Women in the late Qing Dynasty dressed conservatively, but why were women in the Republic of China so open-minded?

As Chinese history developed from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, photography, painting and filmmaking technologies were introduced from the West. This also left a large number of photos, short films, and films taken during this period to future generations. Various characters, advertising paintings, etc. vividly show the social life of this historical period. /8ad4b31c8701a18b75a63087952f07082938fead?x-bce-process=image/resize,m_lfit,w_450,h_600,limit_1/quality,q_85

When we look at the images of society and people in the late Qing Dynasty and compare them with the Republic of China period, we tend to There is a feeling that in the late Qing Dynasty, most Chinese women wore robes and coats and skirts. No matter what they wore, they were very conservative. Only their faces and hands were exposed, and they wished that their necks were completely covered by their collars. Lived. This is consistent with the conservative concept of women in China's feudal history. For most of history, women's clothing was very conservative. For example, during the Tang Dynasty, it was rare for women to wear low-cut clothes. /95eef01f3a292df5952b8eddb7315c6035a87309?x-bce-process=image/resize,m_lfit,w_450,h_600,limit_1/quality,q_85

But looking at some images of people during the Republic of China, cheongsams with exposed arms and legs are already in Shanghai. It is generally popular in big cities such as Beijing and has become the business card of the culture of the Republic of China. There are also many advertising posters, celebrity pictures, and character images showing clothing that is more revealing than exposing arms and legs. People wear shorts, short skirts, and swimsuits directly! Even in China 30 years ago or 20 years ago, there were many types of clothing that would have been unimaginable. Looking back today, one would be surprised as to why women during the Republic of China could suddenly be so open-minded. /5d6034a85edf8db1b7c65eac0223dd54574e7409?x-bce-process=image/resize,m_lfit,w_450,h_600,limit_1/quality,q_85

Of course, changes in social atmosphere cannot be formed in one day. There is a process. In fact, In the early years of the Republic of China, although people gradually abandoned the conservative service inherent in the Qing Dynasty and began to wear a large number of suits and skirts under the general trend of westward winds spreading eastward, they were still relatively conservative overall. Seeing the trend of revealing clothes, in 1920 the Shanghai government An announcement was also issued prohibiting revealing clothing. “It’s not strange to show off in public. It’s not appropriate to show off your fashionable style.” If a woman wears revealing clothing, low-cut clothes and exposed legs, she will most likely be sent to jail to “contemplate her faults behind closed doors.” /10dfa9ec8a1363276ba1e0fb9a8fa0ec09fac7ad?x-bce-process=image/resize,m_lfit,w_450,h_600,limit_1/quality,q_85

However, the government’s ban cannot stop the updating of clothing concepts, especially when some feminist movements The author connects the liberation of women's clothing with revolution, believing that women's corsets are a shackles, and the revolution must start with liberating themselves. More and more women have responded positively, giving up the use of traditional corsets, and transforming themselves from the inside out. Instead of wearing more open and exposed Western clothes, the cheongsam with exposed arms and legs in the Republic of China was born under these conditions.

Just seven years later, in 1927, the Republic of China government also began to change its tune, advocating "natural breasts" and opposing breast binding. Those who did not implement the breast-letting policy would be fined. In response to the government's call, celebrities and movie stars took the lead in fighting to wear "prosthetic breasts". Bras also entered China at this time, and many people even boldly wore swimsuits. This was the "Tianru Movement" that pushed women in the Republic of China to open up their dressing concepts and clothing. Since then, women in the Republic of China have become more and more open-minded.