Changes in food and clothing during the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China

Information on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China

1. Colorful costumes

①The period of the founding of the People's Republic of China - the alternation of the old and the new, revolutionary characteristics

When New China was first founded, people's clothing still retained the style of the Republic of China. Urban citizens generally wear robes with buttons on the sides, and women wear cheongsam. Rural men generally wear Chinese-style cardigans and trousers, while women wear left-cardigan shirts and trousers, and some even wear a long skirt. At that time, most of the fabrics people used to make clothes were woven "foreign cloth", cheesecloth, and linen. In addition, suits and tunic suits are also in fashion. In his later years, Sun Yat-sen often wore clothes that stood out among his robes, mandarin jackets, suits and leather shoes. People called this kind of clothes the Mao suit, and associated its style with Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary beliefs and principles. For example, the four pockets symbolized the four dimensions of the country. , namely etiquette, righteousness, integrity and shame; the three buttons on the sleeves represent the Three People's Principles of nation, civil rights and people's livelihood. The Mao suit has become a symbol of the national revolution. In fact, the Kuomintang has already betrayed the revolution.

After the founding of New China, dressing up and revolution were closely linked. Suits and cheongsam are regarded as bourgeois sentiments, and they have gradually disappeared from people's lives for nearly 20 years. Mao suits and Lenin suits have become common choices for people. During the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China, the leaders of New China made a collective appearance on the Tiananmen Gate for the first time. The image of Mao Zedong and the leaders around him wearing Chinese tunic suits attracted world attention. Men wear Chinese tunic suits to look dignified and energetic. The Chinese tunic suit is very orthodox, with many buttons on the top and four flat pockets, but the style is too rigid and lacks innovation. Later it evolved into people's clothing with certain improvements. From that time on, a double-breasted uniform from the Soviet Union, the "Lenin suit", became popular among working women. It is named after Lenin often wore it before and after the October Revolution. The style is a suit with an open collar, double-breasted, three buttons each, and a cloth belt at the waist. This clothing later became the most admired and favored "fashion" of countless Chinese women. Among them, almost all revolutionary female cadres must wear Lenin clothing to show their revolution.

② Before reform and opening up - simplicity and monotony

People in the 1950s believed that labor was the most glorious, and simplicity was fashionable. Young girls once fell in love with men's overalls and plaid shirts. In 1956, the three major renovations began to be carried out vigorously. As people's lives improved day by day, the popular colors also changed from blue and gray to rich and colorful. The dress "Braj" introduced from the Soviet Union became the most popular garment. The popularity of Bragi skirts in China is attributed to a Soviet leader. When the leader visited China, he suggested that China's clothing did not conform to the image of a major socialist country and that "women should all wear colorful clothes to reflect the flourishing face of socialism." As a result, brightly colored Bragi skirts have become the most beautiful scenery in major and medium-sized cities.

In an era where diligence and frugality were important, most of the beautiful clothes were made at home. Skilled girls and mothers made their own military uniforms fit and cotton shirts beautiful according to the clothing cutting patterns in the pictures. At this time, the Chinese tunic suit became the most solemn and common clothing in China. At that time, owning a woolen tunic suit was an enviable thing, and inserting one or even two pens in the upper right pocket of the tunic suit was a symbol of knowledge and ability. cultural expression. Later, based on the characteristics of the Chinese tunic suit, someone designed more concise and lively "people's clothing", "youth clothing" and "student clothing". There is also a slightly improved version of the tunic suit, in which the neckline is enlarged and the lapels are also enlarged from small to large, which is very popular among people. At that time, Mao Zedong, the leader of the Republic of China, especially liked to wear this style of tunic suit. Later, some people abroad called this style of Mao-style Mao suit "Mao-style Mao suit." Since then, the popularity of the Mao suit has lasted for nearly 30 years.

The early 1960s was the most difficult period in the history of New China. Due to three years of natural disasters, cotton production was significantly reduced from 1959 to 1960, and the cotton cloth ration was 21 feet per person. People buy clothes, cotton cloth and daily textiles with cloth coupons. In order to save as much as possible, the criteria for buying clothes are wear resistance and resistance to stolen goods. Gray, black and blue have become popular colors on the street. They are all the same regardless of season. , Men's and women's clothing styles are also more popular. A cartoonist once vividly described the situation where "everyone is dressed in blue".

During the "Cultural Revolution", owning a military uniform was the ideal of countless young people of that era. Teenagers like to wear grass-green military uniforms, grass-green military caps, and carry grass-green schoolbags on their shoulders. This outfit was considered very luxurious and elegant at the time. Of course, hardship and simplicity were still the most mainstream fashion at that time. In order to show their hard work and simplicity, some people even wear newly bought clothes in water, or put a few patches on undamaged clothes. This kind of behavior seems quite ridiculous to people today, but it became popular during the ten years of the Cultural Revolution. The jingle at that time went like this: Three years of new life, three years of old life, three more years of sewing... There is also a song that also floated in the streets and alleys in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China: Diligence and thrift are our good traditions, socialism Construction is inseparable, inseparable...

However, even in an era of single color, people's love for beauty will still be revealed. A photographer called this expression "unstoppable" "Living in the spring light", this naturally conveyed pursuit of beauty is a deep imprint of an era left in people's minds.

