The wearing of ancient Chinese clothing, known as hanfu, has gone rapidly from a niche hobby to a nationwide phenomenon in recent years. According to a report in 2022, the hanfu market in mainland China boasted an impressive 10.2 million customers. This is the first of two visual explainers about this fashion trend. The same report revealed the top three reasons consumers choose to wear hanfu: their appreciation and love of traditional Chinese culture, the way its style fits their aesthetics, and the fact hanfu lends itself well to flattering photos to post on social media. It is a term used to describe the traditional clothes worn by the Han people. Hanfu (漢服) literally means Chinese Han people’s clothing. Hanfu (漢服) or Huafu (華服) ? There is dispute over the term hanfu (漢服), as some scholars prefer Huafu (華服); “Hua”(華) represents the Chinese nation, including all 56 of its ethnic groups. There is also an on-going controversy over whether hanfu is the origin of hanbok, the traditional Korean costume. However, since Han Chinese are the dominant ethnic group in China, mamian qun skirt people generally refer to ancient Chinese clothing as hanfu. When a performer at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremony was spotted wearing hanbok while carrying the Chinese national flag, the Koreans accused China of claiming hanbok as its own. The Chinese embassy in Seoul responded that: “These traditional cultures belong to both the peninsula and the Korean people of China, and claims of … However, each has distinctive design elements, historical origins, and cultural significance unique to their respective countries. To the untrained eye, hanfu, the Japanese kimono and the Korean hanbok may look alike. Here are some of the unique features of the three types of attire. While some garments were indeed elaborate and layered, many traditional clothes, especially those made of silk, were designed to be lightweight and comfortable. There is a common misconception that ancient Chinese clothing was bulky and heavy. Putting on hanfu with proper decorum was important in ancient Chinese society, as it was a way to distinguish social roles. Rules on how to wear, fold, and tie garments were followed meticulously to project an image of grace, modesty, and respect. Today, some of the followers of the hanfu revival movement adopt the same principles.