The jointly online petition calls on making traditional
Han-dynasty costumes the official uniform of the Chinese delegation
during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Han costume or "Shenyi" designed for male is
a full-length, one-piece robe which links the Yi and Chang together
to wrap up the body. It is cut separately, but sewn together.
Shenyi was named because when worn "the body is deeply wrapped
up.
?
"Our petition has been submitted to the Beijing Olympic Committee",
initiator Fu Lujiang from an old-style Ming De private school at
Hebei Province said yesterday. The proposal
has been mainly imitated by a group of famous Chinese scholars,
echoing with an army of domestic counterparts and netizens.
Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad
(BOCOG) today said they didn't receive any propose, but confirms
Chinese elements will out of question be blended into the
delegation uniform design.
The propose says that "China as the host in the worldwide
Olympic Games is absolutely necessary to demonstrate their unique
centuries-old culture by dressing up ethical outfits and salute the
old-style formality that will impress both domestic spectators and
overseas guests.
Advocator: Chinese culture embodied
Large sized garment, bow and scrape, such a strand of
traditional etiquette could lead back spectators to ancient
periods.
The Han costume or "Shenyi" originated from Shang Dynasty (17th
-- 11th century BC), long serve d as the formal attire for Chinese
people until the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644).
"There exists a misunderstanding that much of who consider
Han-style costume is namely the dress popular in Han dynasty", an
undefined initiator said of their petition, "We just aim at evoking
Chinese recollection of traditional culture."
It is not the latest instance of public tendency to revive the
traditional culture via Han-style suits. It can be said the outfits
is everywhere as the newly fad among the youth: civilian
sacrifices, wedding ceremonies, musical instrument performances and
even a Han costume-themed restaurant that makes debut in Beijing
last year.
In such petition, titled "Marking Chinese consume our own voice
and symbols at the upcoming Olympic Games" also highlights a
propose brought forward by a China National People's Congress (NPC) member Ye Hongming at the recently-closed
NPC annual session, that is, to nominate the Han-style dress as the
'Chinese national costume', hoping "Chinese people moves to
demonstrate ethical charm".
Opponent: Profit-oriented
Han costume or "Shenyi" designed for the
female is a full-length, one-piece robe which links the Yi and
Chang together to wrap up the body. It is cut separately, but sewn
together. Shenyi was named because when worn "the body is deeply
wrapped up".
?
But opponents look coldly on such high fever, and cast the oppugn
on the addiction to the old-style attires, criticizing the
eye-catching propose a trick by the name of Olympic Games but in
fact a profit-making conduct.
A netizen Xiao Li said of Han costume is "nice as the uniform
for Chinese athletes" during the Beijing Olympic Games opening and
closing ceremonies while question whether the ancient-style outfits
resemble the Kimono a little?
It is the growing concern not only shared by Xiao Li and his
supporters, Japanese Kimono, Korean attires, Indian sari, when the
neighboring countries combines their domestic lingering as well as
distinguishing appeal; how does China, crested "King of clothes and
hat" since ages ago, demonstrate their own unique image towards the
world?
Experts: Reviving the tradition, or antiquated
performance?
Cultural expert Wang Xudong thought rising fad on Han-style
costume is no other than a classical culture renaissance, or namely
a series of superficial "shows".
Traditional etiquette one side is too old to be revived
completely; on the other, current etiquette culture, being absorb
into exotic civilization and burgeoning internal elements, Zhang
Yiwu, a well-known professor with Chinese literature department at
Peking University said of current Han costume mania.
While most cultural scholars stress that if a style of costume
is supposed to be named as national costume, it should be at first
widely recognized by the whole country other than by authority.
(China Daily April 7, 2007)
