In the minds of most people, Chinese monsters are usually associated with various strange and supernatural creatures in novels and stories. For example, the monster featured in the first episode of "Yao-Chinese Folktales" titled "Nobody" is from the famous novel "Journey to the West". The inspiration for the second episode's story titled "Goose Mountain" comes from a Southern Dynasty supernatural novel called "Yang Xian Shu Sheng". The animation depicts scenes of monsters devouring each other, creating a creepy atmosphere that vividly portrays an imaginative interpretation of “Chinese monsters” and “Chinese aesthetics”. These ancient Chinese monsters or rather Chinese demons have been passed down for thousands of years; therefore more excellent works like "Yao-Chinese Folktales" are needed to celebrate their unique charm. The textual records of monster images date back to the pre-Qin period, with a history spanning more than two thousand years. The "Shanhaijing (山海经, Classic of Mountains and Seas)" is the pioneer in this field and also known as the ancestor of ancient and modern strange stories. The original version of "Shanhaijing" was illustrated; however, those ancient illustrations were lost during Han dynasty, leaving only Ming-Qing engraved illustrations for us to reference. Artist Ren Caifeng attempts to discover an…

The "Jiaoling Youren (交领右衽, cross-collar-and-right-wrapped, the left lapel covers the right lapel when wearing)" based on flat cutting is a typical collar that has been passed down in the Chinese civilization for thousands of years. It fully embodies the diverse and integrated pattern since ancient times, carries Chinese common cultural connotation as a nation, and is a symbol of the spiritual essence extracted from the long history of Chinese civilization. Chinese traditional costumes are profound and have a long history, Jiaoling Youren is like main threads linking thousands of years' of flowery clouds together to inherit continuously with boundless beauty. The character "衣 (clothing)" already existed in oracle bone script which reveals its structural feature: two lapels overlap each other forming into textual symbols.   01 What is Jiaoling Youren One of the most prominent features of Hanfu is the collar design that crosses left over right to form a "Y" shape known as the Jiaoling Youren style. This collar design has more than 5,000 years of history since Zhou Dynasty. Even though Hanfu keeps innovating with different styles such as straight collars, tank tops, and stand-up collars, the cross-collared Hanfu still maintains its mainstream position among these styles.  …

Among the upcoming dramas, "Snow Eagle Lord" starring Xu Kai and Gulnazar has been receiving a lot of attention. The drama, which obtained its license in May, has gained immense popularity and heat with over one million reservations made recently. It is definitely a hot topic before it even airs. The original novel of "Snow Eagle Lord" already had a high level of popularity. The plot is extremely exciting with numerous fighting scenes, grand world-building, and otherworldly plots as well as an all-star cast with attractive looks that are sure to captivate viewers. Additionally, the current topic surrounding the show suggests that it may become the biggest dark horse drama this season. The fantasy drama "Snow Eagle Lord" tells the legendary story about Dongbo Xueying, his wife Yu Jingqiu, and their companions' struggles and adventures in another world continent, eventually achieving unsurpassed achievements. From what we know from promotional materials so far, the costume design and makeup artistry are excellent, fighting scenes are fluent and stunning, and the pacing is also very compact, making for an overall high-quality production. Regarding the cast, Xu Kai and Gulnazar are two recognized ancient costume drama actors that make for a feast of beauty.…

Leaf painting, also known as leaf carving, originated in the Zhou Dynasty and flourished during the Tang and Song Dynasties. It uses the natural form of leaves and cleverly utilizes their natural veins to create stunning works of art. The work is delicate like a cicada's wings, with natural colors that transform decay into magical beauty. However, due to its difficulty in preservation, many exquisite pieces have been lost over time causing this craft to nearly fall into oblivion. Last August though Ding Li's leaf painting artwork series depicting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" went viral bringing this ancient yet captivating technique back into public view. Ding Li hails from Xianyang City in Hubei Province and has loved painting since he was five years old experimenting with sketching, watercolor painting, and oil paintings while also dabbling in woodcarving, bamboo-carving, stone-carving, nuclear carving etc., all out of pure interest for these different forms of artistry. At thirteen years old he attended an art exhibition where he saw an elderly man using small knives to carve on leaves; fascinated by what seemed like magic he watched him work for almost two hours before being asked if he wanted to learn…

