チﾔンスだよ！

sixiao reblog blog for sporty boys, magical girls, and drawing refs

[hanfugallery]

modified chinese hanfu by 花朝记

[newhanfu]

Hanfu Show

from: 萳歌

[halfarsedhermit]

Archery Tutorial in art and stock photography! You can find all these images and more reference photos on https://gumroad.com/syccas

[hanfugallery]

chinese hanfu by 鹿玺 

[hanfugallery]

chinese hanfu by 禄小米

[siumerghe]

Tang dynasty women playing polo, paintings by Wang Kewei

The word polo is thought to derive from the Tibetan pulu, the wood from which the ball was made.  

Much controversy surrounds the origin of polo. Tibet, China, Iran, India, and Central Asia have all been proposed as homelands for the game. It remains possible that the game had more than one point of origin, though a recent study has argued convincingly that polo developed in northeastern Iran out of the equestrian chase games played by the mounted nomads of Central Asia in the last centuries before the Common Era.

Polo probably was introduced to China sometime between the end of the Han period (206 B.C.E.- 220 C.E.) and the early part of the Tang dynasty (618-907). It seems likely that it was introduced by the Xianbei tribes that controlled northern China from the fourth to sixth century. The ruling house of the Tang dynasty, the Li family, itself had Xianbei ancestry, at least on the maternal side. The Xianbei, because of their nomadic origins, had a great fondness for horses, a trait that (like many aspects of their culture) was inherited by the Tang dynasty. It is also notable that the Xianbei accorded higher status and more physical freedom to women than the Han Chinese, so women became avid polo players under the Tang dynasty.

The emperors of the Tang dynasty such as Zhongzong, Xuanzong, Muzong, Jingzong, Xuanzong, Xizong, and Zhaozong were all supporters and participants themselves in the polo sport. In the 6th year of the Tianbao era (747), Emperor Tang Xuanzong issued a special order, and declared that polo would become one of the subjects for military training.

Polo was wildly popular during the Tang dynasty but it was also dangerous; riders thrown from their horses were frequently injured or killed. So sometimes donkeys were used instead of horses - as a safer alternative.

The Tang era terracotta figurines of polo players, both male and female, were unearthed in China. The game is also depicted on paintings and on frescoes in excavated tombs.   

From Tang times on, the education of the upper class became more bookish, and martial skills, such as horsemanship, archery, and swordsmanship, came to play a lesser role in the elite life. So polo also gradually lost its popularity and completely fade away by the Qing dynasty. 

Women stopped playing polo much earlier - when the conservative Neo-Confucian teaching grew in popularity after the Tang dynasty fall. For women, Neo-Confucianism placed extra emphasis on chastity, obedience and diligence. A good wife should have no desire other than to serve her husband, no ambition other than to produce a son, and no interest beyond subjugating herself to her husband’s family. Of course, this left no space for physical training, horsemanship and sport.

https://sites.asiasociety.org/arts/asiangames/power02.html

[hanfugallery]

chinese hanfu by 重回汉唐

[fouryearsofshades]

Buttons were really popular for the last couple of years actually, especially all types of parallel collars are all in rage. I think because they look similar to a dress shirt, and also they are WAY WAY WAY WAY easier to make compare to other Ming style. Women’s Ming-style cross-collars are one of the hardest things to make in Hanfu.

Also sorry for my grammar and spelling.

[ziseviolet]

This is AMAZING - thank you for your hard work! I’ve noticed Ming dynasty styles and especially buttons have been very popular recently, so this really helps in differentiating between the various styles. I had no idea that Ming-style cross-collars are so hard to make though! :O

[fuckyeahchinesefashion]

Heaven Gaia S/S Paris 2019 | Designer Xiong Ying / xiur 熊英 | PartⅢ

[ziseviolet]

Do you have any shop recommendations for hair accessories? I’ve looked at your posts but there didn’t seem to be anything specific for hair stuff. Thanks!

Hi, thanks for the question! (image via)

I have a post with some shop recommendations for traditional Chinese hair accessories for hanfu here, and you can also check out my hair ornaments tag for all my posts related to hair accessories. With that said, here’s a more comprehensive list of my recommendations for Chinese hair accessories shops on Taobao (click name for link to Taobao page):

1) Xun Zan Ji/寻簪记 - A large variety of elegant designs that make heavy use of floral themes and pearls:

2) Shui Mo Jiang Hu/水墨江湖 - Light, ethereal designs in gradated colors (my personal favorite!):

3) Feng Xue Chu Qing/风雪初晴 - Airy, feminine designs bursting with delicate details:

