Author: Zhao Yantao Editor: Lü Cong
With culture as the vehicle, traditional costume as the symbol, express anti-communist convictions by peaceful means
The Chinese Traditional Costume Movement Planning Team is a team that takes opposition to the Chinese Communist Party's one-party political system, and advocacy of democracy, freedom, and political rights as its core ideals, and that carries out peaceful political action through traditional culture, visual art, and public expression.
We hold that political expression does not come only in the forms of the traditional political slogan and the street protest.
China possesses thousands of years of history and culture, and a rich heritage of traditional dress. Traditional garments such as Hanfu, Tang dress, Song-dynasty styles, and Ming-dynasty styles are themselves important constituent parts of Chinese history and culture.
Therefore, we attempt to transform traditional dress anew into a visual symbol of modern political expression.
Wearing traditional costume is not only to display traditional culture; it can also express reflection on present-day politics. It is not only to look back upon history; drawing on history, it can also reflect upon power, freedom, and democracy.
The Chinese Traditional Costume Movement clearly opposes the Chinese Communist Party's longstanding one-party political rule, and advocates expressing political positions by peaceful, nonviolent, open, and voluntary means.
We do not advocate violence, nor do we require anyone to take any action against their personal will.
We believe that the spread of ideas can be accomplished through culture, that political expression can be accomplished through art, and that social movements can likewise proceed by peaceful means.
Therefore, we bring together traditional costume, photography, film and television, speeches, artistic creation, social media, and public events, to explore a form of anti-communist political expression with Chinese cultural characteristics.
Our goal is not simply to repeat traditional political propaganda, but to create a new political visual language:
Let culture become the vehicle that carries ideas, let traditional dress become a symbol of public expression, and let peaceful action become a way of political participation.
The Chinese Traditional Costume Movement Planning Team has also established both an honorary guidance system and an administrative management system.
An honorary position not only represents an individual's endorsement of the team's ideals; it can also become an identity vehicle for the propagation of the team's ideals. A person who has received a formal appointment may, entirely of their own volition, use their team identity in their personal profile, public speeches, social media, and other public settings.
We hope that, through ever more individuals, images, and cultural expressions, "the Chinese Traditional Costume Movement" will gradually take shape as a distinctive cultural and political symbol.
We oppose one-party dictatorship, oppose the unlimited concentration of political power, and advocate democracy, freedom, the rule of law, and citizens' political participation.
We believe:
Culture can express a stance, art can express resistance, dress can become a symbol, and peace itself is a form of strength.
Chinese Traditional Costume Movement Planning Team
With culture as the vehicle, traditional costume as the symbol;
with peace as the means, and democracy and freedom as the direction.
