By Blogger Fashion Expert Jeremy Cheng
Chinese Fashion Element of Qing Dynasty
The story of Yanxi Palace is a Chinese soap opera which talks about the Qianlong Emperor in the Qing Dynasty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjVLUYrT4YU&t=22s
Before starting this article, I highly recommend you click the link above, and listen to the music from this opera.
This opera is good at using filters and colors to create noble, grandiose, and peaceful vibes for the audiences.
Film directors and producers read and searched a lot of books about the furniture of the Qing dynasty.
They used Chinese traditional classic color and Chinese elements for composition of the following pictures.
With the costumes, they tried to create a costume most accurate to the time period.
They also looked for the people who worked in the Imperial Palace to make the authentic-looking costumes.
The producers referenced different historical data and ancient paintings.
JinYan Wu is a leading female role in the Story of Yanxi Palace.
She plays Ling Consort.
Some people think her appearance is not good for this character.
While watching the ancient painting of this character, we can tell there are some similarities such as her eyebrows, earrings, and lips.
The fan that the Mother of the Emperor holds is copied from the Qing Shamian Tiejuan Xianhe Taoshu Tutuan Fan.
The fan is made by using traditional Chinese needlepoint.
The hairstyle was called Erba Tou.
This hairstyle was not popular under Emperor Qianlong’s control, but during Emperor Xianfeng.
Qing dynasty females liked to make their hair bigger so as to insert more hair decorations. In their opinion, it shows they are high in status.
China has 56 nations. Most of the people in China are in the Han nation.
Qing dynasty is under the Rule of Manchu. Females need to wear three earrings in each ear.
One ear with three earrings is a symbol of Manchu (One of the nations in China) females.
The materials of the earring are based on the person’s status in society.
The Empress uses gold, and consorts use silver and emeralds.
Usually, the Empress is allowed to use the most valuable jewelry, others are not.
The Story of Yanxi Palace uses a lot of intangible cultural heritage, such as embroidery, silk, velvet flowers, etc.
Velvet flower is pronounced the same as “荣华” (Rong Hua) in Chinese with“绒花” (Rong Hua) meaning auspicious and rich. Chinese is the only country to make money as their belief.
The procedure of making velvet flowers is a special and complex work. Nowadays, we don’t have any machine to produce it. They can only be handcrafted.
According to Wikipedia, Kunqu, also known as Kunju, Kun opera or Kunqu Opera, is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera.
Six hundred years ago, Kunqu started in the south of China. It was the “ancestor of all kinds of operas” that inspired the whole world. The music was popular among scholars and the literati in the South of China. Kunqu was famous for gorgeous singing, elegant reading, and graceful dancing.
Tea culture is one of the most significant elements of Chinese culture.
In this opera, over ten different famous Chinese tea appear.
The tea can present the status and personality of people.
Chinese culture is broad and profound, and words cannot be explained clearly.
Experiencing is the best way to learn about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0vNVjFBTHU&list=PL0oIhHqnHf4mzfNQEIaR4r6o8oVwH9Glo&index=31
(Experience some music right here. All music that comes from the opera)
Editor: Makena Behnke
Hello! I found your page by Googling the significance of three earrings whilst watching ‘Yanxi Palace’. I hope to see a Kun Opera next year or the year after (Covid!) Greetings to you and your students from Ireland. Go neirí an bóthar libhse! Jenny
Thanks for reaching out! We loved reading your words from Ireland. Greetings from Southern California.