Tea set and tea-drinking are tightly connected. Many historical records and materials have proved that tea-drinking hasn’t appeared until the turn of Qin Dynasty and Han Dynasty. Chinese tea culture sprouted during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, during which the usages of tea existed in various ways, including food, medication, beverages, and so on. Among all, tea has been mostly taken as a kind of beverage. According to the "Guangling Xiaolao Zhuan", there has already elderly women who sold tea for a living on the markets in the Jin Dynasty. It was quite a competitive business with numerous pedlars as well as customers. From such phenomenon, it can be seen that drinking tea was highly prevalent at that time. At the time under the governance of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, Wangbao has written "武阳买茶 (buy tea in Wuyang)" and "烹茶尽具 (cook tea and prepare clean tea sets)" in his book "Tong Yue (僮约)", this is the earliest record of tea drinking and buying in China. In modern times, a celadon urn, carved with the character of "Cha (茶, tea)", with a height of 33.5 centimeters was found in a tomb in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, which was built in…

As the chill of winter melts away, spring brings with it a sense of rejuvenation and new beginnings. In ancient China, this feeling was often celebrated through the tradition of spring excursions. For many, the new season signaled a time for renewal, rejuvenation, and adventure. While modern-day excursions may look vastly different, there are still traces of ancient springtime traditions that can be observed throughout China. From blossoming gardens to vibrant festivals, join us on a journey through the rich cultural history of spring in ancient China. Spring excursion in the pre-Qin period was romantic and charming. There are many love poems in the "Classic of Poetry", all of which took place during spring excursions. 《郑风·出其东门》：出其东门，有女如云。It means that the people of Zheng like to spring excursions, and when they leave the east gate of the city, they can see many girls on their spring trips, which is a good opportunity for the men of Zheng to meet love. 《郑风·溱洧》：士与女, 殷其盈矣。It means that at the River Zhen and the River Wei, the men and women of Zheng were seen everywhere on their spring excursions. Many men and women fell in love with each other during the spring excursions and became engaged…

"The Journey of Chong Zi" is an ancient immortal drama directed by Liu Guohui and starring Yang Chaoyue and Jeremy Tsui. The drama is based on the novel of the same name by Shu Ke, which tells the love story over three lifetimes between the disciple Chong Zi (重紫), a young girl born with evil miasma and destined to become a demon, and master Luo Yin fan, who is supreme immortal and handsome. Since its launch, the cumulative broadcasting of "The Journey of Chong Zi" has reached 750 million.   The Journey of Chong Zi Plot Summary Chong Zi (played by Yang Chaoyue) is pure and kind, but is the daughter of the demon king Ni Lun. She was saved by the Chu Bu Fu and was encouraged to seek further training to Nan Hua. But it doesn't go well, as Chong Zi is rejected because of her natural evil aura, and Min Yunzhong, the supervisor of Nan Hua, asserts that she will definitely become evil. At the critical moment, Luo Yinfan (played by Jeremy Tsui), the venerable master of Nan Hua, comes forward to accept her as his disciple, and from then on, Chongzhi becomes Luo Yinfan's only disciple.…

In recent years, there has been a growing trend among young people to learn and master the art of filigree inlay. This ancient decorative technique involves the delicate placement of intricate metal threads or wires onto a metal base to create a stunningly intricate design. Once a highly valued skill among artisans, filigree inlay fell out of fashion as modern manufacturing techniques took over. However, in the age of DIY and the resurgence of interest in traditional crafts, filigree inlay is experiencing a revival. Let's take a closer look at this beautiful art form and why it's attracting a new generation of makers. The production of filigree inlay can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, with its fine and exquisite craftsmanship, can be regarded as a high class custom-made piece of classical jewelry. It was the exclusive preserve of the court nobility in ancient China. This traditional craft, however, is beginning to be loved and passed on by a younger generation of craftsmen. Gu Guoqiang, a young man from Chongqing, loves classical brush painting and everything about traditional culture. In college, he studied ceramics, and he was involved in the restoration of…

