Cultural Significance Of Scottish Tartan As A Symbol Of Ethnic Integration

Taking Scottish tartan as the research object,this paper argues that tartan bears a unique cultural significance in the cultural and historical inheritance: It is a symbol of ethnic integration.Without ethnic integration,Scottish tartan would not have achieved today’s development.The integration of different nations would influence the development of their own culture.Historically,the relation between Scotland and England has been complex.After the struggle,the two nations began to cooperate,and the state of ethnic integration continued to deepen.Scottish tartan is influenced by their complex relations: from being banned,to being accepted,to being learned.Tartan has now become one of the representative symbols of Britain,spreading all over the world.This paper mainly uses the method of case study,textual analysis and historical method.This paper takes a new research direction and related cultural study theory to study Scottish tartan,which is rarely seen at home and abroad.This paper is divided into three parts: tartan and equality,tartan and multiplicity,tartan and inclusivity.The first part is about tartan and equality.Firstly,it introduces the cultural differences manifested in England’s military attack on Scotland: one wore breeches,the other wore kilt.Secondly,it introduces the suppression and prohibition of Scottish tartan during the confrontation between Scotland and England.Finally,after the parliamentary union of Scottish and England,their interests were compatible,and their tense relations were eased.They tried to establish the United Kingdom of Great Britain with equal status.After this,the ban on tartan was gradually abolished.The second part is about tartan and multiplicity.George IV’s visit to Scotland not only promoted friendly cooperation between the two sides,but also brought tartan official recognition.Then,Queen Victoria’s adoption of Scottish tartan promoted the spread of tartan.Finally,the highland soldiers in tartan uniforms fought bravely on the battlefield,which won the favor of British people on tartan.Tartan spread further.The last part is tartan and inclusivity.Scottish tartan is combined with British ball culture,gentleman culture,fashion culture and military uniform culture.The reference of Scottish tartan made the party dress,gentleman outfit,fashion culture and military uniform achieve new development.By paying attention to the cultural connotation behind tartan,the author hopes that the research of this paper can improve the understanding of Scottish tartan and break the prejudice and stereotype on it.