After experiencing the oriental beauty of "The Island of Siliang" and the passionate combat in "Douluo Continent", what other expectations can we have for Chinese animation? The release of stylized martial arts animation "Blades of the Guardians" on June 1, 2023, surprises us with something new. Unlike the recent popular science fiction or immortality themes on various streaming platforms, Chinese martial arts finally becomes the theme again in the animated series "Blades of the Guardians (Biao Ren, 镖人)". A mysterious middle-aged martial artist, with a thin horse and a young child, walks in the desert outside of the country. He negotiates deals with bandits while making friends among commoners, he is both a armed escort and possesses an adventurer's courage. This character has rekindled memories of martial arts within society after only four episodes aired. Some see it as embodying Wuxia aesthetics; others use it to refute claims that martial arts are dead - even inspiring some to pick up original comic books once more. For a long time, whenever the content industry reached certain points, it was necessary to discuss the disappearance of martial arts theme. It is believed that lack of audience interest and reluctance from production teams…

In 1904, the construction of the Bianluo Railway began. As a part of the later Longhai Railway, this transportation line passed through Mangshan to the north of Luoyang city, an ideal place for emperors, officials and civilians to choose their burial grounds since at least the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. The construction of modern railways undoubtedly broke the peace of another world, but it also allowed underground treasures to see daylight again. Among many damaged Tang tombs, a type of color-glazed ceramic funerary object that had never been seen before by people drew attention from antiquarians; this is "Tang Sancai". Since then, people have been indulging in the gorgeous and lustrous colors of Tang Sancai as if all the grandeur and majesty of Tang Dynasty were condensed into such an object. It was an era completely different from that during Qing Dynasty; gazing upon and playing with Tang Sancai might help one temporarily withdraw from chaotic times and dream peacefully in a book room filled with sandalwood aroma.   The Legacy of the Tang Dynasty In fact, although they are called Tang Sancai, there is no record of such object names in historical documents. The name "Tang Sancai (唐三彩, Tang Tri-color…

In the 2023 Chinese television drama market, in addition to realistic themes such as "The Knockout", "Our Ordinary Days" and "The Long Season" leading the trend of binge-watching, ancient costume dramas that have been silent for a long time are also regaining their vitality. Currently, the lingering effect of "Till the End of the Moon" is still present. The latest release of the ancient costume Xuanhuan drama "Back From the Brink" has once again sparked a frenzy among viewers. In this upcoming summer season, ancient costume dramas will be taking center stage on video streaming media. New works such as “Gone with the Rain”, “The Scent of Time”, “The Legend of Anle”, “Story of Kunning Palace”, “The Longest Promise” and “Lost You Forever” have all appeared in various broadcasting schedules across major video streaming platforms; it seems like everyone is trying to make headway into this genre. With the overall TV series market entering a positive cycle where good content prevails, coupled with improvements in film and television environment and relaxed government policies, creative modes for ancient costume dramas are also beginning to change. The past pseudo-exquisite products produced from an assembly line have been abandoned by both markets and…

In the previous article, the top 20 Chinese museums worth visiting in China were introduced to you. Then, in this article, 14 niche China museums were selected that each represents a specific period in Chinese history, connecting them together to form a visible development context of Chinese history.   01 The Earliest China If we were to compare different stages of Chinese history to different times of day, then the Liangzhu Civilization would be the pre-dawn. From childhood, the concept of "5000 years of Chinese civilization" has been deeply ingrained in Chinese minds. And Liangzhu marks the beginning of those 5000 years. Liangzhu Museum Before the emergence of Liangzhu civilization, what did China look like? Cultural relics such as Hemudu, Banpo and Hongshan can be found from the Yangtze River to Yellow River and even further north in Liaoning and Inner Mongolia. Crossing over from culture to civilization, mark an entirely new stage in human social development: settlements continued to develop, forming embryonic forms of early cities; labor was effectively organized, and massive water conservancy projects with storage capacity reaching 46 million cubic meters (more than three West Lakes) were built to resist floods; meanwhile, surplus productivity was sufficient enough…

