This article is about a Chinese college student, out of pride for his han heritage, a need to belong, or for whatever reason, has been occasionally wearing hanfu (clothing of the ancient han). His fellow enthusiasts claim to number a million who regularly wear this kind of ancient han dress. Their movement started almost 20 years ago and has finally attracted the attention of the Chinese media and government, hence now also the western press (e.g., The Economist). It’s admirable that these young people are proud of Chinese history and want to live part of it now in their own way.
As an American of Chinese descent, I am also proud of my Chinese heritage, especially its unique healing system, Chinese herbal medicine, with which I have grown up. However, over the years, I have been watching it slip away and eventually would be relegated to historical museums. As opposed to reliving the costume aspect of our ancient ancestors, the benefits of Chinese medicine cannot be retrieved from the ‘ashes’ (museums). The scientists and people of my generation, and the one after, have mostly been brain washed in the past decades into accepting the vicious drug cycle. They are now so entrenched in the drug mentality or indebted to Big Pharma and its associates that nobody except some as yet unknown, unbiased and un-indebted members of the younger generation are free to think and act. I hope some of these bright young people can channel their energy in spreading the word on saving Chinese herbal medicine – a tried-and-true healing treasure. For a detailed explanation of my premise, please visit my last post, in 5 segments, titled “Do you think drug therapy is scientific but herbal therapy is still stuck in the dark ages? Think again and read on…”