Should there in fact be a standard - for Volunteers & Staff of China & Chinese gardens, nowadays ?

And if so, then let it enhance & harmonize - not detract from the culture and nature of the miniature landscapes.

" Let them adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array."

These words were written, for our benefit in the 1st Century Common Era.

Just what these days, constitutes a " modest apparel, " and is there now a paradox ?

We are not advocating ancient times robes, for everyday dress.

Nor are we suggesting, that the " scene," be followed in the image of quite    " back then."

" Keep watching yourselves," for balance.

Gentlemen's Samfoo.

It is believed, that " Trousers," as we know of them today;

originated in China and that the Europeans took the design from the East in as early as some five hundred years, before Common Era.

It was only the design, colour and pattern apparently, that determined whether it was a man's or woman's attire.

China was effectively, the only one of the great cultures of antiquity, to wear trousers, but the Chinese were so interlinked with Central Asia, that they crossed the divide.

These simple samfoo trousers were influenced by Westerners and are certainly not now, the loose fitting kind that ancient Asian women wore, back then.

Ladies Samfoo.

Traditional ladies Cheongsam

The same can be said of the traditional Cheongsam.

In fact the Manchu banner man’s robe with broad sleeves, has evolved into many seductive styles since it was first worn by Chinese women in the Qing Dynasty (1644 -1912).

What we are saying though; is let the volunteers and staff, who represent the China gardens - be not " up-staging, "   the garden scene.

 

Also known as qipao, the cheongsam is a one-piece dress with a high collar, a fitting body, no sleeves, buttons on the front and slits on the sides.

Let us all seek to be wearing comfortable, functional, modest and simple garments;

befitting of the privilege, we have been given.