The Chinese anime "The Ravages of Time" has finally met with its audience amidst high anticipation on April 29. The animation's production started years ago, but it faced many setbacks. After the release of the first promotional video, fans were dissatisfied with the rough modeling and voice acting quality which led to revisions in hopes of improvement. Unfortunately, after a revised edition was released, there was no further news or updates on development from the production company for some time. Thus, this year's sudden release came as a welcome surprise to viewers. As a Three Kingdoms-themed comic that has been serialized for over 20 years, "The Ravages of Time (Huo Feng Liao Yuan, 火凤燎原)" has becoming the longest-running comic series based on this historical period globally. For many readers and enthusiasts alike, it is undoubtedly one of China's best comics ever created thus far while maintaining close similarities to its original source material within several episodes aired so far. This leads us to question what makes "The Ravages of Time" such an outstanding success story and what inspiration can be drawn from it for future creations based on stories related to this era?   The longest Three Kingdoms comic ever…

As a typical representative of Chinese traditional clothing culture, cheongsam has fascinated people around the world with its outstanding form. Although there are still many disputes over the definition of cheongsam today, it remains one of the most splendid and formal dress cultures in China's long history. At first, the style of Chinese cheongsam had tight cuffs, narrowed edges, slightly embroidered patterns and slightly longer hemlines. In the late 1920s, influenced by Western skirts, cheongsam underwent more obvious changes, tightening waistline to highlight curves and simplifying decorations. Cheongsam became a fitted curve shape that first reflected women's features such as concave-convex lines and laid a foundation for today's basic characteristics and fashion trends in women's wear. After the 1930s and 1940s, Chinese cheongsam reached a perfect maturity in design becoming world-renowned classic attire - this was also the peak period for cheongsams. High-collared necklines with waists sucked-in tightly; short sleeves fastened with knots or buttons; slanting fronts often opened high on one side; some dresses were short while others were long; cutting styles followed western skirt designs emphasizing smoother lines which made Chinese Cheongsams fit better to display female beauty figures. When wearing a Chinese Cheongsam dress woman’s graceful figure…

"Gone with the Rain" is a female costume drama led by Zhang Nan, Wang Yuwen, Sun Yizhou, Zhao Yingbo and Liu Meitong. It was broadcasted on June 5th, 2023. The drama is adapted from the romantic novel "Feng Yu Nong, Yan Zhi Luan" by Ni Luo. It tells the story of two sisters Mo Xi and Bai Fengyao who grow up together through ups and downs while always sticking to their inner justice and working together to resolve various crises. On the day of its broadcast, it immediately sparked discussions among netizens on social networking websites with almost everyone focusing on the portrayal of female characters. By abandoning conventional character designs for costume dramas and creating bold and agile female images that viewers want to see in such dramas. "Gone with the Rain" portrays both personal loyalty as well as national patriotism, during times when the country faces danger, personal emotions are intertwined with patriotism throughout. The drama does not directly focus on struggles between various factions in court but instead focuses on how Mo Xi & Feng Yao support each other against difficulties they face; portraying deep sisterly love as well as women's growth provides new inspiration for creating…

What is a tea ceremony? The book "Chinese Tea Ceremony", is explained as a cultural art that embodies the perfect combination of tea and culture, a means of cultivating oneself. However, when people mention tea ceremony, many think of the Japanese tea ceremony. Yet this ancient way of drinking tea has actually retained many Chinese Tang and Song dynasty customs. Over the past two thousand years, the way people drink tea has been constantly changing from simple to complex. It took Chinese people more than one thousand years to evolve from simplicity to complexity; then another one thousand plus years to return back to simplicity. Let us explore the Chinese tea ceremony by savoring a cup of warm tea soup while searching for flavors once tasted by our ancestors.   1 Tang Dynasty: The Art of Jian Cha Ceremony The most primitive way for Chinese people to taste tea was by eating it. Ancient people originally used tea leaves for medicinal and food purposes, boiling fresh leaves and consuming the liquid directly. Gradually, they discovered that tea had a refreshing effect on the body, leading to the development of cooking tea as a dish with added seasonings such as scallions,…

