6be341d1db1fdd490473697594ad782b[.]jpg (and were they actually from the Tang Dynasty like the source said?)

Hi, thanks for the question!

These two looped hairstyles, worn by Fan Bing Bing as Wu Zetian in the Chinese drama “The Empress of China”, are unique styles with individual names. The first style is called 双环望仙髻/Shuang Huan Wang Xian Ji (Double Hooped Immortal-Seeking Ji), and the second style is called 飞仙髻/Fei Xian Ji (Flying Immortal Ji). “Ji/髻” refers to any hairstyle involving pulling hair on top of the head. Let’s take a look at each one:

1. 双环望仙髻/Shuang Huan Wang Xian Ji (Double Hooped Immortal-Seeking Ji):

For this hairstyle, the hair is split into two parts, and black yarn or ribbons are used to form hoops above the head. For the finishing touch, a small Buyao (hairpin with decorations that swing as you walk) is added to the front. The hairstyle originally developed from an earlier style called 双环髻/Shuang Huan Ji (Double Hooped Ji), which was popular among single women and court ladies during the Wei/Jin and Northern & Southern dynasties. The Double Hooped Immortal-Seeking Ji was fashionable during the Tang – Song dynasties:

2. 飞仙髻/Fei Xian Ji (Flying Immortal Ji):

This hairstyle, which consists of two tall twin loops on either side of the head, first appeared during the Han dynasty. Legend has it that during that time, the Heavenly Mother of the Jade Palace visited Emperor Wu Di. He was so astounded by the visit that he recorded the flying immortals’ hairstyle, and asked his court maidens to imitate it. The Flying Immortal Ji is thus commonly used in depictions of immortals. It was also worn by young girls, as well as being a popular hairstyle for traditional dances and performances:

To create the hairstyle, start with a high ponytail atop the head. Next, split the hair into two segments and form each into a loop, and then wrap the ends around the base of the ponytail. Use hairpins to keep the coils of hair in place, and reinforce with another hair tie as needed. Finally, decorate generously with hair accessories. Semiprecious stone pins, jade combs, and delicate ornaments of metal were popular choices of the past.

For a visual depiction of how the Flying Immortal Ji is created, there’s a helpful video tutorial here:

The back is just as beautiful as the front!

Hope this helps!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Hi! I love your blog especially because it is such a carefully made blog in English! (Accessible to the sadly illiterate me). I wanted you ask if you have a tag for myrhically themes photoshoots? I remember some with antlers and such. Thank you!!

Hi, I’m glad you love my blog!

All of my mythology-related content can be found in my Chinese Mythology tag ^^

(Image: Fu Zhu-themed hanfu photo via)

Hey I just wanted to ask you if there were any websites you would recommend to buy Hanfu or Chinese Hair accessories from?

Hi, thanks for the question! (Image Via)

I created an individual page just to address that question –

Where to buy Hanfu (and Hanfu Accessories). Please check it out!

In addition, you can check out my Hanfu Recommendations tag and Hair Accessory Recommendations tag.

Hope this helps!

Is this hairstyle,peony pinned on her hairstyle,outfit restricted to royal 👑 ladies only

Hi, thanks for the question!

The painting you’re referring to is the famous Tang dynasty hand scroll by Zhou Fang, “Court Ladies Wearing Flowered Headdresses/簪花仕女图”. This scroll depicts five palace ladies and a maidservant amusing themselves in a garden.

The court ladies’ hairstyle is called Gao Ji/高髻 (High Ji), also known as E Ji/峨髻 (Lofty Ji). “Ji/髻” refers to any hairstyle involving pulling hair on top of the head. Gao Ji was a popular hairstyle among Chinese women during the Tang dynasty. As its names indicate, it refers to a relatively high and full updo, decorated with hair ornaments. Tang culture celebrated fullness and glamour, and that aesthetic extended to hair as well. Tang women believed the higher the hair, the better, with some using wigs to achieve the desired look – it was not uncommon for the updo to reach over one foot in height. Gao Ji was beloved by all classes of women during the Tang dynasty.

