Hanfu Fashion : Year Brocade Shines at CCTV Spring Gala
The 2024 CCTV Spring Festival Gala’s Year Brocade showcased Hanfu fashion, captivating billions with traditional Chinese clothing from four dynasties. In 2025, this performance continues to inspire, highlighting intricate patterns and cultural heritage. From Han’s grandeur to Ming’s elegance, Year Brocade weaves auspicious New Year wishes through Hanfu dynasties, making Chinese cultural fashion a global sensation. Stars like Liu Tao and Guan Xiaotong brought history to life, proving Hanfu’s timeless appeal.
The 2024 CCTV Spring Festival Gala’s Year Brocade performance brought Hanfu to the global stage, showcasing the timeless elegance of traditional Chinese clothing across four dynasties. Curious about its cultural roots? Dive into the history!
Han Dynasty: Liu Tao’s Regal Elegance
Liu Tao’s Han-style robe and qun yi, in vibrant yellow, embodied solemnity. Adorned with zhuyu (cornelian cherry) and cloud motifs, her outfit featured Chang Le Ming Guang Jin brocade, a Han Dynasty textile with animal patterns and auspicious characters. This traditional Chinese clothing radiated prosperity, enhanced by a yanwei gauze coat.
Her chuitiao high bun, paired with a restored golden buyao hairpin, echoed Eastern Han women’s grace. Background patterns like Scroll Grass Cloud and Three-legged Golden Bird reinforced blessings of health and hope, tying Hanfu fashion to ancient symbolism.
The design features animal motifs interwoven with the four characters “长乐明光” (“Chang Le Ming Guang”), symbolizing auspiciousness. The spacing is well-balanced, and the colors are rich and magnificent.
Her hairstyle is a chuitiao high bun, exuding an elegant and graceful aura, a style favored by women of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The hair ornament is a restored version of an Eastern Han golden buyao (dangling hairpin), noble and lively.
The background patterns featured include:
- Scroll Grass Cloud Pattern – Symbolizing health and well-being
- Cup Pattern with Faithful Expectation Embroidery – Symbolizing the arrival of good fortune
- Chang Le Ming Guang Cloud Mountain Auspicious Beast Pattern – Symbolizing endless prosperity
- Cornelian Cherry Pattern – Symbolizing blessings, longevity, and well-being
- Three-legged Golden Bird Pattern – Symbolizing brightness and hope
- Jade Rabbit and Laurel Pattern – Symbolizing harmony and reunion
Tang Dynasty: Liu Shishi’s Opulent Charm
Liu Shishi’s Tang-style shanqun in Chinese red dazzled with phoenix motifs inspired by Shōsōin treasures. Dunhuang tuanhua (circular floral) patterns adorned the robe, reflecting late Tang opulence. This Hanfu fashion choice captured the dynasty’s bold aesthetic, a hallmark of traditional Chinese clothing.
Her congjie layered bun, accented with floral hairpins and a chaidian forehead ornament, mirrored Dunhuang mural figures. Background designs like Flying Phoenix and Peacock Holding Ribbon symbolized peace and prosperity, elevating the Hanfu 2024 gala’s cultural depth.
Liu Shishi’s opulent Tang-style shanqun captivated audiences, reflecting the bold aesthetics of Tang Dynasty fashion that defined an era of cultural splendor.
“The floral forehead ornament graces the brows, the red lips illuminate the jade-like face.” The intricate hairpins, chaidian (forehead decoration), and inserted combs accompany a Tang Dynasty congjie (layered bun) hairstyle. A floral forehead ornament enhances her brow, a festive adornment often worn by Tang Dynasty women. The overall styling references the attire of donor figures in the Dunhuang murals, presenting an exceptionally luxurious ensemble.
Her floral hairpins are modeled after artifacts from the National Museum of China and the Shaanxi History Museum, perfectly embodying the opulence of the Tang Dynasty.
