Digital reconstruction of court ladies’ apparel in Chinese heritage painting

The Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies, a renowned masterpiece by Eastern Jin painter Gu Kaizhi, depicts the apparel styles of ancient court ladies. With the advancement of digital technology, the reconstruction of ancient artworks through digital means has become an essential direction in cultural heritage research. This study aims to digitally reconstruct the apparel depicted in The Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies and explore its applications and heritage value in the context of modern technological advancements. First, high-resolution image scanning and 3D modeling techniques are employed to accurately reconstruct the details of the apparel in the painting. By analyzing key elements such as fabric texture, color combinations, and structural features, and integrating historical apparel records, this study progressively reconstructs the historical apparel styles portrayed in the artwork. Additionally, virtual simulation and dynamic modeling techniques are applied to examine the appearance of the apparel in various postures and movements, aiming to capture their aesthetic characteristics in motion. The findings of this study not only provide a more intuitive and precise reconstruction of the apparel in The Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies, but also open new avenues for the digital preservation and research of ancient apparel, offering significant academic and cultural value.