Today is the Lantern Festival, the first full moon night of the year in the Chinese Lunar New Year. In the Chinese lunar calendar, the first month of the year is called the month of Yuan (元), and the ancient people called the night Xiao (宵), so it is called the Yuan Xiao (元宵, Lantern Festival), also known as Shang Yuan (上元) and Yuan Xi (元夕). On this night, all activities revolve around lantern. As a specific festival, the Lantern Festival was shaped in Sui, and from Tang to Qing Dynasty, it was continuously grand, gradually forming a festival custom with lanterns as the core. How did people spend the Lantern Festival in the past? Follow The Palace Museum to check out the Lantern Festival customs that inherited for thousands of years.   Rich Traditional Lantern Types Both daily or festival, from the palace to the folk, the ancient people used a wide range of lantern styles, characters, flowers, birds, fish, insects, and so on. The exquisite and chic appearance of the lanterns gives good meaning. During the Lantern Festival, there are some specific categories of lanterns. For example, the Qingcheng lantern is a custom-made palace lantern in the Forbidden…

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…

Chinese incense culture has a long history. As an important part of incense culture - Chinese traditional scented sachet culture, it also carries a large amount of cultural information, reflecting the aesthetic concepts and social customs of people in different periods, as well as the achievements of Chinese textiles and fine manufacturing. Nowadays, due to the emergence and use of aromatherapy, perfume, and other items, incense sachets have rarely been used except on specific festivals and occasions, but they have left a strong mark in the history of incense used in China.   The History of the Traditional Sachet Scented sachet (香囊, Xiangnang) is a folk embroidered craft created by ancient women, originally developed from Peinang (佩囊), a small cloth pocket used by the ancients to hold small objects. There were no pockets on the clothes of the ancients, so some portable necessities, such as seals, hand towels, coins, etc., were stored in this kind of pouch, and when they went out, they put it on their waist, so it was called "Peinang". Scented sachet belongs to a kind of Peinang, which is named after the spices stored in the sac. According to the literature, the history of wearing scented…

For thousands of years, the Chinese have used rings to symbolize essential events, births, deaths, weddings, anniversaries, etc. The rings are generally worn by the oldest person present and passed down through generations. While the modern ring represents romantic love and commitment, what are the symbolic meanings of the traditional rings in Chinese history? Let's go into the past life of the ring.   Ancient - The Ring of Bone More than 5,000 years ago, when humankind was still in its primitive society, the "ring" was already born. At that time, it did not have an exact name, but was just a ring-shaped object worn on people's fingers. Neolithic period - bone ring In 1959, archaeologists found twenty traditional rings in the burials of the Dawenkou Longshan culture in Tai'an, Shandong province. Several of them are still worn on the finger bones of the deceased. These rings were made from natural animal bones, tooth bones, jade, etc. Although the process was simple, they were well made, and the surface was polished smooth, and some were inlaid with turquoise. This is the earliest "ring" found in China. It appeared in people's daily lives before records about it in history books.  …

When you browse through the tutorials of hanfu hairstyles, you will find that the use of wigs is widespread. Is it true that girls had long and dense hair in ancient China? modern hanfu wigs The eternal problem of thinning hair is not only a problem for modern people, but ancient beauties also needed to rely on wigs to complete the look. The application of wigs has a history of thousands of years. Today we briefly introduce the history of wigs.   Di (髢, dí) and Bi (髲, bì) were the original names for traditional Chinese wigs. However, not everyone had access to wigs in ancient China. At the beginning of the wig's birth, it was not an ordinary accessory. The Rites of Zhou records that Zhuishi (追师), a kind of palace official in charge of the empress' headdress, made wigs and headdresses. 追师掌王后之首服，为副编次追衡笄…… ——《周礼》 Fu (副), Bian (编), Ci (次) are three different levels of wig types, only worn during critical events such as rituals, and only for the exclusive use of noblewomen such as empress and madam. The famous Mawangdui Han tomb has unearthed a well-preserved "Fu" wig. This set of wigs is thick and black, and Lady…