Compared to costume dramas and Xuanhuan dramas, the Wuxia and Xianxia genres drama have less momentum in 2022. But there are quite a few that are worth adding to the waiting list for martial arts fans, such as Who Rules The World, The Young Flying Fox, and Heroes. Likewise, there are still some popular dramas still in production on the martial arts to-be-broadcast list for 2022, check them out here. This article summarizes some of the Wuxia cdramas to be broadcast in 2023.   A Journey to Love · 一念观山 Also known as: Yi Nian Guan Shan Period Background: Alternative Reality Genres: Romance, Martial Arts, Adventure Main Role: Liu Shi Shi as Ren Ru Yi, Liu Yu Ning as Ning Yuan Zhou Plot summary of A Journey to Love The Wuxia cdramas A Journey to Love is Liu Shi Shi playing ancient cdrama again after five years. It tells the story of Ren Ruyi (任如意, played by Liu Shi Shi) and Ning Yuan Zhou (宁远舟, played by Liu Yuning) building a strong alliance, establishing trust, and defending their faith.   The Blood of Youth · 少年歌行 (Aired) Aired: December 26, 2022 Also known as: Song of Adolescence Period Background: Alternative…

Cheongsam, as one of the traditional Chinese dresses, can be seen as one of the tags of oriental women. It is like an ink-scented rice paper, which writes the history of Chinese dress, and like an inscription of the ancient time, even the folds of which contain the scent of ancient culture. It is not only a garment, but also a carrier of traditional Chinese culture. As one of the key elements of the composition of cheongsam, the collar shape has a very important influence on the style of cheongsam. Traditional cheongsam collar, often with a stand collar design, formed an elegant effect, with good effect in highlighting the lines of the female neck and body. The details of the cheongsam collar, show the workmanship, also the soul of the cheongsam. The right collar type can fit perfectly with the body, but also with the cheongsam as a whole, to the overall style of cheongsam into more exquisite aesthetic temperament, from the fundamental focus on temperament.   The origin of the cheongsam collar The relationship between modern cheongsam and Qing dynasty Manchu robe is still controversial, but it is undeniable that there is an inextricable relationship between cheongsam and Qi…

Even if the petals fall to the ground, the fragrance remains forever. The documentary "The Flavor of History" evokes the traces of time with fragrance, recreates important points in history, and experiences the turbulent choices of the ancients, with cinematic images and quality copywriting, which is fascinating and heart-warming.   1 The Fragrance Deep in the Memory "Memories evoked by the sense of smell are always profound." This quote is perfect for the story of Yang Guifei and Tang Emperor Xuanzong. Yang Guifei was left there forever after the Mawei Inn incident, and soon afterward, Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong, retired to the second line and became the retired emperor. And Yang Guifei's favorite fragrance, Rui Long Nao Xiang (瑞龙脑香, borneol fragrant), became a deliberate aroma that Li Longji avoided. But the former palace musician He Huai Zhi deliberately offered the hat stained with Yang Guifei's fragrance, opening the memory of Yang Guifei. The aroma on this hat, is from a late afternoon. Li Longji is in the game, Yang Guifei sitting aside to watch, and He Huai Zhi playing the lute. When Li Longji was about to lose the game, Yang Guifei put down the puppy in her arms, disrupting the…

The xuanhuan drama "The Starry Love" is adapted from the novel of the same name by Yi Du Jun Hua (一度君华), starring Chen Xingxu, Landy Li, Luke Chen and He Xuanlin, and is the finale of the "The Honey Trilogy" after "Ashes of Love" and "Skate Into Love". With the release of the teaser and poster, the attention of "The Starry Love" is rising, the gorgeous scenes of the drama is particularly eye-catching, combined with the sweet and heart-tormenting mythological story structure, making the drama a must-see xuanhuan drama in early spring this year.   Classic drama nucleus and contrasting personalities "The Starry Love" only took two episodes to plant a very classic drama nucleus: marrying the right man in the wrong palanquin. The queen of the human race gave birth to twin sisters, the older sister Qing Kui (played by He Xuanlin) is gentle and kind, admired by the human race, and was registered as a heavenly consort by the gods; the younger sister, Ye Tan (played by Landy Li), is intelligent and cunning, but has been bullied, and she was promised to the demon world as a demon consort. Their wedding is arranged on the same day. However,…

