How Hong Kong brides made this Chinese wedding dress their own

Summary

This video explores the rich history and cultural significance of the Quan Hua, a traditional Chinese wedding gown that originated in southern China during the Ming Dynasty. Featuring intricate embroidery of dragons and phoenixes, the gown symbolizes prosperity and unity. Over time, its design has evolved, with variations in embroidery techniques and materials. Despite modern mass production, the video highlights the craftsmanship and dedication behind these gowns, which can cost up to 98,800 Hong Kong dollars and take up to a year to create. The gown's color and design have also shifted over time, reflecting changing tastes and cultural beliefs.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Quan Hua or Chinese wedding gown has deep roots in Southern China and is a traditional wedding dress in Hong Kong.
• 😀 The Quan Hua became popular during the Ming Dynasty, when a cabinet member was gifted a wedding gown embroidered with a dragon and phoenix as a reward for his long service.
• 😀 The dragon and phoenix, which symbolize power and harmony, are central elements of the Quan Hua, and are never separated in the gown's design.
• 😀 While Chinese wedding gowns can now be bought online, there is a noticeable difference in quality, particularly in terms of embroidery techniques.
• 😀 Traditional embroidery techniques used in the creation of the Quan Hua include rounding, stacking, and knotting, which come alive on the red satin fabric.
• 😀 The price of a Quan Hua varies depending on the intricacy of its embroidery, with the most ornate designs known as 'the king of qua' costing up to 98,800 Hong Kong dollars and taking up to a year to make.
• 😀 In the past, the gold and silver threads used in the embroidery were made from real gold and silver, causing the gown to smell rusty over time.
• 😀 Quan Hua gowns were traditionally made in Hong Kong, but due to rising labor costs and a shortage of embroidery talent, production has shifted to mainland China for some elements.
• 😀 The color red is dominant in modern Quan Hua gowns, but they were once made in black and red in the 1950s. Black eventually fell out of favor due to its association with bad luck.
• 😀 The local production of Quan Hua gowns involves a combination of local tailors and embroidery fragments imported from mainland China.

Q & A

What is the Quan Hua, and where does it originate from?

The Quan Hua, also known as the Chinese wedding gown, originates from southern China and has deep roots in the region's culture. It became popular during the Ming Dynasty, and its design is linked to a legend involving a reward from the Emperor's cabinet.

How did the Quan Hua become popular in Hong Kong?

The Quan Hua became popular in Hong Kong as the go-to wedding dress for couples. Over time, its design evolved, and its popularity grew as it became associated with traditional wedding ceremonies.

What is the significance of the dragon and the phoenix in the Quan Hua?

The dragon and phoenix are considered symbols of prosperity, power, and harmony. These symbols are integral to the design of the Quan Hua, and the shop owner emphasizes that they are never separated in the gown’s embroidery.

How do the Quan Hua designs differ over time?

Quan Hua designs have been refined according to changing tastes, with various embroidery techniques being incorporated. However, the essential elements, such as the dragon and phoenix, remain constant in most designs.

What makes the embroidery of the Quan Hua so unique?

The embroidery on the Quan Hua is intricate and features techniques like rounding, stacking, and knotting, which bring the designs to life. The level of detail and intricacy can significantly affect the price of the gown.

What is the price range of the Quan Hua?

The price of a Quan Hua can vary, with the most ornate designs, known as the 'king of qua,' costing as much as 98,800 Hong Kong dollars. These gowns can take up to a year to create due to their detailed embroidery.

What was special about the materials used for the embroidery threads in the past?

Historically, the embroidery threads for the Quan Hua were made from real gold and silver. This not only added to the gown’s luxury but also gave it a unique smell, as they would eventually rust over time. An old Quan Hua would often be stored in metal boxes for preservation.

Did the color of the Quan Hua always remain the same?

No, the color of the Quan Hua was not always red. In the 1950s, it was common to see black and red versions, but the black color gradually disappeared, as it was considered unlucky.

Where are the Quan Hua gowns made today?

Due to high labor costs and a shortage of skilled embroiderers in Hong Kong, the Quan Hua gowns are no longer exclusively made in the region. Some embroidery shops now outsource parts of the gown, such as embroidered satin, from mainland China, which are then assembled by local tailors in Hong Kong.

Why is the dragon and phoenix embroidery crucial in the Quan Hua?

The dragon and phoenix symbolize the balance between male and female energies, and they are traditionally seen as the ultimate symbol of harmony and prosperity in a marriage. This is why they are essential to the design of the Quan Hua gown.