中國旗袍（Chinese Qipao）
（Learn to spread China and Chinese cuIture in EngIish）
Chinese Qipao
Qipao ( Chi' pau)is one of the most typical, traditional costumes for Chinese women. Also known as cheongsam, it is like a wonderful flower in the Chinese colorful fashion scene because of its particular charm.
In the early 17th century in North China, Nurhachi, a great political and military strategist, unified the various Nuzhen tribes and set up the Eight Banner System. Later he led his troops into Beijing and overthrew the Ming Dynasty. Over the years, a collarless tube-shaped gown was developed , which was worn by men and women. This is the embryo（胚胎） of the Qipao. It became popular among the royal palace of the Qing Dynasty and the mansions of the Manchu（滿族） nobility. At that time, it was loosely fitted and long enough to reach the insteps（腳背）. Usually it was made of silk, and embroidered,with broad laces trimmed at the collar, sleeves and edges. The dress empresses （皇后）of past dynasties wore them. Their style of dress was regarded as the highest of standards for Chinese women for several thousand years.
The only medium to display the elegance of a human body is an elegant costume.Whatever costume a woman wears, in addition to magnificence and nobility, she must have a thirst for elegance or beauty. Perhaps that 's the reason why Qipao was born.
In the past, the collar of the costume was made high and tight-fitting to keep warm. Qipao has incorporated this feature , not just for preventing coldness but also for beauty. The collar of Qipao generally takes the shape of a semicircle, its right and leftsides being symmetrical, flattering the soft and slender neck of a woman. The collar of Qipao is meticulously made , especially the buttonhole loop on the collar, which serves as the finishing touch. We can 't help but admire the designers artistic originality. The design of the front of Qipao depicts the maturity of women properly , reminding people of the line of a Chinese poem " A garden full of the beauty of spring can not be prevented from being enjoyed. "
Qipao generally has two big slits at either side of the hem（褶邊） for convenient movement and display of the slender legs of women. Unlike a short-length skirt, the slits of Qipao expose a woman 's legs indistinctly（模糊的） when she walks, as if there was a blurred emotional appeal of " enjoying flowers in mist. "
Qipao can display Chinese women 's modesty, softness and beauty. Like Chinese women 's temperament, Qipaos are elegant and gentle.
Like other costumes, the beauty of Qipao comes first. Simplicity is one of its features from the collar, loop, chest, waist and hips to the lower hem, and a Qipao almost varies with a woman 's figure. It not only lays stress on the natural beauty of a female figure, but also makes women 's legs appear more slender. Mature women in Qipaos can display their graceful refined manner.
Besides its simplicity , Qipao provides designers with vast, creative space: some short, some long, with low, high, or even no collars at all.
Practicality always goes with beauty, Qipaos are worn in both urban and rural areas, its long-standing elegance and serenity making wearers fascinating.
When wearing Qipao,women should pay attention to the match as a whole;particularly middle -aged or elderly women should do so. Hairstyles, jewelry , socks and shoes should match Qipaos properly in color and design.
Today , with the development of the market economy in China, designs or styles of fashions are so dazzling as the stars that the eye cannot take them all in. As a result,people are often at a loss what to choose when facing the vast sea of fashions. On the other hand, it is just a golden opportunity for Chinese national costumes to regain their popularity. Fashion culture has become a point of intersection of social culture,reflecting economic developments, social progress and educational level. It represents people 's spirit, living standards and aspirations towards beauty.
中國旗袍
旗袍是中國女性最典型的傳統服飾之一。旗袍又稱「cheongsam」，因其獨特的魅力，在中國五彩繽紛的時尚舞台上猶如一朵奇葩。
17世紀初，中國北方偉大的政治軍事家努爾哈赤統一了各女真部落，建立了八旗制度。後來他率領軍隊進入北京，推翻了明朝。多年來，人們開發了一種無領管狀長袍，男女均可穿著。這是旗袍的雛形。它在清朝皇宮和滿族貴族的豪宅中流行起來。那時的旗袍做得長而寬鬆，可以達到腳背，通常由絲綢製成，並且帶有刺繡，領子、袖子和邊緣都有寬花邊。過去朝代的皇后都穿旗袍。她們的穿著風格被認為是幾千年來中國女性的最高標準。
優雅的服裝是展示人體優雅的唯一媒介。無論一個女人穿什麼樣的服裝，除了華麗和高貴之外，她必須追求優雅或美麗。也許這就是旗袍誕生的原因。
在過去，服裝的衣領被做得很高很緊以保暖。旗袍融入了這一特點，不僅是為了防寒，也是為了美觀。旗袍的衣領一般呈半圓狀，左右對稱，襯托出女性柔軟纖細的頸部。旗袍的衣領做得很精細，尤其是衣領上的扣眼環，更是畫龍點睛。我們不得不欽佩設計師們的藝術創意。旗袍正面的設計恰如其分地刻畫了女性的成熟，不禁讓人想起「滿園春色關不住」這句中國詩句。
旗袍通常在下擺兩側有兩個大縫，便於移動和展示女性纖細的雙腿。與短裙不同的是，旗袍的開縫使女人走路時的雙腿隱約露出，仿佛有一種「霧裡看花」的模糊情感體驗。
旗袍可以展現中國女性的端莊、柔美。和中國女人的氣質一樣，旗袍優雅而溫柔。
和其他服裝一樣，旗袍的美麗是第一位的。簡潔是它的特點之一，從衣領、盤扣、胸部、腰部和臀部到下擺，旗袍幾乎隨女性的身材而變化。它不僅強調女性身材的自然美，而且使女性的腿看起來更苗條。穿著旗袍的成熟女性可以展現她們優雅的風度。
除了簡潔，旗袍還為設計師提供了廣闊的創意空間：有的短，有的長，有低的、有高的，甚至無領旗袍。
實用總是與美麗相伴，旗袍在城市和農村都有穿著，其長久以來所體現出的優雅和寧靜，無不讓穿著者對之著迷。
穿旗袍時，女性應注意整體搭配；尤其是中老年女性更應如此。髮型、珠寶、襪子和鞋子應在顏色和款式上與旗袍相匹配。
今天，隨著中國市場經濟的發展，時裝的設計或款式像星星一樣耀眼，讓人目不暇接。因此，面對時尚的浩瀚大海，人們往往不知所措。另一方面，這也為中國民族服飾重新流行提供了千載難逢的機遇。時尚文化已經成為社會文化的交匯點，反映著經濟發展、社會進步和教育水平。它代表了人們的精神、生活水平和對美的渴望。
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