In the Spring Festival of 2023 in China, "Deep Sea (深海)", a fantasy animated film was released. The film builds a new underwater world different from the past, telling the story of a girl who pursues and explores in the mysterious underwater world and meets a unique journey of life.   01 The Light of Chinese animation Three years ago, "Jiang Ziya" released a trailer of "Deep Sea" at the end of the film. The sea flows like a paint plate, the starry sky shines like a diamond, and people gets a glimpse of the magnificent scene unprecedentedly in Chinese animation. Now, after the long-awaited, "Deep Sea" has finally come out. The film unfolds in the extremely beautiful particle ink style, and the whimsical underwater world makes audience hold their breath in deep concentration. The unprecedented gorgeous and splendor, the fantasy world where paint texture and ink temperament mingle. The depths of the sea contain innocence and melancholy, and the deduction of light can only be so colorful in the animation world. Its animation production can be said to be a milestone in China's animation production in recent years. In order to present the ultimate visual effect, it pioneered particle…

In 2022, Chinese drama frequently produced wonderful works, history, Xuanhuan, romantic, mystery, even the most discerning viewers can find a drama that suits them. In this article, we have selected eight ancient costume dramas that are among the best in terms of reviews and reputation.   01 The Long River · 天下长河 Details of The Long River Also known as: Tian Xia Chang He Aired: November 11, 2022 Episodes/Duration: 40/45min Period Background: Qing Dynasty Genres: Historical, Political Director: Zhang Ting Main Role: Luo Jin as Kangxi Emperor, Yin Fang as Chen Huang, Huang Zhi Zhong as Jin Fu. Plot Summary of The Long River ”The Long River“ takes the story of water governance in the Kangxi period as the main line. It tells the story of Jin Fu, Chen Huang and other water governance talents who overcome all obstacles to protect the stable water situation of the Yellow River and jointly build dikes that cannot be washed away by floods. Since a huge flood in the 15th year of Kangxi, the young Emperor Kangxi began recruiting river governance talents. Chen Huang, a 24-year-old scholar who just after the failure of the imperial examination, stood out and was good at river governance.…

Historical Background The Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties were the most important period in Chinese history. From the end of the 6th century to the mid-10th century A.D., feudal rule lasted more than 300 years. Tang Dynasty was the most glorious dynasty in Chinese history. It was powerful, materially abundant, and famous in frontiers and overseas. In 581 A.D., Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian seized the Northern Zhou regime and established the Sui Dynasty, and then destroyed Chen and unified ancient China. However, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty was exacting and profligate, which made the Sui Dynasty last for only 39 years. Since the founding of Li Yuan and the pacification the various forces. Li Shimin succeeded to the throne as Emperor Taizong. During his reign for more than 20 years, logical administration and harmonious people. Historically, this peaceful and prosperous era was called the Governance during the Zhenguan Reign. After that, until ten years of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, the country was prosperous and the people were safe and the society was rich, and historically known as the KaiYuan Period. After the An Lushan Rebellion, the Tang Dynasty changed from prosperity to decline. In 907,…

Like the dragon, Feng (凤, phoenix) is the most representative of the Chinese totem. As a rumored divine bird, the appearance of the phoenix also gathers the advantages of hundreds of beasts. In the ancient book "Er Ya", Guo Pu noted the image of a phoenix "chicken head, snake neck, swallow chin, turtle back, fishtail, variety of colors, about six feet high." But in the long years, the image of the Chinese phoenix has also been completely different in different times.   Shang and Zhou Dynasties During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, ancient people's primitive totem worship of the phoenix gradually turned into awe of centralized rule. The divine bird phoenix has its special political meaning and has become an auspicious symbol of peace in the world. Phoenix patterns usually only appear in bronzeware and jade decorations, which are the patent of princes and nobles. During the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, bronzeware was mostly used in sacrificial ceremonies and had a strict hierarchy. The sacrificial use determines the solemn and majestic overall style of bronzeware, and also affects the choice of pattern decoration on bronzeware. During this period, the phoenix pattern is mainly the image of Kuifeng (夔凤). The overall…

