The history
Qipao / Cheongsam is an elegant type of Chinese dress. This
close－fitting dress with a high neck and the slits on the
sides, comes from China's Manchu Nationality.
Legend:
There is a legend that a young fisherwoman lived by the Jingbo
Lake. She was not only beautiful, but also clever and skillful.
But when fishing, she often felt hindered by her long and
loose fitting dress. Then an idea struck her: why not make
a more practical dress for work？ She got down to sewing and
produced a long multi－looped－button gown with slits, which
enabled her to tuck in the front piece of her dress, thus
making her job much easier. As a fisherwoman, she never dreamed
that a fortune would befall on her.
The young emperor who ruled China at that time had a dream
one night. In the dream, his dead father told him that a lovely
fisherwoman in Qipao by the Jingbo Lake would become his queen.
After awakening from his deep sleep, the emperor sent his
men to look for her. Sure enough, there she was７ So she became
the queen, bringing her Cheongsam with her. Manchu women all
followed suit and soon the Qipao became popular.
We do not know whether the story is true or not. But one thing
is certain. The Cheongsam came from the Manchus who grew out
of ancient Nuzhen tribes. In the early 17th century, Nurhachi,
a great political and military strategist, unified the various
Nuzhen tribes and set up the Eight Banners System. Over the
years, a collarless, tube－shaped gown was developed, which
was worn by both men and women. That is the embryo of the
Qipao. The dress is called Qipao in Chinese or translated
as "banner gown", for it came from the people who
lived under the Banner System.
The Qipao became popular among ladies of the royal family
in the Qing Dynasty. At that time, Qipaos were fitted loosely
and were so long that they would reach the insteps. Usually,
they were made of silk and the whole dress was embroidered,
with broad lace trimmed at the collar, sleeves and edges.
In the 1920s, Qipao / Cheongsam became popular throughout
China. With the influence of Western dress styles, the Cheongsam
underwent a change. The cuffs grew narrower and were usually
trimmed with thin lace. The length of the dress was shortened
as well. This new adaptation allowed the beauty of female
body to be fully displayed.
In the 1930s, wearing a Qipao / Cheongsam became a fashion
among women in the whole of China. Various styles existed
during this period. Some were short, some were long, with
low, high or even no collars at all.
Starting from the 1940s, Cheongsams became closer-fitting
and more practical. In summer, women wore sleeveless dresses.
Qipaos of this period were seldom adorned with patterns.
The Qipao became standard female attire until the 1960s.
Following Western fashion, the tailors raised the hem, even
to above the knee, so that the "long" was long no
longer. In the West, during the sexual revolution of the 1960s
the style was deemed something oppressive, like the Victorian
bodice.
In Western popular culture, the qipao became synonymous with
the 1960 movie character Suzie Wong and the sexual objectification
of women.
Today, with its variety of styles, the Qipao / Cheongsam
shows its charm at many markets. More and more women in China
appreciate its beauty. For instance, when wives of China's
diplomats attend important social gatherings, the Qipao is
their first choice among dresses. In fact, quite a number
of influential people have suggested that Qipao / Cheongsam
should become the national dress for women in China. This
shows that the Cheongsam remains a vibrant part of Chinese
culture.
Wearing a Qipao nowadays has turned into something of a vogue,
both at home and abroad. Due to its elegance and classical
looks the Qipao becomes a source of inspiration for fashion
designers. World-renowned brands like CD, Versace, and Ralph
Lauren have all cited some Qipao elements in their designs.
Many foreign women are eager to get themselves a Qipao should
they visit China. Qipao is no longer a garment particular
to Chinese women, but is adding to the vocabulary of beauty
for women the world over.
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