Qin dynasty

The tradition of red makeup can be traced back to the earliest days of civilization, where cheeks were painted with cinnabar and other substances in a rather rough manner, which later gradually became more delicate. In the Qin Dynasty, palace ladies wore red makeup and green eyebrows, a beautiful style for the ladies of the court. In "The Song of Ming Jun" by Emperor Wu of Liang during the Southern Dynasties, it is written: "Who can bear to look into the mirror, holding it to reflect the red makeup." This refers to Wang Zhaojun wearing red makeup. Since then, red makeup has almost become synonymous with young women in poetry. In a poem by Prince Xianwen of the Liang Dynasty praising a beauty's makeup, it says: "Shy and reluctant to come out, she still says her makeup is incomplete. Green eyebrows broaden, rouge spreads across her face." In "Watching Lanterns" by Zhang Xiao Yuan of the Tang Dynasty, he wrote: "In ten thousand households, the light of candles shines; every door opens to reveal red makeup." Young ladies would not forget to apply red makeup even when watching lanterns on the Lantern Festival. In "Parting Thoughts" by Yuan Zhen, it…

Hanfu is the Chinese traditional national costume. It covers a wide range of time. Different dynasties have different styles of Hanfu. This article will sort out the most classic Hanfu styles of each dynasty so that you can quickly understand the classic Hanfu styles of each dynasty. Qin and Han Dynasties The Qin and Han Dynasties are the two unified dynasties in Chinese history, the first imperial era in Chinese history. After the unification of China in the Qin Dynasty, the dress system was established, and the standard etiquette of Han clothing was more obvious. The clothes of the Qin and Han Dynasties mainly inherited the influence of the Zhou Dynasty, and still took the robe as the typical clothing style, which was mainly divided into straight trains and curved trains. In daily life, the difference between men and women is not significant. Both men and women wear wide sleeves with large lapels. The difference is that men tie leather belts around their waists, while women tie them only with ribbons. Wei and Jin Dynasties During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, influenced by social politics, economy, and culture, the style of Hanfu was free and easy, simple and elegant, and…

The Han Dynasty was the longest feudal dynasty in ancient China after the great unification of the Qin Dynasty. More than four hundred years of the Han Dynasty laid a solid foundation for Han, Hanzi, and Han culture. The same is naturally true in traditional Chinese makeup history. Overall, the core ideas that influenced women's aesthetics during the Han Dynasty were the ideas of Taoism and New Confucianism. The former had the greatest impact on the early and mid-Han Dynasty. The policy of "Recover from a Social Upheaval and Restore Production and Develop" was implemented by the rulers in the early Han Dynasty. Taoism's "Huang–Lao political ideology" responded to this social demand. Focused on the development of natural and "Wu Is the Origin ideas", while advocating an open, positive atmosphere, had a profound impact on the aesthetics of female makeup in this period.   01 Han Dynasty Makeup powder Compared with the pre-Qin dynasty, makeup powder in the Han dynasty had a great development. The powder for the face was based on rice powder, and with the rise of alchemy in the Qin and Han dynasties and the improvement of smelting technology in the Han dynasty, lead powder appeared and became…

The Han Dynasty was the longest feudal dynasty in ancient China after the great unification of the Qin Dynasty. More than four hundred years of the Han Dynasty laid a solid foundation for Han, Hanzi, and Han culture. The same is naturally true in traditional Chinese makeup history. Overall, the core ideas that influenced women's aesthetics during the Han Dynasty were the ideas of Taoism and New Confucianism. The former had the greatest impact on the early and mid-Han Dynasty. The policy of "Recover from a Social Upheaval and Restore Production and Develop" was implemented by the rulers in the early Han Dynasty. Taoism's "Huang–Lao political ideology" responded to this social demand. Focused on the development of natural and "Wu Is the Origin ideas", while advocating an open, positive atmosphere, had a profound impact on the aesthetics of female makeup in this period.   01 Han Dynasty Makeup powder Compared with the pre-Qin dynasty, makeup powder in the Han dynasty had a great development. The powder for the face was based on rice powder, and with the rise of alchemy in the Qin and Han dynasties and the improvement of smelting technology in the Han dynasty, lead powder appeared and became…

The image of Qin Shi Huang as a tyrant has been stuck for over two thousand years. However, in recent years, a discovery of the "Yunmeng Qin Bamboo Slips" in a tomb in Hubei has provided an opportunity for Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who has faced criticism for over two thousand years, to potentially redeem his reputation. In 2015, an archaeological team made a significant discovery in an ancient tomb located in Hubei. They unearthed a collection of two hundred thousand bamboo slips dating back to the Qin Dynasty. These bamboo slips, attributed to a low-ranking official named "Xi," were revealed to contain records of laws and regulations from that era.  Figure 1 - "Xi" Figurine  The recently unearthed Qin Dynasty bamboo slips have provided valuable insights that challenge long-standing perceptions. Among the content, there is a specific passage that documents the military regulations of the Qin Dynasty. This discovery sheds new light on our understanding of the military practices during that time. Figure 2 - Qin Dynasty Bamboo Slips According to the records, the recently discovered Qin Dynasty bamboo slips outline the consequences for being late on duty. If an individual arrives late within three to five days, they would…

