Li, Qingzhao 李清照 | Zanhua & The Great Women 簪花图谱

Zanhua & The Great Women: Li, Qingzhao
​HISTORICALLY ACCURATE fashion
​簪花图谱‧伟人篇‧李清照

The writings of Li, Qingzhao (李清照) serve as the major inspiration behind my installation project: "Flora, Luna-Corona 团花·月華".

Paying homage, this historically accurate render depicts Li, Qingzhao in a standard Song-styled hanfu attire for women, especially during the late 11th-12th centuries.  Her zanhua (floral adornments) are based on a selection of poems that I've translated into English.

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《鷓鴣天·桂花》
“Gui-Hua (Sweet Osmanthus)” in the rhythm of Zhe Gu Tian

By Li, Qingzhao 李清照

Around early 12th century
​Song dynasty, China  宋·兩宋交際

暗淡輕黃體性柔，情疏跡遠只香留。
何須淺碧深紅色，自是花中第一流。
梅定妒，菊應羞，畫闌開處冠中秋。
騷人可煞無情思，何事當年不見收。

Soft yellows with mellow souls,
lightweight bodies, light-toned hues.
Being distant and remote,
it leaves trails as fragrant notes.

Who needs light green or dark rose
when it's top-tier on the roll?

Who are envious? The plum blossoms.
Who are blushing? The chrysanthemums.
Among the floral railings and roads,
it's crowned, on Mid-Autumn Festival.

To the great poet who wrote "Li Sao",
were you having emotional doubts?
Why was this august flora left out?

(​English translation: Eric Chengyang)
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Stay tuned for a detailed update including a visual break-down, or follow my fashion storytelling project on Instagram: @daohanfu  ​