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China is a united rnulti-national countr-y
of
56 nationalities. Crigins of all nationalities are eiiversi{ieen anrl patterns
their clothes are colorful.
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Chinese
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Clothing
Hanfu and Cheongsams
Costumes of Ethnic
China's
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Minorities
Nationalities
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ancient times, China has been hailed as "a big nation noted for clothes and hats" and
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has been called. ',the land valuing rituals and ceremonies". "Huaxia" is another name China
According to historical records: the word hua refers to beautiful clothes worl by emperors or officials with the meaning of "illustrious" and "splendid"; the word xia refers to a big nation with the meaning of "great" or "grand". China is known for the "great" imporlance attached to rituals and ceremonies, so it is called "xia". China is also known for the "illustrious" clothes worn by officials, so it is also called "hua". The origins of all these names have a close relationship with the clothing.
China is a united multi-national country of 56 nationalities. Origins of all nationalities are diversified and pattems of their clothes are colorful. Han Chinese, the main nationality with the largest population mainly distributed in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan,
constitute about 91 percent of the country's total population. The style of traditional Han Chinese costumes varies with different places, demonstrating
vivid geographic features'
Besides the Han nationality, the other 55 ethnic groups have a very small population, making
up about only 9 percent ofthe country's total population, as such they are customarily referred
to as the minorities. These minorities, though fewer in number, are also scattered over a vast area accounting
for over 60 percent of China. They mainly includes minorities of Mongols,
Korean, Manchu, Daur, Hezhen, Ewenki, oreoqen distributed in provinces of Liaoning, Jilin,
Heilongjiang, and Inner Mongolia; and minorities of Hui, Dongxiang, Bonan, Salar, Tu, Yuguq Uyghurs, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Xibe, Tajik, uzbeks, Russian, Tatars living in provinces
of
Tibetan, Monba, Lhoba, Qiang, Yi, Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia, and Xinjiang; and minorities of
Bai, Hani, Dai, Lisu, Va, Lahu, Nakhi, Jingpo, Blang, Achang, Pumi, Nu, De'ang, Derung, Jino, Miao, Buyei, Dong, sui, Gelao living in provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan, and Xizang; and
minorities of Zhtang,Yao, Mulao, Maonan, Jing, Tujia, Li, She, Gaoshan living in provinces
of Guangdong, Hubei, Hunan, Fujian, Hainan, Taiwan, and Guangxi zhtang Autonomous
Region. Due to the complexity and diversity of the ecological environment of the wide distribution of these minorities together with different historical and social backgrounds of each ethic group and the imbalance of socio-economic development, costumes of ethnic minorities demonstrate rich and diversified cultural characteristics'
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festival dress in Maguan, Miao
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and westem styles-was quite the vogue at that
time. In the
1930s and the 1940s, the
making of cheongsams gradually reached its maturity with constant alterations in form cutting, collars, edges, sleeves, and slits. In order to highlight the curve of the female body, cheongsams were gradually lengthened even to the floor with two deep side slits and a tight fltting waist which went very well with a waistcoat. Then, fashioned after
westeffr models, the cutting of cheongsams became mole folm fitting. After that, cheongsams
were shortened again and became sleeveless-a pattem similar like a long waistcoat of 200 years ago and were gradually accepted by the people'
The cheongsam constitutes an important part of Chinese costume culture. With constant reforms and innovations in designs and colors' nowadays cheongsams have a wide variety of styles such as set-in sleeve patterns, shoulder seam patterns, hidden pleat patterns, shorl grown-on sleeve pattems and those sleeveless ones. But the simple,
light, formfitting, and elegant style which sets off the elegant temperament of oriental women is preferred and carried on to cheongsam constitutes rportant part of Chinese
rme culture (Photo by tu Msion)
this day. Gradually, cheongsams become the standard traditional clothes for Chinese women.
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Clothing lt7
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of nomadic and farming ethnic groups living in the Tibetan plateau, known "ostumes as the "Roof of the World". Affected by the geographical environment, the Tibetan, Monba, Lhoba ethnic minorities are mainly occupied with nomadic pastoralism and farming. Paofu made of various materials is the common clothes for the local people: sheepskin gowns are
worn by people from the pastoral area, while pulu gowns made of wool are wofll by those from the farrning area. In adjusting to the great temperature differences of that region, this type of gown is healy with a loose fit and wide sleeves, making it easier to slip on and to take
off.
The gown is usually worn with a long belt, which naturally forms a large pocket round
the chest, enabling wearers to put in personal belongings. The Tibetan women, dispersed in Xizang, Qinghai, southern part of Gansu and northwestem part of Sichuan, usually wear their
hair either long or in a braid. Affrxed the plaits is a hairnet or a tube-shaped plait accessories decorated with silver tablets, silver shields, silver coins, corals, agates, and shells, making the
Tibetan women look dignifled and gorgeous.
The costumes of the southem farming ethnic groups and of those living in the mountainous areas. Being hot and rainy, the geographical environment of the region where the southern ethnic groups live is rather complicated. Consequently, costumes of these ethnic minorities are complex with varied styles. For those living in the mountainous areas, their clothes are heavy with no notable variations with seasons. For those dwelling in the hot and humid
valleys, their clothes are light in texture, short and narrow in style. For those residing in flatland areas, their clothes are simple and practical resulting from influences ofHan Chinese
costumes. With frequent communications between ethnic minorities and Han Chinese who
live together in the same area, some ethnic groups obviously assimilate into Han culture, which in turn results in some similarities in clothes designs. Traditional costumes of these minorities are mainly made of cottons, linens, silks, fur, fireweed cloth, and bark fiber cloth' Patterns of these costumes are of great variety which include paofu, robes, pull-over dresses,
front opening dresses, open cross-collar dresses, sleeveless jacket, cloaks lined with felt, capes, trousers, short pants, leggings, long skirts, shorl skirts,
etc. Among them, the Miao
costume is noted for its fine workmanship and numerous patterns which are as many as several hundreds.
loman's coat, ]lbetan Dancing dress in religious ceremony, Tibetan
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