[Shao Siming Cosplay] The Purple-Haired Girl in The Legend of Qin, Fulfilling a Dream at the Comic Convention

When I was in the sixth grade of primary school, I watched The Legend of Qin: Hundred Schools of Thought for the first time. The scene of Shao Siming stepping out on falling leaves in the woods is still vividly imprinted in my mind. Back then, I didn't know anything about makeup, styling, or lighting; I just thought this masked, purple-haired girl was mysterious and beautiful, and even the butterfly at her fingertips seemed to glow. More than a decade has passed, and changing from an audience member in front of the screen into a cosplayer who can personally wear this costume, the excitement in my heart is genuinely real.

Getting my hands on these convention photos, my very first thought was that it was totally worth it. In terms of the costume, I specially studied the details from the animation—the cloud patterns on the collar, the gems on the waistband, the gradient on the cuffs, as well as the iconic tall boots and patterns; every single component was recreated as closely as possible. The wig was styled into a double-loop bun look, paired with hair ornaments and a veil, giving off an ethereal, fairy-like aura on camera. During the shoot, we incorporated butterfly props and cool-toned light effects, which instantly maxed out the atmosphere. For that pose in the photo where I raise my hand to hold a butterfly, I actually practiced the angle several times because I wanted to find that lightweight yet slightly aloof expression.

The lighting at the convention venue was complex, making the raw negatives slightly dark, but post-processing brightened the highlights and added tiny light particle effects, making me look as if I were standing under the moonlight. In this set of pictures, I particularly love the full-body dynamic pose in the first one and the close-up gaze in the third one. In a masked state, expressions can only be conveyed through the brows and eyes, so the requirements for the gaze are much higher. Standing in front of the lens in this outfit, I felt as though I had truly, briefly transformed into that silent yet powerful girl.

Fulfilling a dream might not seem like a grand thing, but it holds a very special meaning for me. From childhood nostalgia to recreating it with my own hands, the styling skills and shooting coordination learned during this process have become highly valuable experiences. I also hope that friends who see this cosplay set can feel a bit of my obsession with this ancient style character.