The traditional Chinese long dress is the symbol of Chinese nationality. Nowadays, we can see many kinds of China's style dresses with admirable textiles and delicate embroidery all around the world. Actually, traditional European costume has similar dress patterns and a corset has been used to emphasize women’s bodyline. Both western and eastern outfits show the approach to how people and society perceive on dress and women. As we know, each region's traditional costume is not only the dress to decorate on women’s body, but also to express the identity of their life and culture. traditional Chinese hanfu dress Browse the list of beautiful Chinese dress styles and find the one you love the most to add just a touch of luxury and fun to your every day. And hope you like it. Best 4 Chinese Long Dress in History We should know that China has a long history. In fact, there are more than hundreds of styles of clothing in all periods, but don't worry, we will pick out the most popular dress styles for you. 1. Shenyi The shenyi is a traditional Chinese dress literally "cover the whole body," which is the classic garment for both males and…

What is a tea ceremony? The book "Chinese Tea Ceremony", is explained as a cultural art that embodies the perfect combination of tea and culture, a means of cultivating oneself. However, when people mention tea ceremony, many think of the Japanese tea ceremony. Yet this ancient way of drinking tea has actually retained many Chinese Tang and Song dynasty customs. Over the past two thousand years, the way people drink tea has been constantly changing from simple to complex. It took Chinese people more than one thousand years to evolve from simplicity to complexity; then another one thousand plus years to return back to simplicity. Let us explore the Chinese tea ceremony by savoring a cup of warm tea soup while searching for flavors once tasted by our ancestors.   1 Tang Dynasty: The Art of Jian Cha Ceremony The most primitive way for Chinese people to taste tea was by eating it. Ancient people originally used tea leaves for medicinal and food purposes, boiling fresh leaves and consuming the liquid directly. Gradually, they discovered that tea had a refreshing effect on the body, leading to the development of cooking tea as a dish with added seasonings such as scallions,…

Hanfu, as the traditional clothing of China, appeared as early as 5000 years ago in the Huaxia period. And until the Han Dynasty, uniform dress standards were established, and Han Fu clothing officially became the basic style clothing for the ancient Chinese people. The Han Dynasty clothing developed rapidly in this period and had a great influence on the history of Chinese dress. Each China's dynasty has its own memorable culture. Han dynasty, for the first time, costume design and color use have become unified, making traditional Chinese clothing an extremely important part of Chinese culture and a great work of art. Actually, throughout China's history, clothing style experienced a notable changing from ancient times to the modern era. Spanning over four centuries, the Han period is considered a golden age in Chinese history. The Han dynasty is a long history, but the Han dynasty clothing retained its simple and elegant style. So, let's through this short article to explore that fascinating history.   A Brief History of Han Dynasty Clothing The Han dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC) and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms period (220–280 AD). To this day,…

In recent years, the production of historical dramas has increasingly emphasized the organic fusion of traditional cultural elements with storytelling, showcasing a more sophisticated and heartfelt approach to presenting traditional culture. From my perspective, the application of traditional cultural elements in historical dramas can be categorized into three levels: external, superficial, and internal depths.   Authentic Historical Restoration Historical dramas have shown a growing emphasis on meticulous attention to costume and set design, striving for a faithful reconstruction of historical accuracy. Some productions adhere strictly to scholarly research, almost replicating characters' attire and appearances directly from ancient texts and paintings. This approach allows viewers to experience the true aesthetic charm of traditional Chinese clothing. For example, in "Serenade of Peaceful Joy," the portrayal of Emperor Renzong of Song (played by Wang Kai) closely mirrors historical portraits, achieving a striking visual realism akin to a 3D print from ancient paintings. Beyond costumes, headwear serves as a crucial element of visual aesthetics for female characters. Instead of exaggerated hairstyles, integrating traditional intangible cultural heritage elements into hair accessories creates a sophisticated and refreshing visual appeal. For example, in "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace," the use of Tian-tsui ornaments on the hair…