Hey everyone! College applications have been kicking my ass for the past few months so I've been pretty silent for a while, but I'm finally done—which means more hanfu content for you all to see! For those of you who don’t know me, I’m redsugar, or Tangtang (or a bajillion other variants of red and sugar in multiple languages that people have given to me as nicknames)! I’m a gender fluid Taiwanese-American hanfu designer based in the US. I’ve been part of the Newhanfu community for a couple years now and written extensively about my historical research and designs. Today I’m going to give you all a little summary of the designs modeled in our January 2023 model call outing! This includes five out of my eight 2023 Lunar New Year collection, photographed at the Chinese Cultural Garden in San Jose. Special thanks to all the participants for modeling these samples, and hope you guys all had plenty of fun! Let’s get to it then~ 機杼/JIZHU (modeled by 采蘑菇的小姑娘背着一只大狂猪) First up is Jizhu! This is a late Ming Dynasty four-piece set consisting of a 百迭裙/百迭裙/bai3 die2 qun2/hundred-layered skirt, a 立領衫/立领衫/li4 ling3 shan1/standing collar top, a waist tie, and a 比甲/比甲/bi3…

Recently, a Chinese animation has burst into the list of major platforms in China like an dark horse. It is Yao-Chinese Folktales, a collection of animated works jointly produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio and Bilibili. It consists of eight independent stories rooted in traditional Chinese culture. At present, it has been broadcast in 3 episodes with more than 45 million views. In the Chinese animation industry, it goes without saying that Shanghai Animation Film Studio has high artistic achievements and a unique style, but because of the changes of the times and talent faults, it has fallen into a dilemma. However, "Yao-Chinese Folktales" seems to indicate that this old brand of film studio is back. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLQBCNV7Lak   Monster story collection The theme of Yao-Chinese Folktales is monsters. Monster has a rich meaning in Chinese traditional culture. It is not necessarily just a fierce and grotesque image. It represents the abnormal and unknown, getting along with and fighting with human beings, and may also be another side of human beings. The eight stories vary in style and core. The title of the first episode is Nobody, which tells the story of ordinary little monsters in "Journey to the West", but…

In a year and a half, this blogger has only updated 22 videos, but one of them has made him gain a million followers. He is the top blogger of Chinese style cosplay, Zhu Tiexiong (朱铁雄). He used the ultimate special effects to ignite the passion and romance in the hearts of all ancient style fans.     01 Chinese-style passion and romance Zhu Tiexiong inspires the emotions rooted in our heart with his moving stories. His first video is very short. He uses cheap cardboard to pretend to be Sun Wukong, guarding the dreams of sick children, but when he is mocked and belittled, he does a backflip and rises into the air, transforming into Qi Tian Da Sheng. "Those dreams that seem so ridiculous are the light we guard with all our might". He is also the majestic Zhao Yun, riding a white horse, heroic rescue. Behind his gorgeous chinoiserie costume transformation, is the heroic nature and chivalry. Through the constant reversal of the plot, it touches our emotions. But Zhu Tiexiong does not intend to let the audience stay only in the visual enjoyment, he hopes to convey more values. He began to try to add…

More than 20 Chinese Wuxia and Xianxia drama series are scheduled to air in 2022, including the highly anticipated "Joy of Life: Season 2" starring Zhang Ruo Yun and Li Qin; "The Longest Promise" starring Xiao Zhan and Ren Min; "The Longest Promise" starring Gong Jun and Dilraba Legend of Anle, starring Dilmurat. There are also several fantasy Xianxia dramas based on exciting Xianxia novels. The following is a list of Chinese Wuxia & Xianxia Drama highlights for 2022, as compiled by Newhanfu.   Joy of Life: Season 2 · 庆余年2 Also known as: Qing Yu Nian 2 Period Background: Alternative reality Genres: Wuxia, Political, Romance, Action, Comedy Main Role: Zhang Ruo Yun as Fan Xian, Li Qin as Lin Wan'er, Chen Dao Ming as Emperor of Qing, Wu Gang as Chen Ping Ping Joy of Life: Season 2 will bring an even more stirring story, as Fan Xian's challenges continue to escalate after the ups and downs of the previous life and death, while many characters from the first season return and new roles will be introduced to the audience.   Sword Snow Stride · 雪中悍刀行 (Aired) Aired: December 15, 2021 Also known as: Xue Zhong Han Dao Xing…