With the development of time, many Chinese traditional crafts and techniques have fallen into oblivion due to time-consuming nature. In order to protect their inheritance, Intangible Cultural Heritage was born. Recently aired TV culture cdrama "Hi Producer" is a series that involves intangible cultural heritage themes. Directed by Gao Han, written by Zhou Mo, starring Guo Xiaodong as the lead actor alongside Zhang Nan, Li Xiaoran, and Zhang Bo among others; it fully showcases the exquisite craftsmanship and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage skills. The plot of the drama "Hi Producer" revolves around a major cultural program "Chuan Cheng (传承, Heritage)". The program directed by Gu Shiyong (Zheng Kai), and the female lead writer-director Yu Zaizao (Zhang Nan) join in, competing with Yuan Jiaying (Sun Yihan) for the position of chief writer-director. In order to form a high quality production team of programs, the team also invites veteran host Wang Xinin (Li Xiaoran) and young cultural relic expert Tao Tang (Zhang Bo) to join. Through their collective efforts, "Chuan Cheng" finally becomes a phenomenal cultural program. During the filming process, Yu Zaizao initially lacked empathy but gradually opens up his heart and eventually gains fulfilling friendships as well as career…

On the first day of summer, a major fantasy Xianxia drama began airing. On June 1st, "Beauty of Resilience (花戎, Hua Rong)," starring Ju Jingyi and Guo Junchen, premiered online. Since filming started in mid-2021, this drama has garnered attention from both inside and outside the industry. For Ju Jingyi's debut in a fantasy drama like, her character's intense conflicts and growth through multiple reincarnations serve as an advanced test for her acting skills which is highly anticipated by fans. Departing from its original style with light ancient elements, "Beauty of Resilience" ventures into mature genres such as fantasy Xianxia dramas. From the first six episodes aired so far, it seems that "Beauty of Resilience" has indeed found a way to stand out amidst fierce competition within this genre. Although it tells stories within grandiose settings where three realms coexist together, what stands out most prominently are themes of growth challenges, family bonds, romantic feelings, and academy life which cleverly aligns with realism for youth elements that resonate well with viewers while also creating an accessible pathway toward empathy between audiences and characters alike.   Youthful Endeavors in the Academy At the beginning of "Beauty of Resilience," Wei Zhi (played…

As June arrives, we first welcome Children's Day on June 1st. Let us enjoy the joyful atmosphere of Children's Day with this painting from the Southern Song Dynasty called "Bai Zi Tu." In the painting, children are seen riding on wooden horses, wearing masks, playing drums and flutes, dancing and performing plays, all kinds of entertainment for their amusement. While we reminisce about how carefree childhood was during this time, the third solar term of summer, Mang Zhong, arrives punctually on June 6th. Every year when mantises are seen in fields and farms it is a sign that Mang Zhong has arrived. It is also known as the busiest farming season where wheat is harvested followed by sowing late millet crops such as sorghum and broomcorn. There can be no delays during this season. So what customs do people follow during Mang Zhong? In southern Anhui Province in China, after planting rice paddies people hold an Anmiao ceremony to pray for a good harvest in autumn. There are also many delicious foods to enjoy around Mang Zhong. In the south of China, Mei Zi (plums) have ripened and it's a great time to pick some during the rainy season and cook…

"Beauty of Resilience (花戎, Hua Rong)" is a ancient-style fantasy drama starring Ju Jingyi and Guo Junchen. It will be aired on June 1, 2023. Adapted from the popular xianxia novel "Wu Chang Sheng" by Lin Jiacheng, the story follows the female lead Wei Zhi and male lead Yan Yue as they overcome obstacles to rewrite destiny and save the three realms from chaos. Directed by renowned directors Chen Guohua and Hu Yijuan with script written by Qian Yu, this creative team boasts tremendous experience in storytelling; Chen Guohua has created successful ancient dramas such as "The Blooms at Ruyi Pavilion", while Qian Yu is one of the main screenwriters for "Goodbye My Princess". With their expertise at play, Beauty of Resilience's production quality is bound to impress audiences. The drama centers around the growth of Wei Zhi, the phoenix reincarnate female lead character. It tells a story of her and the male lead's affectionate entanglement, featuring many highlights such as Wei Zhi's blackening reversal and the male lead's dilemma between righteousness and love. The exquisite costumes and excellent special effects render this drama with remarkably high quality. Ju Jingyi, who plays the female lead, has a sweet appearance and…