Hanfu is the Chinese traditional national costume. It covers a wide range of time. Different dynasties have different styles of Hanfu. This article will sort out the most classic Hanfu styles of each dynasty so that you can quickly understand the classic Hanfu styles of each dynasty. Qin and Han Dynasties The Qin and Han Dynasties are the two unified dynasties in Chinese history, the first imperial era in Chinese history. After the unification of China in the Qin Dynasty, the dress system was established, and the standard etiquette of Han clothing was more obvious. The clothes of the Qin and Han Dynasties mainly inherited the influence of the Zhou Dynasty, and still took the robe as the typical clothing style, which was mainly divided into straight trains and curved trains. In daily life, the difference between men and women is not significant. Both men and women wear wide sleeves with large lapels. The difference is that men tie leather belts around their waists, while women tie them only with ribbons. Wei and Jin Dynasties During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, influenced by social politics, economy, and culture, the style of Hanfu was free and easy, simple and elegant, and…

Quju Robe This style of Han clothing comes from the Qin Dynasty to the Han Dynasty, also known as the round Lapel robe, which is usually defined as the robe made of deep clothes. It is characterized by a right Lapel with a cross collar. The end of the lapel is usually triangular in shape and is fixed by a tie around the back. So far, the unearthed objects are the Shan Rao Qu Ju robe from the Han Dynasty tomb of Mawangdui in Changsha, and its shape needs further study. Qixiong Ruqun Qixiong Ruqun is generally composed of a short upper Ruqu and a long chest skirt. It is also a variation of Ruqun, which is usually defined as a clothing system.Qixiong Ruqun is characterized by that the skirt is usually tied above the chest, and the chest strap can be tied in the center or the front and sides of the chest. Qixiong Ruqun was mainly popular during the Sui Dynasty, Tang Dynasty, and Five Dynasties. Today’s common forms are generally made with reference to the styles of the middle and late Tang Dynasty. In addition, the collar type of Qixiong Ruqun can be divided into two types:…

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,…

With the revival of traditional culture, traditional Chinese outfits, Hanfu, is also more and more popular. However, there are still many readers who have some confusion about the structure of Hanfu. This article will introduce you to a complete set of structural details of Hanfu. "Hanfu", in general, refers to the traditional costumes of the Han nationality. It does not just refer to the clothing of the Han Dynasty. The traditional costume of the Han nationality can be traced back to the Zhou Dynasty. After the development of the Qin Dynasty, it gradually reached maturity in the Han Dynasty. Hanfu contains a complete set of clothing systems, including headwear, clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. 1. Hanfu Headwear (Shoufu, 首服) Shoufu is the headwear, which is an important part of traditional Chinese outfits. We know that the traditional Han people, both men, and women, should have their hair tied. When men and women grow up, they will wind their hair into a bun and put it on their head, and fix it with a hairpin. The main headdress is Mao (hat, 帽), Jin (scarf, 巾), etc. The headwear of adult men is often Guan (crown, 冠) Bian (弁), Futou (幞头), etc. Of…

Some time ago, the Ancient Chinese drama "Qin Dynasty Epic (大秦赋)" attracted a lot of attention. The drama tells the story of Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng (秦始皇 嬴政), who with the support of ministers such as Lǚ Bu Wei (吕不韦), Li Si (李斯) and Wang Jian (王翦), in the late Warring States period, destroyed the six kingdoms, and established the first centralized state in Chinese history. The crew's skillful production of scenery and props and costumes, the details of which are highly restored to historical facts, bring a sense of "high class" rarely seen on the screen. Today we put aside the plot, to enjoy the "Qin Dynasty Epic" in the restoration of the ancient Qin dynasty costume and makeup look. About Military Costume Compared with the previous series, "Qin Dynasty Epic" has made a lot of efforts in costumes, props, and make-up, with more than 11,000 sets of costumes and 4,000 sets of armor for different characters, more than 80 chariots, siege chariots, and other large props, more than 10,000 pieces of swords, shields, spears and other weapons, more than 1,000 internal and external scenes and props, and many indoor appliances are modeled after archaeological objects, almost none…

The Warring States Period, spanning from 475 BC to 221 BC, was a time of chaos and transformation in ancient China. This era was marked by incessant warfare and the rise and fall of states, ultimately leading to the unification of China under the Qin Dynasty. Here are 15 key facts that paint a vivid picture of this tumultuous period. 1. A Long Era of Warfare The Warring States Period lasted for 254 years, beginning in 475 BC and ending in 221 BC. It was the final chapter of the Zhou Dynasty (1046–221 BC), which itself was divided into three phases: Western Zhou (1046–771 BC), the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC), and finally, the Warring States Period. 2. The Fall of the Zhou Dynasty The Warring States Period began when nobles withdrew their support for the Zhou Dynasty. The vassal states, granted autonomy through a system of enfeoffment, declared independence and vied for territory, transforming into independent kingdoms. 3. Seven Dominant States (Image from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warring_States_period) By the middle of the Warring States Period, the landscape had consolidated into seven major states: Qin, Chu, Zhao, Wei, Han, Yan, and Qi. Each state controlled significant regions, with Qin in the west, Chu…

