Yangon China Cultural Centre hosts Guangxi Ethnic Costume Culture Exhibition

The “Colourful Guangxi Land – Guangxi Ethnic Costume Culture Exhibition” was held at the Yangon China Cultural Centre on 8 February.
“This event is organized by the Yangon China Cultural Centre and the Guangxi Ethnic Museum. The exhibition is being held in Yangon, to showcase traditional Chinese culture and ethnic costume traditions. It will not only help Myanmar friends better understand neighbouring China, but also enhance mutual understanding between the peoples of China and Myanmar, and further strengthen the traditional kinship bonds between the two countries. I believe that businesspeople and students in Yangon, especially those in academic fields, will also be interested in the ethnic costume exhibition, cultural seminars, and intangible cultural heritage displays. I believe that this event, like previous ones, will be an excellent platform for introducing Chinese culture,” said Mr Li Qianguo, Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy to Myanmar, in his opening remarks.
Guangxi is located in southern China and is close to Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar. There are 12 ethnic groups living in Guangxi — Zhuang, Han, Yao, Miso, Dong, Mulao, Maonan, Hui, Jing, Yi, Shui, and Gelao — each with its own rich traditions and culture. Many places in Guangxi are famous tourist destinations and attract large numbers of domestic and international tourists throughout the year.
The ceremony was attended by Yangon China Culture Centre in-charge Mr Xiang Jianbo, Deputy Curator of the Guangxi Ethnic Museum Mr Liu Chuangju, Director of the National Museum (Yangon) Nang Loung Ngin, Director of the National Library (Yangon) Dr Kathy Aye, Vice-Chair of the Myanmar-China Friendship Association U Han Lin Aung, and other invited guests.
Through today’s exhibition, people will gain a deeper understanding of the social life and values behind the costumes and will be confident that the friendship between the peoples of Myanmar and China will continue to grow.
“Culture is a bridge that connects between people. With over 130 ethnic groups living together in Myanmar, each with its own language, literature, and traditional arts, it is fascinating to observe the striking similarities in clothing, which are among the most visible expressions of ethnic culture. The costumes of ethnic groups in Guangxi Province and Myanmar are very similar in their use of blue and black as base colours, hand-woven designs, and long-dress styles. Some ethnic groups emphasize red, black, and white, and the use of embroidery and headscarves is strikingly similar. Others favour simple striped patterns and hand-woven fabrics that are practical for everyday life. Ethnic costumes in Myanmar are a heritage passed down from mother to daughter and are based on hand-woven fabrics. A costume is more than just a piece of clothing; it represents the history, beliefs, and identity of a people. Preserving and displaying them through museums, like today’s event, is very important for future generations,” said Director of the National Museum (Yangon) Daw Nan Laung Ngin.
This was followed by a speech on the culture embodied in traditional ethnic children’s hats from the Guangxi Province. Students from the State High School of Fine Arts (Yangon) then performed the song “Malay Latkhat Than”, and a Chinese cultural group presented the traditional fan dance.
Afterwards, the guests took photos and enjoyed Chinese spring festival activities in the cultural centre gallery, including colouring traditional Guangxi flower patterns, stitching Guangxi Zhuang ethnic fabrics, making bookmarks by dyeing, writing New Year greetings, and studying poems about New Year. — Htun Htun/TH

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