What You Might Need to Know to Go from a Hanfu Novice to a Hanfu Aficionado.
Hey there, Are you the fans of The Prisoner Of Beauty? Let’s talk about the comb hairpins worn by Song Zuer, who plays the female lead. These combs rest elegantly on her head, adding a gentle, jade-like charm while perfectly framing her face. But here’s a thought: did ancient Chinese really Read more…
Recently, Lan Xi (斓曦)—the actress who played Shen Meizhuang in Empresses in the Palace—stunned fans with a breathtaking photoshoot inspired by the Five Dynasties-era painting of “Court Ladies Wearing Flowered Headdresses.” Many online commented, “Wait, this is Shen Meizhuang? I almost didn’t recognize her!” Ⅰ. A Quick Introduction to the Read more…
We’ve talked a lot about traditional women’s hairstyles, but rarely do we touch on men’s. Maybe that’s because… there doesn’t seem to be much to talk about? Some people wonder: “Are male hairstyles in costume dramas running out of creativity?” Why do female characters get such a variety of intricate Read more…
Every time I watch a fight scene in a historical drama where the characters are wearing wide, flowing sleeves and still manage to fight effortlessly—even with the wind blowing into their sleeves—I can’t help but miss the high-quality costume dramas of the past. Back then, action scenes were real action Read more…
The new teaser for the historical drama The Legend of Zang Hai has just dropped, and Xiao Zhan’s costumes across different time periods are drawing a lot of attention. One look in particular stands out: his Ming Dynasty scholar attire. It’s a refreshing change and a great example of how today’s Read more…
The historical drama The Prisoner Of Beauty has been generating a lot of buzz since its recent release. Viewers are praising the cast’s strong performances, with many saying it’s absolutely worth watching. Actress Song Zuer, who plays the character Xiao Qiao, has especially captured attention with both her striking Han-style Read more…
In the historical hanfu drama Mysterious Lotus Casebook, the character Li Lianhua has been nicknamed “Lian the Treasure Chest” by fans online. Why? Because just like Doraemon, he seems to have an endless supply of gadgets hidden in his sleeves — secret letters, tokens, rings, a kettle, a sword, and Read more…
Years ago, Liu Yifei stunned audiences during the overseas promotion of A Chinese Ghost Story by wearing a pink and light yellow hanbok. Her ethereal beauty in the outfit only cemented her “Fairy Sister” reputation. However, the look sparked controversy at the time—many Chinese netizens mistakenly identified it as hanfu due Read more…
In many modern historical dramas, maidservants and their mistresses often appear to have nearly identical hairstyles and outfits—only differing in how elaborate or simplified the versions are. Sometimes, the maid even looks more traditionally “correct” than the lady of the house! It’s no wonder viewers sometimes joke that they can’t Read more…
Beyond the classic Dao robe we have discussed before, there’s another category of Ming dynasty menswear that’s gaining modern popularity—Tieli (贴里) and Yesa (曳撒). These styles fall under what’s known as the “duan-yao”(断腰) robe structure, meaning the robe is visibly divided at the waist. They were commonly worn by men in the Ming era Read more…