What You Might Need to Know to Go from a Hanfu Novice to a Hanfu Aficionado.
In the past, China was known as the “Nation of Clothing and Etiquette,” meaning its dress and ritual culture far outshone that of neighboring regions. If someone dressed sloppily—say, with messy hair and disheveled clothing—they might even be seen as “uncivilized” (though the carefree Wei-Jin era was a bit of Read more…
How many of you clicked on this article because of the title? Maybe you’re curious which outfit Chinese people see as the “better” choice—qipaos or hanfu. By the end, you’ll understand. If you ask which outfit best highlights a woman’s graceful curves and elegance, the qipao would almost always come Read more…
Modern people can basically wear whatever they want, as long as they can afford it—but it wasn’t nearly that free in ancient times. China has long been called the “Land of Elegant Attire and Ritual Propriety.” Clothing, as an outward expression of spiritual civilization, carried far deeper meanings, serving Read more…
The live-action movie Mulan brings back so many memories for audiences worldwide—it even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Costume Design. Yet, when it first hit screens, Chinese viewers couldn’t stop discussing its Chinese outfit, makeup, and props. What might Mulan have actually worn back in her time? And what defined Read more…
The Tang Dynasty was the peak of China’s feudal society. Back then, both people’s thinking and material production reached historic heights. Tang dynasty clothing fashion, evolving dramatically across nearly three centuries, showcased unparalleled diversity in silhouette, color, and ornamentation, moving from restrained elegance to opulent grandeur and nostalgic revival, embodying the Read more…
You’ve probably seen lots of women wearing hanfu—take actress Xu Jiao, for example. She wore a wide-belt mamian skirt to the 36th Golden Rooster Awards while promoting the film Be My Family. It was a great way to showcase the elegance of hanfu on such a formal and public occasion. However, there’s Read more…
Does anyone know more about the unique historical role of eunuchs in ancient China? Lately, there’s been a lot of buzz around The Litchi Road, both the film and TV versions — but people have noticed that the eunuch characters wear different styles of their hanfu hats in each. So, Read more…
In the costume drama A Dream Within A Dream, Li Yitong plays Song Yimeng, a modern woman who time-travels to the past. In one scene, she ties her hanfu hair ribbon into a bow, leading viewers to ask: “Isn’t that ribbon style a bit too modern?” Ⅰ. What is that Read more…
In The Litchi Road, actress Yan Biguo’s portrayal of Lan Yu has captivated audiences—so much so that many viewers found her even more stunning than the female lead. She plays Amita’s right-hand woman: a loyal maid, trusted confidante, and top aide; she’s also the secret messenger for Zhao Zhangshu and Read more…
Struggling with how to style your hair for Hanfu? It can definitely feel overwhelming—so you might be tempted to just leave two loose strands at the sides as bangs. Sounds familiar? If that’s you, this blog might just have the answers you’re looking for. In the historical drama The Story Read more…