Young people drive revival of China’s ancient Hanfu culture
- By reviving the clothes of their ancestors, Hanfu lovers say they are showing pride in Chinese culture and recreating a world of respect and nobility
- A niche interest has steadily grown to include at least 2 million enthusiasts
On weekdays Hu Xin, 21, wears a dark blue suit with a red tie and a court pin on her collar for her job as a civil court clerk in southwest China’s Sichuan province.
Only on weekends can she find peace in the circle of friends she is most comfortable with, dressed in Hanfu, the ancient attire of China’s Han people, which dates back 4,000 years and was outlawed by the Manchu who ruled the country from 1636.
The garments are characterised by the cross collar, right lapel, wide sleeves and a sash that ties everything together in place of buttons.
Hu and her friends play the Chinese zither, drink tea, make traditional embroidery or recite poetry together. Everyone is polite, refined and shares the same interests.
She styles her hair like a conch, in the Tang dynasty (618-907) way, and paints a red pattern, known as a flower ornament, between her eyebrows. She walks with a solemn look and holds her arms below her chest.
“I have been interested in Hanfu since the eighth grade. It creates that artistic fantasy world that only the ancient poems can offer,” Hu said.