Gao Ji came in several different varieties. The specific one you’re referring to, with the peony pinned to the top, is called Zan Hua Gao Ji/簪花高髻 (Flowered High Ji). This style involved a Gao Ji embellished with huge peony or lotus blossoms, as well as gold hair ornaments.The practice of wearing flowers expressed women’s admiration for the beauty of the blossoms, but also symbolized the fleeting nature of youth.Zan Hua Gao Ji was especially popular among aristocratic women during the Tang dynasty.

Here are two modern depictions of the hairstyle:

Regarding the court ladies’ outfits – the relatively low neckline and nearly floor-length sleeves of the gowns, and the wide gauze scarves worn as stoles or draped across the arms, are all characteristic of the high court fashion of the Tang dynasty. I also addressed the same question in my reply to you here, so please check it out.

Hope this helps!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

thacmis replied to your post “I just want to say I love your blog. Tbh I’m not planning on wearing…”

I really really love your blog so much! Not just as a massive source of art inspiration and education, but you have such a great collection of photos just to look at. Thanks for running this blog!

❤ Thank you very much for your kind words! ❤

I just want to say I love your blog. Tbh I’m not planning on wearing hanfu but I love learning new things and I think it’s really cool that you post so much information on this subject

Thank you so much for letting me know you appreciate my blog! Even if you’re not planning to wear hanfu, I’m glad that you find my content educational and interesting. I do my best! ^^

(PS: Speaking of information, my Masterpost is updated!)

(Photo Via)

I keep seeing these red markings on the foreheads of girls wearing hanfu, what exactly are they?

Those red forehead markings are called Huadian. I wrote about Huadian in my posts here and here, so please check them out! ^^ (Image Via)

i have a question! as of now, do teenagers and young women still wear hanfu? i know there’s a hanfu revival movement going on, but is it normal to see people wear hanfu or hanfu influenced clothes walking around the street?

Hi, thanks for the question!

I answered part of your question in my reply here, so please check it out! To answer your specific question – yes, because of the hanfu revival movement, more and more teenagers and young women/men are wearing hanfu. I wouldn’t say it’s currently “normal” to see people wearing hanfu or hanfu-influenced clothes walking around the street, but it’s definitely becoming more common and accepted, compared to before. I have a compilation of hanfu street fashion photos in my post here.

Here are some more examples:

It’s not just women – men are in on the trend too!

For more photos/resources, please check out my hanfu movement and street style tags. Hope this helps!

Chinese street fashion snaps via 小杰街拍, 她街拍, 街拍LOOK, 路客文化.

Hello! Do you happen to have a master post of all of your asks/posts anywhere? Just to help me navigate! ^^

Hi, thanks for the question! (Image via)

You can see all my replies to asks on my Replies page. I’ve included the entire list in this post as well, for convenience ^^. I’ll be updating the Replies page and this post as needed.

Also, for all my own posts (including replies), please see my China tag (that’s the tag I use for my original posts).

Masterpost of Ziseviolet’s Replies:

Hanfu Terms:

Guide to the different types of Hanfu

Hanfu names

My favorite Hanfu style

Daxiushan (large-sleeve robe)

Bijia (sleeveless jacket)

Difference between Bijia & Banbi

Yuanlingpao (round-collar robe)

Difference between Tang & Ming Yuanlingpao

Hezi (chest undergarment accessory)

Doupeng (cloak/cape)

Parallel/straight collars

Winter Hanfu – Part 1, Part 2

Mourning Hanfu (Sangfu)

Identifying Hanfu in a photoset

Hanfu History:

Children’s Hanfu

Commoner’s Hanfu

Han dynasty Ruqun & footwear

Three Kingdoms period Hanfu

Northern & Southern dynasties Hanfu

What Mulan would’ve worn

Tang dynasty emperor’s Hanfu

Was the Daxiushan restricted to royal ladies

Song dynasty Hanfu styles

Ming dynasty skirts

Yuan/Qing dynasty Hanfu – Part 1, Part 2

Hanfu for empress/noblewoman

Books recs on history of Hanfu – Part 1, Part 2

Wedding Hanfu:

Wedding Hanfu recs

Pictures of wedding Hanfu

Modernized/Modified Hanfu:

Websites that sell modernized Hanfu

Incorporating Hanfu styles in a more modern way

Where to buy modernized Hanfu

Hanfu Accessories:

Pibo (long scarf)

