Shanghai FASHION

Author: Cheng Nai Shan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: FASHION, which can be interpreted as fashion and charm. In fact, behind the urban fashion, what guides its direction is still tradition, which is the root of the city's spirit. Following the Shanghai series of documentary essays such as Shanghai Tango, Shanghai Lady, and Shanghai Saxophone, the Shanghai-style writer Cheng Nai Shan continues to focus on "Old Shanghai Fashion," putting pen to paper to write Shanghai FASHION. Unlike before, the illustrations are now newly drawn by the octogenarian master of Chinese comic books, He Youzhi, replacing the old Shanghai photographs that previously adorned Cheng's works, together interpreting the charm of Shanghai. For the first time, these two masters collaborate on a book, once again presenting to the world the changes in folk customs and sentiments of Shanghai over the past one and a half centuries, a rare occurrence. History is most important in its details, and this Shanghai FASHION collects 30 articles by writer Cheng Nai Shan, with a broad perspective and a long time span. It recalls the past "FASHION" of Shanghai—clothing, food, housing, transportation, human relationships, customs, famous items, local and foreign men and women, the rich and the poor, every corner—each meticulously described, like an old film with a camera that captures everything, taking us on a tour of the many facets of Shanghai over the past hundred and more years, from "rice bowls" and "portraits" to "alleys" and "sunrooms," from "tea houses" and "big bosses" to "sewing," "qipaos," from "toilets," "kettles" to "side dishes," "big meals," and "ice cream," from "foreign nannies" to "Pudong English." What others think of should be there, and what others do not expect may surprise them back—greatness in "pouches," wonders in "drawers." Cheng Nai Shan, this "Old Shanghai," writes with vivid, concrete history, rooted, well-structured, and full of flavor. Similarly, as an authentic Old Shanghai, the painter He Youzhi's 45 illustrations for this book are no less expressive than the text, entirely treasures of Old Shanghai's social and cultural memory, such as the Shanghai definition of "rice bowls," the "pouches" of fashionable Shanghai women, and their "hair styles." The illustrations by He Youzhi are imbued with profound humanistic spirit, often a single painting can evoke memories of an entire era of Shanghai. Shanghai FASHION is just such a wonderful. This book collects 30 articles by writer Cheng Nai Shan and 45 illustrations by painter He Youzhi. Cheng Nai Shan's family has lived in Shanghai for generations, and He Youzhi moved to Shanghai in his youth, both considered true Old Shanghai. One turns the lively and agile storytelling of Shanghai people into literary language, while the other depicts personal experiences—two brushes that complement each other perfectly. Thus, their collaboration is truly a match made in heaven. This book recalls the past "FASHION" of Shanghai—clothing, food, housing, transportation, human relationships, customs, famous items, local and foreign men and women, the rich and the poor, every corner—each touched upon. From "rice bowls" and "alleys" to "sunrooms," from "kettles" and "side dishes" to "big meals"… you name it, and it's there, allowing us to revisit the fading old faces of Shanghai and savor the lingering fragrance of the past. Shanghai FASHION is a book that tells the story of Shanghai's folk customs and sentiments from the time of its opening as a port to the present, 150 years of history. As an authentic Old Shanghai, He Youzhi's illustrations for this book are as expressive as the text, truly treasures of Old Shanghai's social and cultural memory.
The Shanghai-style writer Cheng Nai Shan has always praised He Youzhi's work: "This book includes over 30 of He Youzhi's works, mostly depicting Shanghai's folk customs and sentiments. For example, the Shanghai definition of 'rice bowls,' the 'pouches' of fashionable Shanghai women, and their 'hair styles.' The illustrations by He Youzhi are imbued with profound humanistic spirit, often a single painting can evoke memories of an entire era of Shanghai. FASHION, which can be interpreted as fashion and charm. In the chaos and constant renewal of urban fashion, it seems there is no 'eternity.' In fact, what guides its direction behind the urban fashion is still tradition, which is the root of the city's spirit. Writer Cheng Nai Shan, with heartfelt emotion, uses elegant and language to analyze familiar urban life scenes like ice cream, Western food, lace, sewing machines, alleys, tea houses, and sunrooms, showcasing the traces of Shanghai's fashion development over the past hundred and more years. Meanwhile, the contemporary master painter He Youzhi has poured his heart into creating 45 illustrations of Shanghai that capture the essence of the city, a rare achievement. For the first time, these two masters collaborate on a book, like twin peaks emerging together, highlighting the landscape, making it a rare and memorable publishing story. This book can serve as a simple and engaging introduction to Shanghai-style culture for today's new Shanghai residents.