During the 2026 CCTV Spring Festival Gala (春晚), as singer Zhou Shen performed the song “Jiliang” (吉量), 56 children from ethnic groups across China walked the stage in their traditional costumes. When Zhang Yanbo, a young Han Chinese boy, appeared in a festive set — a black Confucian headwrap (儒巾), a gold-brocade Daopao (道袍), and a small horse plush toy — the hashtag “Han Chinese Child Wears Hanfu on Spring Festival Gala” instantly trended on social media. The costume’s designer, Chinese costume historian Chen Shiyu (陈诗宇), later revealed in an exclusive interview with Cover News that the stage outfit was Ming Dynasty-style Daopao, the most popular male garment type of the era.
Daopao Is Not Just for Daoist Priests
Daopao is often mistaken as clothing exclusive to Daoist priests, but historically it carried two meanings: first, a Ming Dynasty straight-collar, wraparound daily robe worn by scholar-officials as everyday attire; second, a long robe worn by Daoist practitioners. In the context of contemporary Hanfu revival, “Daopao” specifically refers to the Ming Dynasty men’s most widely worn garment — a Jiaoling (交领, cross-collar), Daijin (大襟, large-wrap) robe with side slits and concealed pleats, used both as an underlayer and as civilian wedding attire. This form disappeared from common folk use under the Qing Dynasty’s “forced hair-cutting and costume-changing” (剃发易服) policy but was preserved within Daoist religious contexts.
Form and Features: Cross-Collar Right Closure Over a Millennium
The Ming Dynasty Daopao adopts the Jiaoling Youren (交领右衽, cross-collar right closure) structure, strictly following the core principle of “collars crossing, right side overlapping left.” Chen Shiyu explained in his interview: “From the pre-Qin era through the Ming Dynasty, Han Chinese male clothing was predominantly centered on the cross-collar right-closure robe. Whether in formal ceremonial attire like court dress and coronation robes, or in daily casual wear, the proportion of cross-collar right-closure garments was very high — even in modern Han Chinese children’s folk clothing, this remained true. This basic feature endured for thousands of years.”
The Daopao is constructed withcontinuous cutting from shoulder to hem (上下通裁), a large wraparound right closure, and an A-line silhouette from the waist down. The sleeves are wide, embodying the concept of “embracing the universe” (包藏乾坤). Side slits with concealed pleats allow ease of movement while preserving the robe’s flowing elegance. The collar is often trimmed with a white protective collar (护领) and fastened with cord ties; a silk sash is tied at the waist. Zhu Xi (朱熹) of the Southern Song Dynasty recorded in his “Instructions for Young Learners” (童蒙须知): “Men have three tight points — head tight, waist tight, feet tight” — headwrap, belt, and footwear must be secured, reflecting the importance placed on dignified appearance since ancient times.
Why Ming Dynasty Daopao for the Gala?
Chen Shiyu explained that the Ming Dynasty was the last peak of Han Chinese costume development, with rich physical artifacts and historical records that best showcase the dignified, wide-sleeved bearing and ritual standards of Hanfu. To adapt the garment for a child’s body, the design team slightly adjusted the length and sleeve width proportionally while retaining core structural elements such as attached sleeves and concealed pleats — balancing historical accuracy with stage mobility. The fabric used was mulberry-silk gold brocade (织金锦), woven according to the “pattern-lifting and knotting” (挑花结本) technique documented in the Ming Dynasty text “Tiangong Kaiwu” (天工开物), ensuring pattern units matched the original artifact references. Dyeing employed plant-based dyes: vermilion-red protective collar symbolizing ritual solemnity, and stone-blue body conveying steadiness — a color scheme consistent with robes unearthed from the tomb of the Prince of Lu (鲁王墓) in Shandong.
Motif Meaning: The Sheep Prince Yangsheng Pattern and the Auspicious Gourd
The robe’s fabric uses the “Sheep Prince Yangsheng Gold-Brocaded Pattern” (绵羊太子阳生纹织金) — an auspicious motif commonly used from the Winter Solstice through the Spring Festival period. The pattern depicts a young boy carrying a plum-blossom branch and a magpie cage, riding a gentle ram. The ram (羊) is a pun on “yang” (阳), referencing the “Three Yangs Bring Prosperity” (三阳开泰) from the “I Ching” (周易), symbolizing winter giving way to spring and renewal. The composition of the reclining ram and playing child directly references Ming Dynasty crown prince costume motifs, implying abundant progeny and dynastic longevity.
The collar uses the “Great Auspicious Gourd” (大吉葫芦) silk protective collar, combining the gourd shape with halberd (戟, homophone for “auspicious” 吉), Ruyi (如意), cypress branches, and persimmons to create a blessing matrix of “good fortune” and “everything as desired.” This motif originated from Ming Dynasty New Year court costumes, with physical evidence preserved in the Kong Family Mansion collection (孔府旧藏). A red silk sash bound at the waist symbolizes ritual discipline, while the handheld bamboo-framed paper horse lantern subtly references the “Jiliang Divine Horse” theme of the gala (a mythical steed from the “Classic of Mountains and Seas” (山海经) that “grants a thousand-year lifespan to its rider”).
Historical Origins and Spread
The Daopao’s prototype can be traced back to the “Zhe” (褶) garment personally designed by King Wu of the Zhou Dynasty. It was standardized by the Southern Dynasty Daoist scholar Lu Xiujing (陆修静) and gradually took its definitive form. During the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty, the Daopao became the standard daily robe for male scholar-officials, worn by everyone from the emperor to commoners. The Daopao form also spread to the Korean Peninsula, where it became the ceremonial daily attire for kings, crown princes, officials, and scholar-gentry of the Joseon Dynasty.
Under the Qing Dynasty’s forced hair-cutting and costume-changing policy, the Daopao was preserved among Han Chinese in Daoist religious contexts and passed down through an unbroken lineage. The traditional Daopao-making technique of Wudang Mountain (武当山) has been listed among Hubei Province’s provincial-level ICH representative projects.
Modern Daopao
Today, Daopao is experiencing a cultural revival as a key Hanfu garment type. The Spring Festival Gala appearance generated widespread attention, helping more people understand that Daopao is not exclusive to Daoist priests but was the “universal bestseller” of Ming Dynasty Chinese men. Prices for ready-made Daopao on the Hanfu market range from 700 RMB to several thousand RMB depending on craftsmanship complexity, with satin clouds-brocade and gold-brocade styles being particularly popular. Adapted modern versions have also entered daily wear, becoming a summer fashion choice for Hanfu enthusiasts seeking both style and comfort.