Donghua University

Silk is undoubtedly the driving force behind the prosperity of the Silk Road, and Dunhuang is the richest and most concentrated Silk Road town in terms of unearthed silk objects. For historical reasons, these surviving "treasures" scattered around the world have not been systematically organized and studied. Zhao Feng (赵丰), professor at Donghua University and director of the China Silk Museum, led a team of Dunhuang silk researchers in collaboration with experts and scholars from cultural and museum institutions around the world. It took 15 years to systematically organize and study the Dunhuang silk relics scattered around the world, resulting in TEXTILES FROM DUNHUANG (敦煌丝绸艺术全集), a magnum opus. The complete collection was launched at the "Silk Road and Silk Art" forum at Donghua University on October 15, 2021, includes IN UK COLLECTIONS, IN FRENCH COLLECTIONS, IN RUSSIAN COLLECTIONS, IN THE LUSHUN MUSEUM, IN THE DUNHUANG ACADEMY, with millions of words and more than a thousand pictures. The release of "TEXTILES FROM DUNHUANG" fills a gap in the study of silk in Dunhuang, providing important support for research on the Silk Road and the history of textile and costume art. The vast amount of first-ever physical remains plus documentary comparative studies…

The fusion of tradition and fashion is making waves in China, and the Mǎmiàn skirt, a quintessential piece of traditional Chinese attire, is at the forefront of this trend.  On May 17th, "China’s Most Beautiful Costumes Series – The Five Colors of Mǎmiàn Skirts" was released in Shanghai, published by Donghua University Press. This groundbreaking scholarly book delves into the origins, evolution, and aesthetic significance of the Mǎmiàn skirt through literature, images, and physical artifacts.Jia Xizeng, the author of the book, an alumnus of Donghua University and a professor at Tsinghua University’s Academy of Arts & Design, explained, “The Mǎmiàn skirt is a classic and highly representative style in traditional Chinese attire. Its history is long and distinguished, its appearance unique, its craftsmanship exquisite, and its functionality well-thought-out. It embodies the integration of beauty and utility in traditional Chinese dress, as well as the humanistic philosophy of expressing culture through clothing.” He clarified that the term “Mǎmiàn” does not refer to a horse’s face but to defensive structures like watchtowers and bastions that extend from city walls, forming T-shaped angles to eliminate blind spots and allow for multi-directional defense. The skirt’s pleated design resembles these structures, hence the name Mǎmiàn…