Also, now that we’ve had a proper look at Historical!Haru, I can say for sure that he’s most definitely not in Joseon clothing. Heck, I don’t think it’s Korean clothing, period. (No pun intended 😂)

The sleeves, collar and buttons on his robe are nothing like what we’ve seen on men from the Silla Kingdom, Goryeo or Joseon. I think Historical!Haru must’ve been a Korean delegate who had been working in China, who later returned to Korea and fell in love with Historical!Danoh.

Period-wise, I’m going to guess Silla, rather than Joseon, because Historical!Danoh’s hair and clothing don’t quite square with what we’re used to seeing on unmarried upper class Joseon women (short jeogori, or upper garment, with a full chima, or skirt + a long braid and ribbon) like Goo Haeryung.

Of course, I could be wrong about Silla, but I’m feeling it more than Goryeo just because we can see here in this scene from Hwarang, Sooyeon’s outfit has a similar cinched waist and modest sleeve to that of Historical!Danoh’s.

This is pretty different from the type of outfits we saw Soo dressed in throughout Moon Lovers, which tended to have these beautiful, billowing trumpet sleeves.

Thoughts?

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    I thought it was just straight up Ancient China (although I’m not too familiar with its periods ^^”) but now that you pointed it out, I’m sure it is Silla period.

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      I thought Ancient China too ‘cos of Haru’s clothing! I still think it could be both, but I could also be overthinking this majorly 😂

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        I would like to give the webtoon Writer the benefit of the doubt and say it may be a mix of Silla and Chinese clothing too 😂😂 But yeahhh we might be getting ahead of ourselves 😂

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    Waah You’ve done your research!!
    I don’t know much about ancient korea but from the little Joseon era dramas that I’ve watched I agree that this doesn’t look Joseon era!

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      yeaaaah, Joseon had a lot of pretty fixed rules/customs re: clothing, so it’s safe to say it’s not Joseon!

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    I think it’s Silla, the webtoon writer in the drama isn’t that detailed to take it to China 😂

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      I’m sure it’s set in Korea, but I’m still hoping (for the sake of my love for historical accuracy) that there’s some reasonable explanation for why Haru’s costume is more Chinese than Korean, hahaha 😂😂😂

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    I’m curious about their background or status in Silla era! I want to believe that she’s a princess, but her outfit lack details if she is the one, but also the fabric looks to fancy to be lowly (or probably the author lack in drawing details). Also if she were a princess, she is most likely to betrothed to her siblings.

    As for Haru, he is quite fishy since he doesn’t have surname (I believe so), he could be either from China or maybe mercenary? Hwarang members?

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      I think the chances of her being a princess are pretty high because the set-up would be very classic: royal princess falls for a man that, as princess, she would never be allowed to marry, and they have to fight for their love until they meet their tragic end (or something like that).

      Clothing-wise, one explanation could be that she’s outside palace when she’s not supposed to be, and she’s wearing her “normal people” disguise 😂😂😂

      I’m convinced that with Haru, there has to be SOMETHING that explains his Chinese-style hair and outfit. Mercenary is a really good guess, and it could explain his scar—injured in battle maybe?

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    Thanks for doing the research! I have a theory: it’s not any historical period that we know of, just a fantasy historical world somewhere.

    At first the clues pointed towards Joseon, with Sae-mi exclaiming “You must be from Joseon!” when Haru aced the Korean test. However, he looks nothing like a Joseon man (no gat for instance). Moreover, Hangul was not invented until the Joseon period, so Haru would not have been able to read it if he came from Goryeo or before; he’d be familiar with Chinese characters. (Otherwise, he’s a geeeeeenius scholar who picked up Hangul quickly because it’s relatively easier). Sloppy writing by the comic writer? I wouldn’t be surprised.

    As far as Dan-oh’s appearance, I thought her hair looked a lot like Hae-Soo in MOON LOVERS, and even Haru’s dark robe reminds me of Wang So. For instance, this image:

    Is this a coincidence? Two tragic lovers, one of them a time traveler and a water maid, and the other a prince? It’s also a drama that left us raging and clamoring for a rewrite. Could the comic writer be a scarred Moon Lovers fan? (I jest, but maybe not).

    In conclusion, I think your Silla guess is a good one, though I wouldn’t rule out alternative-universe Goryeo or even Baekje, which had considerable trade with China and Japan.

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      oooh, that’s a great theory too, and it would allow the writer to get away with not being 100% historically accurate 😂😂😂

      The language point is a really good one too, and I didn’t think of that before! I think with knowing hangul, that’s something that anyone who entered the Secret world would be able to do since I’m sure every character would be equipped with the most basic functions (common language being one of them?).

      In terms of Chinese characters, though, I went back to look at the scene and guess what: there WAS some Hanja involved in that test!

      If the writer was an angry Moon Lovers fan… 😂😂😂 (I don’t blame them.) But yes, I think Baekje and Goryeo are most definitely possibilities, because there’s so little we know now and there are overlaps between all these eras. I’m excited to see how it all turns out! We’re getting closer now…

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        Ooooh sharp eyes! I can’t see very well… are the questions on the test in Hangul and Haru answered using Chinese characters?

        I actually like your theory that he’s from ancient China. The bamboo flute playing first struck me as something from a Chinese wuxia anyway. He may be a prince who was held hostage for a long time in China and had just returned to the Korean peninsula… Or he’s actually a Chinese envoy. Forbidden love to the max.

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          You can see it a bit better here:

          I think the questions are a mixture of hangul and hanja, and seem to mostly require answers in hanja!

          He may be a prince who was held hostage for a long time in China and had just returned to the Korean peninsula… Or he’s actually a Chinese envoy. Forbidden love to the max.

          Yep, this is exactly what I was thinking! He was living/working in China, returned to Korea and fell in love with Historical!Danoh, who loves in him return against the wishes of her family!

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            Cool, thank you! I guess we’ll find out soon, hopefully!
            Tbh I wasn’t expecting a historical sub-plot in EXTRAORDINARY YOU, but if done well it can give the show more emotional depth (and probably wring tears from us).

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    Apparently my mind isn’t the only one who jumped to ‘Ancient China’ the moment I saw Haru in that outfit. I thought it was simply because I’ve watched too many c-dramas lately, but you’re right that his outfit really didn’t match any of the usual male outfit from sageuk. But anyway, he looks so mesmerizing. 😍😍

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      He does 😍 I’m a sucker for period clothing (period anything, tbh) so I’m just waiting for us to get more clear shots of the world in Flower/Trumpet Creeper so I can make Historical!Haru my new dp ❤️

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