the charge is "Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Moon Pact," the first live-action adaptation of the popular anime "Fox Spirit Matchmaker," produced by iQIYI. Starring Yang Mi and Gong Jun, it is an eastern fantasy drama. The strong appeal of A-list actors, magnificent scenery, and exquisite costume design have become the magic weapons for attracting attention and winning over fans. With top-notch production values, the series delivers a visual feast, presenting a dazzling array of beauties and scenery imbued with Eastern charm, immersing viewers in its splendor. Many have predicted that "Fox Spirit Matchmaker: Red-Moon Pact" will surely secure a place on the hot drama charts at the end of May. As expected, the drama's premiere attracted attention, with its popularity on streaming platforms surpassing 8888 within 19 hours. It quickly climbed to the top spot on popular drama charts on platforms from the second day of its TV broadcast. Various trending topics…

If you are a traditional Chinese culture and clothing fan, then the 1987 version of Dream of the Red Chamber is a drama you can’t miss. Although it was a drama 35 years ago, relying on the strong support of the original work and high-quality clothing, makeup and props, it is still the top Chinese costume drama in many people’s minds. A blogger that is introduced to everyone today, she is obviously also a loyal audience of The Dream of Red Mansions. She has successfully imitated several characters in Dream of the Red Chamber and won the love of netizens. She is @Wo Shi Ba Pi Ya (我是扒皮呀). Let's take a look at her interpretation of the characters in Dream of the Red Chamber.   Wang Xifeng Wang Xifeng, one of the heroines in Dream of the Red Chamber. She is beautiful, with a pair of phoenix triangular eyes and two slender and long eyebrows, slim and good-looking. Appearing dressed in colorful embroidery splendor, laughter first gets, like a divine concubine fairy. Because of her beautiful appearance and charming bearing, Jia Rui was fascinated by her. The left picture is the 87th version of "Dream of the Red Chamber" Wang…