On the afternoon of March 12th, the Peking University International Faculty Center organized a visit for over twenty foreign experts and scholars from various schools to the Ethnic Costume Museum of the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. The event, titled "Encountering the Beauty of Ethnic Attire," allowed participants to experience the charm of Chinese ethnic culture up close amidst a splendid array of traditional garments.
As China's first professional museum dedicated to clothing and accessories, the Ethnic Costume Museum at Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology is renowned as the "gene bank of ethnic costume culture." Its collection comprises over ten thousand precious artifacts, including clothing, ornaments, and textiles from all 56 ethnic groups of China, along with nearly a thousand pictures depicting the life and attire of ethnic groups such as the Yi, Tibetan, and Qiang. Led by a professional guide, the foreign experts toured seven thematic exhibition halls, including the Metalwork and Jewelry Hall, the Ethnic Attire Hall, and the Brocade, Embroidery, and Batik Hall.
Strolling through the exhibition halls, these exquisite ethnic costumes, with their unique patterns, colors, and craftsmanship, quietly narrate the lifestyles, beliefs, and historical evolution of their respective peoples. The exhibits range from the elegance of the Qing Dynasty Han-style blue satin "Horse-Face Skirt", to the brilliance of the Miao silver phoenix crown, which embodies legends of migration. From the distinctive fish-skin clothing of the Hezhe people to the ingenious "antiaris toxicaria" bark clothing of the Li people, and further to the Tujia brocade quilt woven with auspicious motifs for fortune, prosperity, longevity, and happiness—these pieces not only demonstrate superb craftsmanship but also vividly illustrate the historical exchange and integration of culture and art among different ethnic groups.
During the visit, the foreign experts paused for a closer look, exchanged questions, and used their phones to capture the exquisite details. Many expressed that ethnic attire is not merely a visual art form but also a living fossil, bearing history, life, and wisdom. The distinct choices in color, pattern, and material seen in the attire of the Miao, Yi, Mongolian, Manchu, Uyghur, and other ethnic groups reflect their adaptive wisdom in harmony with the natural environment and their enduring pursuit of a better life.
This immersive cultural journey enabled the foreign experts to move beyond textual descriptions. They gained an intuitive appreciation for the charm of diverse yet harmonious coexistence among the clothing styles of different ethnic groups. It led to a more genuine understanding of the diverse and integrated essence of Chinese culture, summarized by the concept of "appreciating the beauty in all" and further stimulated their interest and affection for Chinese history and traditional culture.