Among the many upcoming Chinese period dramas, "Destined" starring Bai Jingting and Song Yi has been highly anticipated. With over 2 million reservations before broadcast and the previously exposed romantic relationship between the two lead actors, fans are eagerly awaiting this historical romance costume drama. After intense post-production work, "Destined (Chang Feng Du, 长风渡)" has finally announced a premiere date for June - with rumors suggesting it to be on June 21st. In light of uncertainty regarding when other dramas like "Story of Kunning Palace" will air, perhaps "Destined" will become a flagship ancient costume drama during this summer season. Given its overall appeal and potential strength as a hit show, there is no doubt that it possesses qualities that could make it one. Directed by Yintao who is an experienced director in making quality period dramas such as his representative works including "Who Rules the World", along with screenwriter Rao Jun known for their reputation within industry circles - both of whom have created numerous popular productions- viewers can expect excellent cinematography and visual effects from them leaving deep impressions . With them at the helm of production , there's little doubt that quality assurance would be present throughout…

Summer is here, and what better way to celebrate the season than by brightening up your wardrobe with a stunning pomegranate red Hanfu dress. HAN TIME will use the combination of pomegranate color and hanfu as the starting point to recommend a series of suggestions for wearing red hanfu dress in summer. Pomegranate color refers to a slightly deeper shade of red, resembling the color of pomegranate fruit or bright orange-red like the color of pomegranate flowers. As summer approaches and greenery abounds, the blooming of pomegranate flowers marks the season's arrival. It is an ideal time to wear a flowing long skirt in a vibrant shade of pomegranate while standing under these blossoms with a radiant smile. When it comes to pomegranate skirts, people tend to lean towards the latter meaning as this hue is more charming and unique compared to other shades such as vermilion and pink. Have you ever heard of "kneeling under the pomegranate skirt"? The phrase has been passed down through generations related to Yang Guifei who had an affinity for both Pomegranates and dresses in that same rich hue. Emperor Xuanzong ordered widespread planting of Pomegranates within palace just for her love for them.…

With summer just around the corner, viewers can look forward to a slew of new cdramas. Among them is "Lost You Forever", starring popular actors Yang Zi and Zhang Wan Yi. Prior to its release, "Lost You Forever" had already garnered over 2 million reservations. With its growing buzz and attention, the drama has recently received official approval for broadcast. Judging by the show's quality and unique plotline, it may very well become this season's biggest hit. Directed by Qin Zhen and Yang Huan with Tong Hua serving as screenwriter, "Lost You Forever" follows Ji Jiu Yao - played by Yang Zi - as she navigates through life in turbulent times after losing her identity as a princess. The story revolves around her personal growth journey intertwined with various relationships including friendship and love. Of course, one cannot ignore the stunning cast that includes many talented actors. As female lead actress in particular, Yang Zi is no stranger to costume or fantasy dramas having starred previously in hits like "Ashes of Love" and "Immortal Samsara". Her outstanding acting skills combined with her versatile portrayal of different character traits have earned her much acclaim from audiences. Once again taking on a…

As a country steeped in culture, history, and traditions, China has no shortage of museums that tell stories of its past, present, and future. From ancient relics to modern art, these museums are a window to the country's rich heritage and offer a glimpse into its diverse cultures. With so many options to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones to visit. In this article, we've rounded up the top 20 popular museums in China that are definitely worth your time and attention.     01 The Palace Museum The Palace Museum is an exceptional museum. Established in 1925, it was built on the foundations of the imperial palaces of the Ming and Qing dynasties - the Forbidden City. After six hundred years of rise and fall, glory and shame, the doors to these royal palaces finally opened to the public. The Palace Museum boasts a collection that is unparalleled, it houses one of a kind artifacts within wooden structures preserved from Imperial China's largest palace complex in its entirety.   02 National Museum of China The National Museum of China is the highest institution representing the state's collection, research, display, and interpretation of artifacts that reflect…