Chinese Style in the Western World

By Li Shan

Chinese Style in the Western World

By Li Shan

What is “Chinese Style”?

Chinese style, as the name suggests, means the style of China. Based on traditional Chinese culture, it is a form of art or a kind of lifestyle that contains many Chinese elements and also conforms to the international trends.

From the end of 17th century to the end of the 18th century, there was an outbreak of “Chinese Vogue” in Europe. At that time, artworks, stories, articles, and poetry with Chinese elements were very popular among European people.

早在17世纪末至18世纪末时（清朝康乾盛世时期），欧洲曾长时间流行“中国热”，在这段时间内欧洲对带有中国元素的物品均十分追捧。

（One of the tapestries of the “Chinese Imperial Concubine”series in the age of Louis XIV)

(路易十四时期“中国帝皇妃”系列之一挂毯）

何为“中国风”？

中国风，顾名思义即中国风格，是建立在中国传统文化的基础上，蕴含大量中国元素并适应全球流行趋势的艺术形式或生活方式。

In the year 1700, in order to celebrate the coming of a new century, Louis XIV wore a Chinese style garment to attend a gala held in the magnificent hall of Versailles. The crowds were stunned when he appeared in a Chinese style sedan chair carried by eight people.

1700年，为庆祝新世纪的到来，路易十四在法国凡尔赛宫金碧辉煌的大厅里举行盛大舞会时曾身着中国式服装，坐在一顶中国式八抬大轿里出场，使得全场惊叹。

（The Chinese style Christmas party held by Louis XIV)

(路易十四的中国元素圣诞派对）

Before the 19th century, there was no uniform color and style for wedding dresses for Western girls until the sensational royal wedding in 1840. Queen Victoria amazed all the people with a white dress made of Chinese brocades.

19世纪以前，西方的少女们出嫁时所穿的新娘礼服没有统一颜色规格，直至1840年那场轰动全球的世纪婚礼。英国维多利亚女王身着一袭由漂亮的中国锦缎制作而成的白色礼服，惊艳全场。

（The wedding of Queen Victoria)

(维多利亚女王的婚礼）

Chinese style was reflected in the whole of European society, permeating every aspect of life. Articles of daily use, interior decorations, gardens, and architecture all paid homage to Chinese style.“Chinese fever” was even more prominent in the royal family and nobility.

(The Interior Scene of Hosting Visitors, 86×118cm, 1630, Geneva Musée d’Art et d’Histoire)

这种中国风体现在当时整个欧洲社会中，并渗透到欧洲人生活的各个层面。日用物品、家居装饰、园林建筑等都有中国元素的影子，尤其受到王室贵族们的追捧。

（《接待客人的室内场景》，86×118cm，1630年，日内瓦艺术和历史博物馆）

(The cover of A New Book of Chinese Ornaments by Jean Fillement, print, 86×118cm, 1755, Victoria and Albert Museum)

（吉恩·毕伊芒《中国风设计图案》封面，版画，86×118cm，1755年，维多利亚和阿尔伯特博物馆）

Chinese Elements in the Western Painting: The art of the blue and white porcelain

西方绘画中的中国元素:青花瓷艺术

With the maturity of the East-West trade, more and more tea sets were exported to the west every year. In the paintings of the British painter George Dunlop Leslie, we can often see Chinese blue and white porcelain. (Chinese elements often appears in the works of George Dunlop Leslie)

Through the eyes of a Chinese person, it is true that seeing these images of elegant ladies wearing the apparel of early European style and using the blue and white porcelains from China renders us a feeling that is quite interesting. The blue and white pattern opened up their eyes, helping them learn about China and its charm. The beauty of China in Western people’s eyes is also changing and deepening with their increasing knowledge of China.

（Translated: Yu Lan)

随着东西贸易的成熟，用于出口的中国茶具每年被船只运往西方。在英国画家乔治·邓禄普·莱斯利的作品中，经常能看到中国元素青花瓷的身影。

不得不说，当画家笔下柔美优雅，身着欧洲早期服饰的女子们使用着来自遥远中国的青花瓷，这是一种既陌生又朴素的情感。简洁庄重的青花图案，为他们打开了对中国魅力的审视与热爱，西方人眼中的中国美也在他们不断了解中国的过程中变化着。

西方世界的中国风

文 |李姗