Han Dynasty clothing refers to the hat and clothing system of the Han Dynasty. After the strict governance of the Qin Dynasty, Liu Bang, who rose to power from a common background, aimed to give the people a break and did not make significant changes to the general systems, including the clothing system, which largely followed the Qin Dynasty. It wasn't until the second year of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty's Yongping era (59 AD) that a formal and comprehensive regulation was established. Hanfu in Social Hierarchy  The hierarchical status of clothing during the Han Dynasty was primarily reflected through hats and ceremonial sashes. Different official ranks had different hats. Therefore, the hat system was particularly complex, with as many as 16 types. There were also strict regulations for shoes during the Han Dynasty. Ritual attire required wearing flat shoes (xu), court attire required wearing (lü) shoes, and outdoor attire required wearing sandals (ji). When women got married, they were supposed to wear wooden clogs, which were painted and tied with colorful ribbons. Historical Evolution During the early period of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang himself had a limited understanding of the symbolic role of clothing. He once…

The illustrations in this series of articles are from the work of Chinese illustrator Xiao Ling Chun (小鈴春) Xiao Ling Chun combines the features of Chinese historical relics and shows the characteristics of women's hanfu clothing in different periods of ancient China through illustrations.   Han Dynasty The Han Dynasty was a great unification dynasty after the Qin Dynasty, divided into the Western Han and Eastern Han periods, with a total of 29 emperors and reigning for 405 years. The Han Dynasty was the first golden period in the history of China's development, and the Han Chinese were named during this period. Although the names of the dynasties have changed since the Han Dynasty, the status of the Han as the main ethnic group in China has remained unchanged. Western Han (202 BC – 8 AD) Xin dynasty (9–23 AD) Eastern Han (25–220 AD)   Wei, Jin, the Southern and Northern Dynasties Wei, Jin, the Southern and Northern Dynasties were the most frequent period of regime change in Chinese history, mainly divided into the Three Kingdoms (Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu), Western Jin, Eastern Jin, Sixteen Kingdoms, Northern and Southern dynasties. The development of Chinese culture during this…

When was the traditional Chinese fan born and what did it first look like? These are no longer available in kind. According to the speculation of Mr. Shen Congwen, the traditional Chinese fan was used at least not later than after the appearance of pottery in the Neolithic period.   Pre Qin Dynasty In ancient times, human beings picked a leaf of a plant or a feather of a bird in the hot summer, and simply processed it to fan the wind and take shade from the sun, which is the prototype of the original fan. In the initial era, the fan was called "箑(shà)" or "萐(shà)", and also "翣(shà)”", and only in the later development was it unified and called "扇(shàn)". The above-mentioned different fan of the ancient name, but also reflects the material of the fan at that time are bulrush, feathers, bamboo, and so on. Bian Mian The oldest fan excavation artifact at present is a short-handled bamboo fan, also known as Bian Mian (便面), unearthed from an ancient tomb of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty in Jing'an County, Jiangxi. As the earliest image of a fan, it appears on a bronze pot unearthed in Chengdu, which belongs…

The ancient armor is to some extent equivalent to the present military uniforms, which is the image of an army and therefore must be decorated. The decoration actually works in two ways, on the one hand, it is to show the good image of the mighty and on the other hand, it is to protect the armor from erosion. Leather armor is easy to rot and iron armor is easy to rust, both need to be protected by some decorative methods. The main methods of Chinese armor decoration are as follows.   Paint, coloring Before Han and Wei either the leather armor or the iron armor, the armor pieces are painted, and repeatedly painted with multi-layer paint. Most of the Warring States' leather armors was black, according to the painted traces of terracotta warriors and horses, and the armor of the Qin Dynasty was mostly black. Many written records of the Han Dynasty armor are called Xuanjia (玄甲, black armor), and the armors of painted warrior figurines are also painted black. The color of black is a bit monotonous, so there is the idea of applying gold and silver pieces on the armor for decoration and painting at the same…

Why did the Qin dynasty dress admire the black color? What were the forms of women's clothing in the Qin, Han, Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties? What are the characteristics of men's clothing in different dynasties? How was the style and pattern of Hanfu chosen? How did the ancients choose different styles of Hanfu for different occasions? What were the characteristics of makeup in different periods of history? If you are new to Hanfu (traditional Chinese dress), you certainly have many questions and will feel that Hanfu is very complicated. Moreover, the Chinese Hanfu costume covers not only the dress, but also the makeup, hair, and accessories. So we will compile in this post documentaries on Hanfu, if you are interested in Hanfu and Hanfu related culture, you may get your doubts solved through them.   李白 / Li Bai "Li Bai" is divided into four episodes, attempting to sketch a clearer and more complete outline of this artistic giant through the life of Li Bai, and tracing the spiritual character of the Chinese people for thousands of years. To vividly tell the important episodes and present the atmosphere of Li Bai's literary works, "Li Bai" combines realistic scenes and…