In the ever-evolving landscape of television dramas, few things spark as much debate and disappointment as abrupt endings and unfulfilled promises. Recently, the Chinese TV series "Golden Age of Jin Yong" (金庸武侠世界) found itself at the center of such controversy, leaving viewers divided and questioning the integrity of its production. The series, originally touted to encompass 60 episodes under the ambitious title "New Legend of the Condor Heroes," abruptly concluded after airing only the first segment titled "Iron-Blooded Heart" (铁血丹心). This unexpected decision was met with a wave of criticism from loyal fans who had eagerly anticipated the unfolding of the entire narrative. Announced via the official Weibo account on July 6th, the closure of "Golden Age of Jin Yong" came as a shock to many. The post expressed gratitude to viewers for their support and hinted at a farewell to the martial arts world depicted in the series. Despite initial excitement and high expectations fueled by promotional material featuring a star-studded cast and grandiose production promises, the series failed to deliver on its full potential. At its core, "Golden Age of Jin Yong" aimed to create a cinematic universe akin to Marvel's, gathering iconic characters from Jin Yong's extensive…

Recently, with the simultaneous release of popular ancient costume dramas on major long-video platforms, the competition for the summer blockbuster season has intensified. Among the many highly anticipated dramas, "Dashing Youth" , launched on Youku, stands out uniquely. It belongs to the traditional genre of martial arts dramas but has carved out a new path by presenting a fresh perspective and innovative production that resonates with a youthful audience. Describing it succinctly as a good drama is challenging, yet this complexity doesn't hinder its spread among younger viewers. It vividly portrays the thrilling world of martial arts and paints a captivating picture of heroic figures. The bold youthful spirit and the protagonists' journey of growth in the vast world resonate deeply with the audience. The series features high-intensity action sequences and visually stunning designs that embrace traditional Chinese aesthetics, providing an engaging visual experience. Even though the ultimate goal may not be immediately apparent, following the young heroes as they navigate the martial arts world is compelling in itself. In today's drama market, "Dashing Youth" represents a rare breed of martial arts drama that appeals to the "youthful" sentiment. However, its debut on Youku is not surprising. In recent years,…

The Mamian skirt pattern, as a traditional cultural element, is leading a new trend in the fashion world today. Its unique design and patterns showcase the elegance and temperament of ancient Han women, while also incorporating elements of modern fashion, making it a highly regarded focus in the fashion industry. Let us explore the structure, content, and trends of the Mamian skirt pattern in the fashion world. 01 Diversified Material Innovations In modern fashion, designers have applied the Mamian skirt pattern to various materials such as silk, cotton, chiffon, and blended fabrics. The Mamian skirt exhibits diverse styles and characteristics through material innovation, combining vintage flavor with a contemporary sense of fashion. This diversified material innovation injects new vitality and fashion trends into the Mamian skirt pattern.   02 Innovative Styles and Diversification Modern designers have retained the traditional Mamian skirt's basic structure and introduced many innovations. For example, the Mamian skirt can be paired with other garments such as t-shirts, shirts, or jackets to create a unique fashion style. Additionally, the Mamian skirt pattern can be incorporated into accessories such as handbags, shoes, or jewelry, adding unique highlights to the overall look.   03 Perfect Fusion of Tradition and…

Among the numerous garments of Hanfu, the most popular one is probably the Mamian skirt. As a clothing item full of ethnic style, the skirt is characterized by vibrant colors and unique patterns. Wearing it seems like traveling through time and experiencing the charm of traditional culture. In fact, the Mamian skirt is not a completely new design, its history can be traced back to a hundred years ago. Also known as Mamian pleated skirt, it was one of the main skirt styles for ancient Chinese women. It consists of four skirt doors, both front and back, overlapping in pairs. The outer skirt door is adorned with decorations, while the inner skirt door has fewer or no decorations. The Ma Mian Qun is pleated on the side, and the skirt waist is often made of white fabric, symbolizing a lifelong union. It is fastened with a rope or button. The design of the Mamian skirt highlights symmetry and streamlined shapes, emphasizing the curves of women and creating an elegant and dignified image for the wearer. The charm of the Mamian skirt has actually transcended national borders. At the banquet where Princess Diana was announced as the future royal bride in…