Clothing Secret Language (Symbolism of Chinese National Costume Culture)

Author: Deng Qiyao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Clothing can serve as 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 fulfills the symbolic functions of recording history, preserving traditions, and moral education, as well as educational and ethical roles. Everything from creation myths, national migrations, and omens of gods and spirits is embroidered onto clothing, as if carrying the history of a nation's 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 garments—whether swaddled in a, adorned with a, dressed in wedding attire or mourning clothes, clothing cannot be separated from social roles. Different professions, social statuses, and beliefs are reflected in different types of clothing: the rough and the refined, the blue-collar and the white-collar, the crowned and the feathered, the simple hairpins and jade bracelets—all signify different social roles. Clothing can serve as 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 fulfills the symbolic functions of recording history, preserving traditions, and moral education, as well as educational and ethical roles. Everything from creation myths, national migrations, and omens of gods and spirits is embroidered onto clothing, as if carrying the history of a nation's 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.