The background patterns featured include:
- Peacock Holding Ribbon Pattern – Symbolizing elegance and prosperity
- Winged Auspicious Lion Pattern – Symbolizing bravery and blessings
- Fish Pattern – Symbolizing abundant joy and good fortune
- Flying Phoenix Pattern – Symbolizing peace and auspiciousness
- Four Lions and Treasure Floral Pattern – Symbolizing courage and fearlessness
- Circular Nesting Birds Pattern – Symbolizing soaring success
- Treasure Flower Standing Phoenix Pattern – Symbolizing flourishing prosperity
Song Dynasty: Li Qin’s Gentle Refinement
Li Qin’s Song-style beizi and skirt, in soft lotus pink, exuded elegance with trailing floral embroidery. The baidiequn (pleated skirt) featured camellia ruyi motifs, symbolizing serenity. This Hanfu fashion highlighted Song’s delicate aesthetic within traditional Chinese clothing.
A golden tuanguan crown and pearl makeup completed her look, evoking Song Dynasty beauty. Background patterns like Lotus and Trailing Peony symbolized purity and grace, making her ensemble a standout in Chinese cultural fashion.
She wears a golden tuanguan (circular crown), a common headpiece for Song Dynasty women. Her makeup features the unique Song Dynasty pearl makeup, showcasing the delicate beauty of Song aesthetics.
Her baidiequn (pleated skirt) is decorated with camellia ruyi motifs, symbolizing a year of good fortune, elegance, and serenity.
The background patterns featured include:
- Trailing Peony and Lotus Pattern – Symbolizing nobility and grace
- Trailing Peony and Laurel Pattern – Symbolizing national beauty and fragrance
- Four Seasons Floral Pattern – Symbolizing year-round prosperity
- Lotus Pattern – Symbolizing purity and good fortune
- Orchid Pattern – Symbolizing elegance and purity
- Peony Pattern – Symbolizing national beauty and fragrance
Ming Dynasty: Guan Xiaotong’s Dignified Style
Guan Xiaotong’s Ming-style shuling duijin aoqun, with butterfly and shishi ruyi motifs, showcased mid-Ming refinement. Her mianqun (horse-face skirt) featured the “Five Lakes and Four Seas” pattern, blending gourds and conches for harmony. Grain stalks and palace lanterns added a festive “Five Grains Abundant Harvest” touch to this traditional Chinese clothing.
Her hairstyle, inspired by water-land ritual paintings, mixed modern and traditional elements with butterfly ornaments. Background designs like Gourd Vine Flourishing and Persimmon and Ruyi reinforced prosperity, cementing Hanfu fashion’s New Year spirit.
Her hairstyle references the water-land ritual paintings’ coiffure, incorporating slight yanwei (swallow-tail) styling. The hair accessories blend modern and traditional elements, incorporating butterflies and floral ornaments, highlighting the youthful and vibrant look of this outfit. The makeup is kept translucent, following the aesthetic of the Ming Dynasty.
Her mianqun (horse-face skirt) features a base pattern of the Ming Dynasty “Five Lakes and Four Seas” motif, where five gourds and four conches symbolize harmony across all directions. The skirt’s hem showcases patterns of grain stalks, bees, and palace lanterns, forming the “Five Grains Abundant Harvest” motif alongside a scene of noblewomen admiring lanterns—apt for the New Year’s festive atmosphere.
Why Year Brocade Matters
Year Brocade wasn’t just a performance—it was a celebration of Hanfu dynasties. By showcasing Hanfu fashion, the gala connected viewers to China’s textile heritage. Patterns like Jade Rabbit and Laurel or Four Lions and Treasure Floral carried centuries-old blessings, resonating in 2025 as Hanfu gains global fans.
Explore more at China National Silk Museum (DoFollow link) for insights into traditional Chinese clothing craftsmanship. The gala’s influence lingers, inspiring Hanfu enthusiasts to embrace these designs at cultural events.
Tips for Hanfu Fans in 2025
Want to dive into Hanfu fashion? Here’s how:
- Choose Your Dynasty: Pick a Han or Ming style to match your vibe.
- Study Patterns: Learn motifs at China Culture (DoFollow link).
- Wear It: Try Hanfu at festivals for a Hanfu Year Brocade-inspired look.
- Share Online: Post your Hanfu style to inspire others.
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