Interview: A College Professor

I recently interview Allan Stegeman, a teaching professor from the Department of Communication in Drexel University, about his opinions on Han clothing. Professor Stegeman has a comprehensive knowledge of traditional Chinese culture, and he shows great interest about Han clothing. 

1. Q: What is your current understanding about traditional Chinese clothing?

A: Almost all of my understandings about Chinese clothing came from movies. I know color plays an important role in it. For example, red stands for good fortune, white is used for funeral, gold is only for the king, and the lower class should wear darker colors.

2. Q: I will show you two pictures, please tell me which one do you like more?

A: I know the second one is the traditional Chinese clothing that you are talking about. I appreciate it. It is fascinating. I can see the cultural meaning behind it. However, I personally think that the first one is prettier. It fits the modern beauty more.

Source: Flying Bee

3. Q: Han clothing stands for the traditional culture of China. How do you see the cultural meaning behind clothes?

A: Well, as a matter of fact, there is a historical component behind all traditional clothes, not only the traditional Chinese clothing. The more you know about the culture, the more you can see it in the design of its traditional clothes. I believed that traditional Chinese culture is the core going values of the Chinese clothing, it is pure Chinese, like the long sleeves that cover the skin, the middle straight line, etc, all of which shows the uniqueness about China.

4. Q: Do you think it is possible that traditional Chinese clothing can develop again in the modern society? If yes, do you think it should keep what it is now in the traditional way or change with the modern society?

A: Of course it’s possible. However, I expected it to evolve just like the Chinese culture evolved in the past hundred years. Because of the globalization, now almost everything is international, so should the traditional Chinese clothing. In the contemporary society, the cultural identity of China had already been changed, we agreed that the traditional Chinese clothing is the reflection of Chinese culture, then it should change as well, to form a new tradition in an international way.