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| Keep the western graduation gowns? |
I think they have got the criterion wrong - it should be a form of dress linked with the Chinese educational or academic tradition - not the ancient costume of the dominant ethnic group today.
The "western" gown I wore the last time I graduated in the UK was made according to a 600 year old design specification and that was based on an even older clerical garb - based on monks' clothing basically because monks and priests ran the first "universities" in Europe.
So I think that Chinese universities would need a link like that, something relevant to education, to be truly traditional.
The "western" gown looks nice, why not just keep the foreign element in the Chinese system - it has been inherited as part of recent Chinese history, why go back in time at all?
In the UK we were happy to absorb Chinese cultural elements - like the so called "English delftware" pottery which from about 1630 has been using obviously Chinese designs! English Wedgwood pottery is also rather Chinese!
Well I given one point of view here, I am sure there are others!
"Move over Western gowns, hanfu 'is coming'
By Zhu Zhe (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-05-12 07:08
Walking up on a dais in traditional Chinese dress to receive your baccalaureate degree.
Well, that can become a reality if a Peking University design contest throws up something novel and exciting enough to replace the Western-style gown, which till now have been worn by students.
The prestigious seat of higher learning, long known for its tradition of innovation, launched the academic-gown designing contest on Thursday. The criterion: the costume has to be traditionally Chinese. " |
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