The cheongsam is a female dress with distinctive Chinese features and enjoys a growing popularity in the international world of high fashion.
The name "cheongsam," meaning simply "long dress," entered the English vocabulary from the dialect of China's Guangdong Province (Cantonese).In other parts of the country including Beijing,however,it is known as "qipao",which has a history behind it.
When the early Manchu rulers came to China proper,they organized certain people,mainly Manchus,into "banners" (qi) and called them "banner people" (qiren),which then became loosely the name of all Manchus.The Manchu women wore normally a one-piece dress which,likewise,came to be called "qipao" or "banner dress." Although the 1911 Revolution toppled the rule of the Qing (Manchu) Dynasty,the female dress survived the political change and,with later improvements,has become the traditional dress for Chinese women.
Easy to slip on and comfortable to wear,the cheongsam fits well the female Chinese figure.Its neck is high,collar closed,and its sleeves may be either short,medium or full length,depending on season and taste.The dress is buttoned on the right side,with a loose chest,a fitting waist,and slits up from the sides,all of which combine to set off the beauty of the female shape.
The cheongsam is not too complicated to make.Nor does it call for too much material,for there are no accessories like belts,scarves,sashes or frills to go with it.
Another beauty of the cheongsam is that,made of different materials and to varying lengths,they can be worn either on casual or formal occasions.In either case,it creates an impression of simple and quiet charm,elegance and neatness.No wonder it is so much liked by women not only of China but of foreign countries as well.
② "元宵节"有哪些民俗活动
元宵节的民俗活动:
1、猜灯谜
“猜灯谜”又叫“打灯谜”,是元宵节后增的一项活动,出现在宋朝。南宋时,首都临安每逢元宵节时制迷,猜谜的人众多。开始时是好事者把谜语写在纸条上,贴在五光十色的彩灯上供人猜。因为谜语能启迪智慧又饶有兴趣,所以流传过程中深受社会各阶层的欢迎。
2、观灯
宋代更重视元宵节,赏灯活动更加热闹,赏灯活动要进行5天,灯的样式也更丰富。明代要连续赏灯10天,这是中国最长的灯节了。清代赏灯活动虽然只有3天,但是赏灯活动规模很大,盛况空前,除燃灯之外,还放烟花助兴。
3、过桥
一些地方的元宵节还有“走百病”的习俗,又称“烤百病”“散百病”,参与者多为妇女,他们结伴而行或走墙边,或过桥,走郊外,目的是驱病除灾。
4、舞龙狮
中华民族崇尚龙,把龙作为吉祥的象征。元宵节热热闹闹的节气,少不了舞龙狮的存在了。舞龙狮在不同的地方有着不同的习惯,有的地区是观看者聚集在某地观看舞龙狮表演,有的地区则是舞龙狮团队沿街游行表演。