Hanfu Renaissance 汉服复兴 at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden Chinese Cultural Centre Vancouver 中山公园，中华文化中心
The Chinese Cultural Centre Museum (CCCM) and the Hanfu (ancient clothes of the Han cultural group which is the largest in China) Culture Society of Vancouver presented the Chinese Hanfu and Culture Exhibition from June 20 to July 14, 2012.
汉服文艺复兴在中山公园，中华文化中心。
Hanfu 汉服中国传统服饰 has an influence on the Kimono 和服 of Japan or the Hankok 韓服 of Korea. The basic style of the Hanfu was from the Shang Dynasty 戰國 商朝 (16th to 11th century BC). Much of the design stayed the same through to the Zhou Dynasty 周朝 (1046 – 256 BC). Until the Sui 隋朝 (589 AD – 618 AD) and the Tang dynasty 唐朝 (618 – 907 AD), Hanfu saw further refinement in style and the name 唐装 is taken from this period as well.
The exhibition featured Chinese traditional period dresses ranging from the Qin Dynasty 秦朝 to the Ming Dynasty 明朝.In recent years, Hanfu is seeing a renaissance as younger generations both in China and abroad want to re-discover their roots and view this particular style of traditional Chinese clothing as an embodiment of the many virtues of the Han group that symbolizes honesty, good mannerism, refined tastes, well-being, excellent cultural upbringing and other appealing natures.
On closing day July 14, 2012, a Hanfu dance was performed inside the cultural centre museum. But when I brought the models out into the adjacent Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, the dresses and the wearers really came alive. The clock was turned back. I sensed a real potential of a Hanfu Renaissance taking place in Vancouver.
Fashion comes and goes, but a clothing style that comes with a 3,000+ year old tradition has lasting values. It is seeing a comeback.
[Er-hu music by Joanna Wang. You can also catch her act at various Skytrain stations in the downtown area as Ms. Wang is a City of Vancouver-licensed street-performer.]
A Video by Ray Van Eng – Hanfu Renaissance
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, 578 Carrall Street, Vancouver, BC
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