Dance

During the Tang Dynasty, which was the pinnacle of feudal society in China, many aspects reached unprecedented heights. Well-known achievements such as poetry, calligraphy, painting, and dance were accompanied by a vibrant clothing culture that became one of the most dazzling chapters in Chinese fashion history. Consequently, hairstyles also exhibited an unimaginable array of colors and postures.   High Bun The term "high bun" may refer to a specific type of bun hairstyle, but it is more likely a general term for tall buns. High buns were frequently seen during the Tang Dynasty and underwent continuous innovation in style. Many poets mentioned them in their works. The popularity of these high buns spanned the entire three hundred years of the Tang Dynasty.   Lofty Bun Lofty Bun (峨髻, e ji) implies grandeur and magnificence. It is widely believed that the hairstyle depicted in Zhou Fang's painting "Court Ladies Adorning Their Hair with Flowers" represents lofty bun due to its towering mountain-like appearance. However, some people associate it with flower-decorated bun because women in the painting wear golden and silver floral accessories.   Side Bun This type of bun existed as early as the Sui Dynasty. It involved creating a tall…

In the hallowed realm of wuxia, where moonlit blades dance and honor collides with treachery, there exists a tapestry woven from starlight and secrets. It is a world where the clash of steel echoes through bamboo forests, and the scent of jasmine mingles with the tang of blood. Within this intricate web of fate, “The Meteor, Butterfly, and Sword” (流星蝴蝶剑) unfurls—a tale that transcends mere legend. The Meteor: Meng Xinghun’s Fleeting Brilliance Meng Xinghun (孟星舜), a shadow among shadows, strides across the martial world like a comet ablaze. His life, like that celestial wanderer, burns brightly but briefly. As an assassin, he wields his blade with ruthless precision, leaving behind a trail of enigma and whispered rumors. Yet beneath the cold steel lies a heart yearning for redemption—a desire to escape the cycle of violence and find solace in the arms of love. The Butterfly: Sun Xiaodie’s Fragile Wings Sun Xiaodie (孙小蝶) flutters through this tale, delicate as a butterfly’s wing. Her beauty captivates hearts, but her spirit harbors secrets. She dances on the edge of danger, torn between loyalty and desire. For her, love blooms like a forbidden flower—an intoxicating fragrance that defies the rigid rules of jianghu. In…

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…

Peking Opera, which is also called Beijing Opera, is a Chinese theater style that has been around for hundreds of years. It includes singing, acting, dance, and gymnastics. It began in the late 18th century and has become one of China's most important traditional customs. But what is it about Peking Opera that makes it so interesting and different? Let's learn more about the methods and practices that make this art form unique. How Peking Opera Began and How It Has Changed Over Time In the 1790s, four Anhui opera troupes came to Beijing to play for the royal court. This is where Peking Opera got its start. Over time, these troupes mixed styles from around the world with Beijing's own style, which is what we now call Peking Opera. The art form did very well during the Qing Dynasty and kept changing by taking parts from other opera styles and folk arts. Even though it had problems during the Cultural Revolution, Peking Opera has come back to life and continues to amaze people all over the world. Traditional Asian Theater Music Traditional Asian theater music plays a vital role in setting the stage and enhancing the storytelling of various…

How popular is Chinese Hanfu? It is reported that the total market size of the Hanfu industry is estimated to reach 1.09 billion yuan. ▲ on December 22, 2019, Hanfu lovers are performing dance. Even the foreign media have paid attention to Chinese Hanfu. According to CNN, Chinese Hanfu culture has become a new trend among Chinese young people. More and more young people put on Hanfu and go to the streets to show people Hanfu culture. AFP also said that in modern China, Hanfu fans are in all fields: from history fans to animation fans, to students and even young professionals. According to Russia's satellite news agency, Chinese Hanfu culture has spread to other countries for a long time. Mysterious patterns and silk have attracted people's attention. Now, this culture has returned again. With the increase of cultural exchanges between China and the west, more Chinese art forms and traditional culture have gradually entered the international field of vision. Some elements of Hanfu have also sought after. Indeed, integrating Chinese elements into fashion is a common design method of international brands in recent years. According to Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao, Chinese elements can be seen everywhere. In addition to the details…

On March 19, the first episode of a new series of "Chinese Solar Terms" created by Henan Radio and Television, "The Adventures in Spring Equinox," was broadcast. Through a short story in a light-hearted and pleasant style, the program talked about the symbolic meaning and characteristics of the "Chun Fen (春分, spring equinox)." In 2021, Henan TV's "Chinese Festivals" series became popular with several traditional dance programs and was praised by netizens for its "Aesthetic Ceiling." The new series of "Chinese Solar Terms" has abandoned the form of songs and dances and expressed the connotation and symbolic meaning of solar terms with drama stories close to the life of the times. The spring equinox has an essential significance in astronomy. The day and night are 12 hours long, which the ancients consider as a day of balance between yin and yang. From the spring equinox, China will gradually enter into the sunny spring, and there are customs such as flying kites, eating spring cuisine, and standing eggs. With this in mind, the creators of the program chose this day to launch the first issue of the "Chinese Solar Terms" series. General director Chen Lei revealed: "Compared to traditional festivals, the solar…

Henan TV's "Tang Palace Night Banquet" takes us back to the Tang Dynasty, a dance that makes us marvel at the"Chinese culture is profound" and makes more people start to focus on traditional culture. Today we introduce a new theatre production. It is a Chinese dance drama "Zhi Ci Qing Lǜ (只此青绿, The Painting Journey—The Legend of A Panorama of Mountains and Rivers)", which is based on the logic of the creation of "A Panorama of Mountains and Rivers (千里江山图)", the only work of the Chinese painter Wang Ximeng (王希孟) from the Northern Song Dynasty. It is a joint production by The Palace Museum, China Oriental Performing Arts Group, and People's Daily Online! After its premiere at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, it immediately received an exposure of 247 million and was well received by the audience! The whole drama is about the upcoming exhibition of A Panorama of Mountains and Rivers, a researcher (in the drama is known as the Zhan Juan Ren 展卷人) from The Palace Museum, after studying "A Panorama of Mountains and Rivers", entered the inner world of the painter Ximeng through time travel, and the interplay of time and space allowed…

Music in Ancient Chinese society Music was always a part of chinese culture. It was used in many things such as dance, ceremonies, banquets, rituals, entertainment, and more. Music along with other things was molded into ancient society. Today, many people still play these instruments and dedicate their lives to study them. 1. Pipa 琵琶 The pipa (琵琶) is one of the most played Chinese instruments today. It is commonly described as a four stringed plucked lute shaped like a pear and played vertically. It is named by how it is played; pi (琵) meaning played forward, and pa (琶) meaning played backward. A lute that looked like the pipa was seen in the Indian Kusana scriptures in the first century ad. That is why it is likely that the pipa may have been introduced to China from India or Central Asia. The pipa has more than 2000 years of history in China. Because of its beauty, the pipa is used in many wuxia dramas and hanfu photo shoots. One of the historical four beauties of China is always drawn with a pipa. The pipa became known in China by the second century ad. Pipa is usually made of rosewood…