4) Jing Chen Xuan/静尘轩 - Traditional designs for a more formal and/or mature look. Has a gorgeous collection of gold filigree pieces, including lotus crowns:

5) Qing He Ji Yi/青荷记忆 - A wide assortment of classic styles showcasing traditional motifs (the ornaments in the top image of this post are from this shop). Notable collections include graceful crowns (guan) and lovely silk flowers:

6) Hua Yue Sha/花月砂 - Beautifully crafted designs mainly in gold and silver, including filigree, with gems providing pops of color: 

7) Chai Dian Fang/钗钿坊 - This shop specializes in Chan Hua/缠花 (wrapped flowers), a traditional Chinese craft of making floral hairpins with fine textiles:

8) Yangzhou Feiyi Ronghua/扬州非遗绒花 - This shop specializes in Rong Hua/缠花 (velvet flowers), a traditional Chinese craft of making floral hairpins from fine silk on twisted wire frames:

9) Xi Qing/喜晴 - This shop has a gorgeous collection of crowns suitable for weddings, including phoenix crowns (fengguan/凤冠), among its treasures:

Of course there are a lot more great Chinese hair accessories shops out there, but hopefully this gives you a place to start ^^ 

Finally, I’ll leave you with this self-deprecating meme image (“Ladies who wear hairpins will never admit defeat!”) that pokes fun at how hanfu lovers can get addicted to buying the many different types of Chinese hair ornaments :P

Hope this helps, and have fun! 

[hanfugallery]

chinese hanfu by 十三余 小豆蔻国风  

[ziseviolet]

Do you have recommendations for places to buy hanfu— either irl or online?

Hi, thanks for the question!

Yes, I have recommendations for places to buy hanfu, both online and offline. Please check out my “Where to Buy Hanfu” page, as well as my Q&A Masterpost which has a section on buying hanfu. I also have a “Hanfu Recommendations” tag for my previous recommendations on where to buy hanfu. With that said, here are 10 additional recommendations for online hanfu shops on Taobao, with lists of the types of items they offer (Women’s hanfu, Men’s hanfu, Children’s hanfu, Wedding hanfu, Modified hanfu, Hanfu accessories). Some of these brands also have offline stores (click name for link to Taobao page):

1. 汉尚华莲/Han Shang Hua Lian - The #1 hanfu brand on Taobao in 2018 by sales value (source). Offers a wide variety of colorful designs. Women’s, Men’s, Accessories:

2. 重回汉唐/Chong Hui Han Tang - The #2 hanfu brand on Taobao in 2018 by sales value. Bold colors and clean, chic designs. Women’s, Men’s, Children’s, Wedding, Modified, Accessories:

3. 十三余/Shi San Yu - The #3 hanfu brand on Taobao in 2018 by sales value. Cute, casual, fun designs. Women’s, Modified, Accessories:

4. 流烟昔泠/Liu Yan Xi Ling - The #9 hanfu brand on Taobao in 2018 by sales value. Known for its matching/couples’ designs, and has a wider variety of options for men. Women’s, Men’s, Children’s, Modified, Accessories:

5. 衔泥小筑/Xian Ni Xiao Zhu - Elegant designs with intricate embroidery. Women’s, Men’s, Children’s, Wedding, Modified, Accessories: 

6. 司南阁/Si Nan Ge - Has an aesthetic that can be best described as “ethereal”. Sheer fabrics, billowing sleeves, and lots of layers. Women’s, Men’s:

7. 宴山亭/Yan Zhi Ting - Very similar to Si Nan Ge, sharing the same ethereal aesthetic (and even using the same models). Women’s, Men’s:

8. 菩提雪/Pu Ti Xue - Feminine designs with exquisite details. Women’s, Accessories:

9. 锦瑟衣庄/De Ti Yi Zhuang - Classic designs in bright, contrasting colors. Women’s, Men’s, Accessories:

10. 春拾记/Chun Shi Ji - Simple designs paired with elegant traditional Suzhou-style embroidery. Women’s, Accessories:

Of course there are a lot more great hanfu shops out there, but hopefully this gives you a place to start. Hope this helps, and have fun! ^^

[ziseviolet]

Are there any events in present day China where people wear hanfu? And is having a couple of hanfu in the closet like a commonplace thing?

