Autumn Wind: Cultural Consciousness Of Clothing

When I went to Vienna to attend an academic activity, the Chinese friends gathered in front of the hotel before the meeting began. I was a little surprised: only about me did not bring my suit, and my friends wore it.

When I arrived at the meeting, I saw a more interesting scene: only about Chinese scholars wore formal suits. Of course, scholars from Taiwan, China and Japan seemed to be mostly dressed in suits.

In contrast, local scholars in Vienna and scholars in other European countries are not wearing formal suits, especially young and middle-aged scholars. Most of them wear casual style suits.

The vice president of University of Vienna wore a Chinese style skirt for the opening speech of the conference.

In the evening, professors in the Department of history at University of Hong Kong were only wearing casual shirts.

I don't know what my friends think about it. Anyway, I feel a little embarrassed and sad.

Friends are all cultural people, but I can not help but frankly say that people lack cultural awareness, of course.

The topic discussed in Vienna is one hundred years of revolution and reform since the revolution of 1911.

It is true that China in the whole twentieth Century was indeed a revolutionary century, and from the beginning it had the tendency of "Great Revolution", that is, not only to change the political operation structure, but also to change the customs of the people.

At first, the project of pformation is relatively small, and the scope is relatively shallow.

With the passage of time, the scope of change has been expanding and becoming more and more profound.

And clothing is always the object of change.

In the first half of twentieth Century, western style clothing was introduced into large numbers, but at that time people still had more free choice. Many scholars were still lecturing and receiving guests in a robe.

After 50s, Lenin service became mainstream and highly unified.

About the first half of 80s, western style dress became popular again.

At that time, China was struggling to get out of the closed door state. The existing clothing was linked with the previous political and social psychology, and continued to wear it. It was a symbol of keeping the old. Wearing a suit was regarded as a symbol of opening up.

Therefore, the leaders who advocated reform and opening up took the lead in wearing suits and ties.

Since then, suits have become popular: leaders of the state are dressed in suits and suits on official occasions, and officials, businessmen and academics are preparing a set of suits for formal occasions.

Not only in foreign countries, but also in China.

Thus, in the formal ceremonial occasions of Chinese people, suits become standard clothes, so many formal meetings require that no formal dress be received.

The author took part in some TV programs recording, and the director wanted to wear formal clothes.

Q: what is the formal dress?

In fact, "Wen" in Chinese classics such as "civilization" and "culture" is first related to clothing.

The "Hua" of "Hua Xia" is to describe the beauty of costumes.

In the view of civilization of the ancients, "dress" is the fundamental sign that China goes out of barbarism and distinguishes itself from all four ethnic groups.

Later, the Central Plains intellectuals with higher civilization fled to the south, also known as the "dress South crossing".

So, today, when the Chinese Elite dress in western style as their formal dress, and "Huaxia"?

Of course, I have no intention of unifying clothing, belonging to the dress freedom of the aesthetic field, but the most basic right of freedom.

However, a person who enjoys the freedom of dress can be completely conscious of culture; if you are an elite, you should have a cultural consciousness.

Especially in formal occasions with ceremonial nature, the confusion of clothing can actually lead to confusion in the whole role cognition, such as the loss of cultural subjectivity and even the loss of political consciousness.

The most frightening thing is that westernization of such clothing is not the result of people's free choice.

Just a few years ago, local officials who thought they were also considered to be open minded were still forcing their subordinates to wear suits.

Such a thing is by no means unique.

On the other hand, we can find that the Westernization of Chinese customs in twentieth Century accounted for most of the power.

To Vienna, just in time for Sunday, this day, all shops closed, we feel very inconvenient.

The seven day, one cycle life cycle arrangement is related to the Christian faith and its life style.

After the revolution of 1911, the revolutionary government adopted the solar calendar and introduced the week system.

It is said that this is conducive to international exchanges.

However, when Chinese people are deeply interacting with the West today, they find that such handwriting has led to serious cultural disorder: most Chinese do not have Christian belief, and Sunday evolved into a pure rest.

The Chinese need a cultural awareness of clothing.

Again, I never object to people's freedom of dress, but in ceremonial formal occasions, people, especially elites, have reason to wear Chinese style dresses.

From this, a question is immediately faced. What is this dress? Hanfu, Tang suit, Chinese tunic suit, maybe not.

The important thing is to have a sense of cultural subjectivity.

With this awareness, the interaction between the elite group and the fashion design industry will certainly give birth to the Chinese style dress that will pass through the ancient and modern times.