“Cultural Backlash”: A Case Study of Aristocratic Chinese Dress Culture in the Translated Literary Work “Dream of the Red Chamber”

Abstract

         This research article aims to study the phenomenon of “cultural backlash” through the clothing styles of the Chinese aristocracy as depicted in the translated literary work “Dream of the Red Chamber”. This is a qualitative study based on documentary data, conducted through the processes of data collection, data analysis, and data presentation. The research results reveal that the clothing culture of the Chinese upper class during the Qing Dynasty is reflected through male representative characters, including Prince Beijing, Shi Yong, and Jia Baoyu, as well as female representative characters, namely Grandmother Jia and Wang Xifeng. The attire of these two groups of characters illustrates the phenomenon of “cultural backlash” in Chinese society. In other words, although the Qing Dynasty, ruled by the Manchus, maintained political control over China for nearly 300 years, it was unable to dominate the culture of the Han Chinese, who constituted the majority of the population. Consequently, the Manchu ruling class was compelled to adopt Han Chinese clothing styles from the Ming Dynasty as the standard for their own dress. This study highlights the profound influence of culture on people’s ways of thinking and modes of life. In some cases, cultural strength can exert greater power than political authority. Therefore, culture constitutes a crucial factor in shaping identity and social cohesion, while also directly contributing to the long-term stability of the nation-state.