③Since the reform and opening up - colorful, fashionable and individual

Since the reform and opening up, the colors and styles of clothing have become more diversified, and the fabrics and textures have also undergone great changes.

1980 is the third year of China’s reform and opening up. With the development of the times, people's clothing has become more and more diverse, and the colors have changed from single blue to gray to colorful. The domestic feature film "Love in Lushan" released at that time became a favorite film among young people. The long-lost love story and the novel fashion of the heroine in the film all give people a refreshing feeling. How many sets of clothes she changed in the film became a hot topic among young people at the time. During this period, wearing sunglasses, long hair, bell-bottoms, and bat shirts became fashionable. Many people were not used to it, but young people found their individuality and sense of self.

The first fashion model team in mainland China was established in 1981. Although it only enrolled students in the name of "Clothing Advertising Art Performance Class" at that time, what surprised the organizers was the number of people who came to sign up. Four times as much as expected. Three years later, the performance team toured Europe and caused a sensation. Western public opinion exclaimed: "Mao Zedong's children are wearing fashion!" The fashion whirlwind from China has brought a new image of openness to the world.

In 1984, when the Chinese women's volleyball team won three consecutive championships at the Los Angeles Olympics, sportswear became popular in Beijing. Brightly colored sportswear has become the first choice for people who love beauty. People wear sportswear almost anywhere and anytime, and it has even become school uniforms for students and factory uniforms for workers.

In the 1990s, people's lives transitioned to a moderately prosperous life, and their ideas became more open. People's clothing is changing rapidly. Dressing emphasizes individuality and change. It is difficult to summarize fashion trends with one style or color. Emphasizing individuality and not chasing fashion has become a fashion in itself.

From the changes in clothing, we can see the progress of the times and the changes in people's inner concepts. Changes in clothing are based on economic development, and also reflect the changes in people's ideas and concepts with the changes of the times, from the past "herd" mentality to "the pursuit of individuality." Changes in clothing are a manifestation of the improvement of people's quality of life.

2. Increasingly rich diet

There is a saying that "food is the first necessity of the people". It can be said that people regard "food" as the minimum standard of life, and at the same time, people also regard "food" as their first priority. "Food" is the highest pursuit and enjoyment of life. From the changes in "food", we can reflect the rise and fall of wealth and poverty in a society, and we can appreciate the changes in social history.

① In the early days of the founding of the People’s Republic of China - living in poverty, not having enough to eat or having a meager diet

② Before the reform and opening up - there was great improvement, but food was scarce and monotonous, tickets were prevalent, and people were undernourished. Some rural areas have not solved the basic problem of food and clothing.

Food stamps are a product of the planned economy. In the early 1950s, there was a food shortage in our country. The Central Government Affairs Council issued an order in October 1953: A nationwide planned supply of grain was implemented and a method of quantitative grain sales based on vouchers was adopted. Food stamps appeared. Since August 1960, the city's catering industry in Beijing has implemented ticket-based dining, and limited supplies of cooking oil, poultry, eggs, meat, soy products, and vegetables have also been implemented. During this period, there were many kinds of bills. In addition to grain, oil and cloth coupons, they also issued subsidized bean coupons, pastry coupons, oil coupons for advanced mental workers, and holiday subsidized oil coupons. In some places, briquette coupons, popsicle coupons, and cigarette coupons were also issued. Liquor, candy and tofu tickets. In the era when tickets were popular, there was also an era of material shortages. Only during the holidays, people could buy some pastries, candies, and dry fruits with tickets, and the portions were very small.

Question: Why do people use tickets on page 112 of the book?

Student answer: Because the productivity level is not high and material supply is tight, vouchers need to be used to limit people's purchasing power.

During the three-year natural disaster period, food and vegetables were in short supply. When they were not full, people often ate carrots to satisfy their hunger. People are a little bloated due to a lack of basic nutrients.

③Since the reform and opening up - not only can you eat well, but you can also eat well, with balanced nutrition and a good mix of thickness and thickness. Green food has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

Since the 1990s, food supply and demand have moved toward the market. The demise of food stamps has become a historical necessity. In May 1993, Beijing finally stopped using food stamps, and food stamps completely disappeared from the stage of history. Some cloth stamps, oil stamps, meat stamps, and tofu stamps that symbolized the shortage economy have also withdrawn from people's daily life. Today these symbols of the times have become treasures in the hands of collectors.

Today, our material life has been greatly enriched. We have a wide variety of food in wet markets, supermarkets, and hypermarkets. People's requirements for food are also getting higher and higher. They must not only "eat well", but also eat healthily. The concept of scientific hygiene is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. People pay attention to balanced nutrition, good matching of thickness and light taste. They should eat more fruits and vegetables and less high-fat and high-cholesterol foods. Wild vegetables and whole grains that were used to satisfy hunger in the past due to insufficient food have now become healthy foods on the table.

"Use your brain": Why have wild vegetables and whole grains, which were used to satisfy hunger in the past due to insufficient food, now become delicacies on the table?

Answer: Because in the past, people were short of food and only had wild vegetables and whole grains. People had no choice to satisfy their needs. Nowadays, food supply is abundant, and people not only need to eat enough, but also eat well. People pay attention to nutritional balance, combination of thickness and thickness, and choosing green foods.

The improvement in people's living standards reflects the further development of social productivity and the prosperity of the socialist market economy since the reform and opening up.