It's commonly known that Chinese invented
chopsticks as a set of instruments to be used when eating, but the reason behind
that is not commonly known. Actually, Chinese were taught to use chopsticks before
spoons and forks were invented in Europe. Chopsticks were strongly advocated by
the great Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479BC). Chinese, under the cultivation
of Confucianism, depend on fengshui, considered knife and fork bearing sort
of violence, like cold weapons. However, chopsticks reflect gentleness and benevolence,
the main moral teaching of Confucianism. Therefore, instruments used for killing
must be banned from dining table, and that is why Chinese food is always chopped
into bite size before serve.
Cheong-Sam and Traditional Chinese Costumes
Cheong-sam has its origin in Manchu famale's
costumes in Qing Dynasty and has been regarded as the model of Chinese traditional
habilatory culture. As for the reason, cheong-sam not only accords with the characteristic
of harmony within Chinese culture in terms of style, but also shows rich oriental
idiosyncracy with regard to ornamental techniques. In addition, cheong-sam will
give more prominence to a lady's slender figure, and also help to heighten center
of gravity of human bodies together with high-heel shoes, so that civility, elegance
and dignity will be fully displayed. Therefore, cheong-sam developed its own trend,
which has been long lasting.
As for traditional clothes of Chinese men, long gown and mandarin jacket are typical.
Both of them have round-necks and narrow sleeves. Mandarin jacket can be seen as
a kind of Chinese-style jacket with buttons down front, mostly with sleeves like
a horse's hoof. However, the front of long gowns, with buuons on right, is basically
large. There is also a type of garment combining long gown and mandarin jacket,
and they will only have the under-half part, buttoning in the under lap of mandarin
jacket. Long gown and mandarin jacket will give the impression of comfortableness
and ease as well as sobriety.
In 2001, presidents struck a pose on the stage in Chinese-style costumes at APEC
Forum, and thus a trend of wearing Chinese style costumes came into being. The very
reason why clothing with Chinese style has been labeled as Chinese-style costumes
is that the place where overseas Chinese reside in has been called "China Town"
and consequently the costumes which the Chinese wear are called Chinese-style costumes
were transformed from mandarin jacket of Qing Dynasty, and there are four major
characteristics in terms of design:
- First, Chinese-style costumes have a stand-up collar and buttons in the very middle
of the front of the jacket.
- second, there if no seam between sleeves and jacket.
- third, costumes are jackets with buttons down the front or in diagonal way.
- last, they have right-angled buttons, In addition, with regard to the outside material,
Chinese costumes are mostly made with silk.
Moreover, feature of clothing varies with areas and nationalities. For instance,
the bellyband is traditional close-fitting costume in Central China and north of
Shanxi. Bellyband is just like the front of vest with a lace tying to the neck and
two laces tying to waist, and it can prevent children from catching a cold. Children's
wearing of bellyband will also show their naivety. Most bellybands will be embroidered
with pattern of a tiger head and "Five Poisons", which contain a parents nice expectation
of wishing their children health. To take costumes of Yi Nationality as another
example, they are rather distinctive with three types of women's head wears including
decorating brocade round the heads, a handkerchief round the head and a cap with
an embroidered case. Especially in the area of Honghe, women's head wears are full
of beautiful colors and styles. They prefer silver ornaments to show their riches
and beauty. However, the manteau can be regarded as the distinctive costumes for
all people of the Yi Nationality, which are mostly made of fur, delaine, hemp and
straw and whose colors are mainly cyan and blue.
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