On the evening of November 29, at the 17th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Rabat, Morocco, the "Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China" nominated by China were inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. "Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China" covers the knowledge, skills, and practices of tea plantation management, tea leaf picking, manual processing, drinking, and sharing. Since ancient times, Chinese people have been growing, picking, making, and drinking tea. Using the art of tea making, tea makers have developed six major tea types, namely green, yellow, dark, white, oolong, black teas, and reprocessed tea such as flower-scented teas, and more than 2,000 kinds of tea products to meet the various needs of the people with different colors, aromas, tastes and shapes. https://youtu.be/Oe6kGFmFLnc   1 - The Origin of Chinese Traditional Tea Shennong used tea as an antidote for hundreds of poisons. Shu gave homegrown tea to the emperor of the Zhou Dynasty as a tribute. Since Lu Yu, the Saint of Tea, composed the "The Classic of Tea (茶经)", the status of tea has…

On December 15, the last Xianxia cdrama of 2022, "Song of the Moon (月歌行)", was launched online. The drama is adapted from the original novel "Ben Yue (奔月)" by author Shu Ke, In the drama, Vin Zhang and Xu Lu as the leads, and Wang You Shuo, Zheng He Hui Zi, Riley Wang, and Ma Yue as supporting actors. On the second day of release, the popularity index of "Song of the Moon" has been soaring, ranking first in the broadcast charts of web dramas in mainland China. The netizens' evaluation of this drama: "fast-paced", "sweet but tearjerker", "perfect special effects" all show's production team has put a lot of effort into the production. The original "Song of the Moon" has a heartbreaking storyline in which the female protagonist, under the influence of several male characters, forms her worldview, values and ultimately chooses to move towards a set ending. In the episode, while retaining the worldview of multiple worlds of immortal, human and demon realm, the story of immortal love between the male lead Lu Li (陆离, palyed by Vin Zhang)/Luo Ge (洛歌) and the female lead Liu Shao (柳梢, played by Xu Lu) is told, and the sense of…

Chinese tea culture emerged in the Tang Dynasty. In the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, tea culture was deeply developed on the basis of inheriting the tradition, and tea-drinking customs with different characteristics and styles emerged successively, such as Jian Cha (煎茶, tea cooking), Dian Cha (点茶, tea whisking), Dou Cha (斗茶, tea tasting), and Pao Cha (泡茶, tea brewing ). With the progress of society, tea culture is developing continuously.   The rise of tea culture in the Tang Dynasty According to historical records, as early as the Western Han Dynasty, it was common to drink and grow tea in Sichuan, China, and tea have already become an important commodity at that time. After the Six Dynasties, the trend of tea drinking rose in the south, and tea drinkers gradually increased in society. The establishment of the unified country in the Tang Dynasty, made it possible to have regular economic and cultural exchanges between the north and the south, which laid the foundation for the further popularization of tea-drinking customs and the continued development of tea culture. Tea drinking in China has a history of more than 4,000 years, and it was not until the Tang Dynasty that…

Is there a limit to the imagination? For young Chinese style painting painters, the answer is no.   Wu Junda All the living things are in a commotion between the empty valley. The scene of the divine beast standing proudly between heaven and earth facing the tiny human brings a great impact of confrontation to the audience. Wu Junda (吴俊达) once participated in the Global Game Art Contest (GGAC) and took the Grand Prize in the global 2D art category. The award-winning work that Wu Junda made a name for himself was "Shan Hai You Ling (山海有灵, Mountains and Oceans with Great Spirit)". The four beasts suppressing the mountains and rivers with a stroke that is strong enough to dominate the world tear a crack of time in the intersection of reality and illusion. The details, moreover, are breathtaking. The four beasts with moving hair sweep the bewildered crowd with their fierce eyes which are gradually revealing. Lazy but very oppressive limbs are waving between heaven and earth. Not even a tiny detail should be ignored although the picture is dominated by the divine beasts. The tiny human and the huge divine beast are making a great visual impact. The complex…