Yes, there are several events in present-day China where people wear hanfu. They include:

- Traditional festivals/holidays (X):

- First writing ceremonies (X):

- Coming-of-age ceremonies (X):

- Graduation ceremonies (X): 

- Weddings (X):

- Confucius-related ceremonies (X):

- Taoist rituals/ceremonies (X):

- Music performances (X): 

- Dance performances (X):

- Tea ceremonies (X):

- Traditional sporting events, such as archery (X):

- The annual Hanfu Cultural Festival in Xitang, which is one of China’s largest hanfu-themed events (X):

- The annual “Huafu Day”, which was recently established as a holiday to celebrate traditional Chinese clothing (X):

The above are some of the events in which people wear hanfu. Of course, there are also people who wear hanfu in everyday life (X):

As I mentioned before, having a couple of hanfu in the closet is not commonplace yet, but it’s getting there - especially among the younger generation. For more references, please check out my hanfu movement tag.

Hope this helps!

[fuckyeahchinesefashion]

繁华鹿林景

[hanfugallery]

Chinese hanfu by 柳若汐

[ziseviolet]

I've seen a few photoshoots and characters in dramas wearing veils over the lower part of their face and I was wondering if this was an actual accessory or a modern artistic liberty? Either way it's very pretty but I was hoping you had some insight :) thank you for your time and I love your blog <3

Hi - thanks for the question, and I’m glad you love my blog!

The veils worn over the lower part of the face that you see in Hanfu photoshoots and Chinese dramas are called Miansha/面纱 (veil). As far as I’m aware, they are a modern artistic liberty and were not actually worn as accessories by the ancient Chinese. Nevertheless, they frequently appear in Chinese dramas, and have currently become a fashionable accessory among Hanfu wearers. 

So how did this come to be? It’s important to keep in mind that China actually has a history and tradition of veiling the entire face, with examples being the veiled hats called Mili/幂蓠 and Weimao/帷帽 (see here and here for more information) and the red wedding veil called Gaitou/盖头. Chinese drama costume designers no doubt drew on this tradition to come up with the lower-face veil that we see now, which is meant to emphasize the mysteriousness and beauty of those who wear it. Below - Miansha in Chinese dramas, often paired with Weimao (rows 1 & 2):

In a case of art imitating life and life imitating art, Hanfu wearers have drawn inspiration from the aesthetics of such dramas, and subsequently incorporated Miansha into the Hanfu wardrobe as a fashionable accessory. Nowadays you can find Miansha in various colors and designs on Taobao: 

The latest face veil trend among Hanfu wearers is the Mianlian/面帘 (curtain). Mianlian involves a veil that’s made of tassels instead of a piece of fabric:

Nowadays you can find various types of Mianlian on the market, from the simple to the glamorous and blinged-out:

Mianlian can be worn in several different ways - on the lower face, on top of the head to cover the entire face, and on the back of the head as a hair ornament:

In summary, while Miansha and Mianlian are not strictly historically accurate, their current popularity exemplifies a creative reinvention of tradition that I find commendable. Plus, they really do look very pretty! Below - Hanfu street style (Miansha on left, Mianlian on right):

Hope this helps!

Sources/Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

[ziseviolet]

Hi! I wondered about the symbolism of colours in outfits. I noticed a lot have a sort of orange-red and turquoise combination, is there a story or meaning behind that? Thanks!

Hi, thanks for the question!

Orange-red and turquoise is a classic Chinese color combination that commonly appears in Hanfu all throughout Chinese history. This color combination can be seen in artworks and on figures from the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties, among others. For example, below is a recreation of an orange-red and turquoise Hanfu from the Tang dynasty:

Complementary colors (such as red-green, orange-blue, etc) have been beloved throughout Chinese sartorial history, and work exceedingly well on Hanfu. The almost-complementary contrast between orange-red and turquoise creates an effect that is vibrant yet harmonious at the same time:  

The main inspiration behind the orange-red and turquoise color combination in modern Hanfu is the art of the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang. If you look through my Dunhuang and Mogao Caves tags, you can see that the colors orange-red and turquoise feature prominently in the artwork. Below - a painting from the Mogao Caves:

The Dunhuang/Mogao Caves paintings are a major source of inspiration for Hanfu designers (such as Chuyan), many of whom have recreated the outfits depicted within. Below - recreation of orange-red and torquoise Hanfu portrayed in the paintings:

Taking cues from historical art and artifacts, Hanfu designers have brought this playful yet glamorous color combination to life in modern Hanfu designs:

As to what the colors orange-red and turquoise symbolize in this specific combination, I don’t actually know for certain. Hopefully other knowledgeable folks ( @fouryearsofshades/ @fate-magical-girls?) can shed some light on this question.

For more on the meaning of colors in Hanfu, I recommend checking out the following Quora links:

- Symbolism of the color White in Hanfu 

- Symbolism of the color Black in Hanfu

- Dress and color of Wedding Hanfu

Hope this helps!

Sources/Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7