Chinese civilization is also called “Hua Xia”. “Hua” means the beauty of the dresses and decorations and “Xia” is the grandeur of rites and social conduct. “Huafu” is also known as Hanfu, the traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group.

Hanfu has a history for thousands of years. In order to pass on the traditional Chinese virtues of etiquettes via Hanfu, inherit the cultural confidence and carry forward the traditional culture, on June 6, 2019, the Chinese Language Department of Haidian Kaiwen Academy hosted the “Hanfu Day” activity to enable the students to experience the charm of ancient Chinese civilization and to foster their national belief.

Hanfu is not a simple style of clothes, but carries the etiquettes of the 5,000-year civilization and represents the rich culture and spirit of China.

In this pleasant early summer, has it occurred to you to get dressed in Hanfu and take a romantic trip together with your best friends or show yourself on a Hanfu fashion show? All of these can be realized at Kaiwen Academy.

Hanfu Fashion Show

I’d like to go back to the Han and Tang Dynasties and play the ancient music again.

Get dressed in Han clothes and rejuvenate the land of ceremony and propriety.

I’d like to go back to the Han and Tang Dynasties and resume the ancient glories.

No fear of long journey full of obstacles, and that makes us, Chinese descendants.

--- Excerpt from the song Go Back to Han and Tang

On the Hanfu Day, the students attracted by the Hanfu culture all got dressed up in Hanfu and took photos, looking extremely elegant and romantic. Let’s enjoy the beauty of their Han clothes together!

There is an unparalleled beauty, living in seclusion in a remote valley.

Taste the delicious wine in the pavilion, and enjoy the blossoms on the bank of the river.

Cannot remember how many nights are spent, pondering over the frozen pool, as deep as the resolve and aspiration of the men.

Her smiles are bright and her eyes are limpid.

Under the overwhelming clouds and in the headwind, a lonesome boat marches ahead despite the gushing waves.

Roll up the frosty curtain in the early morning, and warm up the hands to try the new makeup.

Hanfu ABCs

In our nation of ceremony and propriety,

A decent man resumes the responsibility of carrying forward the virtues.

Our traditions, just like the winding rivers and mountains,

Have been there for thousands of years.

--- Excerpt from the song Land of Propriety

With a thousand-year history, Hanfu inherits the sediment essence of culture, looking stunning from far and delicate up close. As a carrier of culture, it leads us to more traditional Chinese culture.

After the pleasant Hanfu fashion show, let’s learn some basics about the Han clothing!

▐ Structure of clothes

　　Hanfu uses cloths around 1250px wide and consists of 10 parts such as collar, sleeve, sash etc. There are three types of Hanfu by length: Ru, Shu and Shenyi. The seam between sleeves and front/back of the garment is called Ge and the cuff is called Qu. A complete set of Hanfu usually consists of three layers: Xiaoyi (worn inside), Zhongyi (like a shirt) and Dayi (like a coat).

▐ Styles and fabrics

　　There are several major styles of Hanfu, such as Shenyi, Yi-Chang and Ruqun. Yi-Chang is the formal clothes worn by the emperor and officials at important ceremonies; Pao is the casual dress worn by officials; Ruqun is usually worn by women. Ordinary people of labor generally wear short Yi and long pants. Materials of Hanfu include brocade, raw silk, damask silk, silk, cloth, cotton, linen and yarn.

▐ Coat of arms and decorative patterns

　　Coat of arms on Hanfu is closely related to various cultural symbols of Han people, such as the image of heaven and earth, Eight Trigrams of Yin and Yang, being invisible and colorless and auspicious patterns. The most well-known embroidery in Hanfu is Su Embroidery in Jiangsu, Xiang Embroidery in Hunan, Shu Embroidery in Sichuan and Yue Embroidery in Guangdong, summed as the four famous embroideries in China. Decorative patterns on Hanfu are mostly animals, plants and geometric patterns.

▐ Accessories

　　One of the most important features of Hanfu is jade accessories. Other accessories include tunics, shawls, socks, capes, sachets, swords, ribbons, ceremonial tablets, leather belt, jade belt and winged snakes. Waist accessories mainly include jade pendants, seal, colored silk belts, fish bags, tags and belt ornaments. Furniture used to store and keep Hanfu is called Yiqie, and hangers used to hang Hanfu are called Yiheng.

(“Hanfu ABCs” is sourced from Internet.)

As the descendants of “Hua Xia”, the students of Kaiwen Academy will firmly bear in mind the traditional festivals of Chinese nation and take Hanfu as carrier to carry forward the premium traditional Chinese culture!