Tuanshan (rigid fan) – Part 1, Part 2

Weimao (veiled hat) – Part 1, Part 2

Jinbu (waist ornament)

Douli (conical hat)

Bangshoudai (hand wraps) & Huwan (wrist guards)

Hanfu Hair Accessories/Hairstyles:

Hanfu hair accessories

Hair accessories for fine hair

Short hair and Hanfu

Pre coming-of-age ceremony hairstyles for Han girls

Tang dynasty pinned peony hairstyle

Ming dynasty hairstyles

Miao silver hair accessories – Part 1, Part 2

My favorite hairstyle

Makeup:

Huadian (forehead decoration) – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Traditional Chinese makeup ingredients

Tang dynasty lip makeup

Men’s Hanfu:

Hanfu styles for men

Men’s formal Hanfu

Pictures of men’s Hanfu

Dachang (open-fronted robe)

Zhiduo vs Daopao

Yishang vs Yesa/Yisan

Men’s Hanfu blog recs

Men’s Headwear/Hairstyles:

Historical hairstyles for men

Men’s hair accessories

Guan (headdress)

Guan & Mianguan

Hanfu Undergarments:

Guide to Hanfu undergarments – Part 1, Part 2

Hanfu petticoats

Emperor’s undergarment for Mianfu

Dudou (chest undergarment)

Lower body Neiyi (underwear)

Zhongyi & Neiyi

Wearing Hanfu:

Plus-sized Hanfu – Part 1, Part 2

Chest-high Ruqun for big-chested figures

Are chest-high styles restrictive for the chest – Part 1, Part 2

Hanfu renting/dressing up

Is Hanfu hard to wear/sew

Do people in China still wear Hanfu – Part 1, Part 2

Events in present-day China where people wear Hanfu

Non-Chinese wearing Hanfu – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7

Making Hanfu:

Sewing Hanfu

Making Hanfu by hand

Making Chest-high Ruqun

Using shiny brocade fabric

Buying Hanfu:

Where to buy Hanfu – Part 1, Part 2

How to buy Hanfu on Taobao

International shipping on Taobao

Buying Hanfu in US/Washington DC

Hanfu shops in Shanghai

Where to buy Hanfu in Hong Kong

Recs for colorful & flowy Hanfu

Shops that sell Hanfu with more natural fabrics

Where to buy crane-print skirts

How to find Hanfu for BJDs

Hanfu in films/dramas/animations:

Hanfu in “The Empress of China"

Hanfu in “Eternal Love"

Hanfu in “The Rise of Phoenixes” – Part 1, Part 2

Identifying actresses in Huadian compilation

Recs for historically/stylistically accurate Chinese drama

Accuracy of Hanfu in “Mulan”

Is Mulan wearing Waist-high Ruqun

Hanfu in “Mo Dao Zu Shi”

Have I watched “The King’s Woman”

Comparison with Kimono and Hanbok:

Comparing Hanfu & Kimono (padding)

Comparing Hanfu & Hanbok (resources)

Kimono blog recs

Hanbok blog recs

Misc:

What started my interest in Hanfu

What is “Gufeng”

Who is Coser小梦

Who is this cute cosplayer

Mixing styles from different eras for a fantasy China setting

Qing dynasty & modern day Hanfu

Identifying location of beautiful snowy photoset

Matchmaking in ancient China

What my username means

Vietnamese fashion blog recs

Non-Chinese wearing Cheongsam

Chinese architecture blog recs

Modern Chinese fashion magazines

What is the male Hanfu crown-thing with the hairpin called? Thanks in advance. =)

Hi, thanks for the question!

The crown-like headwear with a hairpin that is worn with men’s Hanfu is called Guan/冠. The Guan is a headdress that can cover either the full top of the head or just the topknot, and makes use of a hairpin which goes across the topknot to stabilize itself. Please see my posts on traditional Chinese male headwear and Guan in particular for more information.

You may also be thinking of a specific type of Guan called Mianguan/冕冠, which is a formal headdress that was worn by royalty and officials.

The Mianguan consists of a crown topped with a long board, with strands of jade beads draped from the two ends. Please see my post on Mianguan for more information. (Illustration Via)

For more references, please check out my Guan tag. Hope this helps!

(Photos via Chinese TV series “Secret of the Three Kingdoms”)