BEIJING, CHINA – In Beijing’s Forbidden City, once the majestic palace of China’s Ming and Qing emperors and their many guards and servants, many visitors now tour the palace and dress in historical clothing while posing for portraits, in the fashion of centuries the past
It’s a phenomenon seen around heritage sites across China, inspired by comic book conventions and Japan’s passion for characters cosplaybut with additional nationalistic and cultural dimensions.
Although the historical truth of gowns and robes may not be verifiable, they were inspired by Chinese painting, theater and art, especially the Qing, China’s last dynasty known for its prosperity and cultural advancement through the silk and porcelain trade.
During this time period, China expanded its empire and its art and painting flourished, as did clothing and textiles. Men and women wear long robes of embroidered silk and women wear wigs studded with flowers, pearls and precious stones.
The Qing dynasty fell in 1911 and after decades of war, power was seized by the Communist Party, which sought to wipe out all vestiges of China’s imperial past.
With the legacy of rigid Maoism and increasing prosperity in recent years, it is now commonplace to see whole families dressed in Qing Dynasty clothing, some of which are homemade, others rented from vendors at the shoot who will also provide services with hair and makeup.
Popular historical TV dramas and the rise of social media have sparked a culture of frenzy, and while they don’t involve battle re-enactments like those popular in the United States and Europe, they reflect a growing respect for China’s history in the centuries before the communist takeover.
Some contestants created their looks based on characters from novels, plays and poems from centuries past.
Crowds flocked and gathered along the beautiful walls and moat that surrounded the former palace – now a glorious museum with trees weeping willow and changes color in late summer and early fall.
Both professional and amateur photographers offer samples of their photos to families and couples. Others in imperial costumes took turns taking pictures with their phone cameras.
A group of students from the elite Tsinghua University celebrated the end of their semester with a costume photo.
Despite the sweltering Beijing summer, families, friends and couples pose with smiles, sweat dripping down their foreheads. It is a serious activity, requiring the right picture style, perfect props and ideal camera angles.
And when it’s all set, they go back in time – feeling like royalty and excited to explore a fantasy world – however briefly with other people just like they’re living normal lives. – AP