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China is a vast and complex country. Most Americans judge China by the roles portrayed in theater and the media. This leaves out China’s numerous minorities, which in the US we would call Native American Tribes. Most Chinese minority peoples live in the western areas and historically have served as a buffer between China’s dominant group, the Han Chinese and the outsiders or Barbarians. After the success of the Chinese led by Mao Tse Tung in the 1940’s, the Chinese were faced with a dilemma: Who were they and how many were they? The new government took a census and defined the population. There are 56 recognized nationalities or ethnic groups according to the central authorities. The Han account for approximately 92% of the population and today dress the same way the people in this room are dressed. Gone are the Mao jackets of the 70’s and the little blue hats seen by so many during and after President Nixon’s historic trip to Beijing. These costumes you will see today and the others we are unable to show account for only 8% of China’s population of 1.3 billion. China has 5 people for every 1 American, living in a country very closely comparable to the US in size. Fifteen groups number more than 1 million each, and nine groups number less than 10,000. The costumes we are about to see are mostly summer attire, light and airy. Winter wear is more entailed, with many layers of clothing. The Chinese have never heated their buildings as we do; they have considered personal space the place for heat rather than building space--a lesson that we, and many Westerners, found quite frustrating and challenging during the cold Chinese winters of the north. We hope that through this fashion show we can show some of the variety of China and entertain you in a pleasant fashion. Our sincere thanks to the ladies and gentlemen offering their bodies for this purpose. Now, let's get on with the show. . . . | |
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