The Costume Of A Great Power:A Study On The Media Function Of Traditional Chinese Costume

Costume,as one of the symbols of human evolution,is not only the earliest material form of a nation’s civilization but also embodies and reflects unique national ideological concepts.Based on Mc Luhan’s "media extension theory" of media,costume is undoubtedly a medium that combines material entities,symbols and information at three levels.This article mainly discusses the media functions of traditional Chinese costume from three aspects: first,from the cultural perspective of"divine grant of monarchy","respect and kinship",it reveals the clothing media culture governing function of ancient Chinese dynasties with "governing by costume".Second,from the ethical perspective of "moralizing one’s behavior by decent costume",it explores the clothing media civilized education function of ancient Chinese sages who used costume to carry rituals and distinguish differences in social status.Third,from the philosophical perspective of “the unity of heaven and man"and "the beauty of nature",it reveals the clothing media aesthetic pleasure function of ancient Chinese society based on the different shapes,materials,colors,and patterns of traditional costume.Since the time of "The Yellow Emperor wore robes to govern the world," the Hua Xia civilization has given birth to the saying "Xia for its great rituals,and Hua for its beautiful costume." Traditional Chinese costume is not only a concentrated expression of the development of techniques such as planting,breeding,spinning,weaving,dyeing,and embroidery by the Chinese ancestors,but also embodies the natural aesthetic view of the "unity of heaven and man" in Chinese philosophy.Different shapes,materials,colors,and patterns indirectly enabled costume to become a special media used by the central authoritarian rule in ancient times to maintain social order and educate the people,reflecting and conveying the traditional political and ethical concepts of Hua Xia civilization and national cultural spirit.Based on this,this article starts from the perspective of modern communication studies,examining how clothing media played its major functions,including political,educational,and aesthetic functions during the feudal centralized society of ancient China.Due to various historical and international reasons,traditional Chinese costume was once lost for a period of time.However,in recent years,with the enhancement of China’s national strength and the establishment of national confidence,more and more people have been committed to inheriting and developing excellent traditional Chinese culture.Traditional Chinese costume has returned to the public vision and showcased the beauty of China.This article enriches the relevant texts of Chinese traditional costume culture by studying the splendid achievements of traditional costume in Hua Xia civilization from the perspective of communication studies,and to make a modest contribution to promoting our country’s excellent traditional culture,establishing correct national views,and enhancing cultural self-confidence.