Clothing Secret Language: Symbolism of Chinese Ethnic Costume Culture

Author: Deng Qiyao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Clothing can become a cultural symbol of national honor and shame, as well as the rise and fall of a state. In many ethnic minority groups, clothing even serves as a symbolic function for recording history, preserving traditions, and moral education, as well as educational and ethical roles. All creation myths, national migrations, and omens of gods and spirits are embroidered onto clothing, as if carrying the history of national culture with them through generations. It can be said that clothing is a historical marker of a person's culture and also a cultural symbol of a person's history. From the moment a person is born, they are destined to be wrapped in man-made clothing and accessories—from being wrapped in swaddling clothes, to receiving the (guàn jī) ceremony, to wearing wedding attire, mourning clothes, or ceremonial crowns. All of these are inseparable from clothing's role in social roles. Different professions, social statuses, and beliefs are reflected in different types of clothing. Whether one wears coarse or fine garments, blue-collar or white-collar attire, wears a crown or removes a feather, or wears simple hairpins or jade bracelets, it signifies different social roles. Clothing can become a cultural symbol of national honor and shame, as well as the rise and fall of a state. In many ethnic minority groups, clothing even serves as a symbolic function for recording history, preserving traditions, and moral education, as well as educational and ethical roles. All creation myths, national migrations, and omens of gods and spirits are embroidered onto clothing, as if carrying the history of national culture with them through generations. It can be said that clothing is a historical marker of a person's culture and also a cultural symbol of a person's history.