Good morning, good afternoon, good evening ,ladies and gentleman.I don’t know exactly the time when you will watch this video, so, I send all greetings .Hope you can enjoy the next twenty minutes.It won’t be too boring, I promise.
First, let me introduce myself.My name isHe Jiao, a freshman in the Central South University of Forestry and Technology, studying International economy and trade.
The theme of my speech today is about the comparison in one specific aspect between cultures of Scotland and comtemporary China :theScottish kilt and the Chinese Chi-pao.
You can see the skirt I wear today is with Scottish features.I think it’s awesome.I love it.What do you think? Actually, I truly wish I were a boy now.If so ,I can demonstrate the culture of kilt better ,worn like this.Scottish men’s wearing a kilt is the highlight.But the skirt I wear now is not the traditional kilt .A Scottish kilt has knee-deep length, collocating with a vest which has the same tone and a tweed Jacket andsilk thick stockings.A Leather skirt fastened with a wide belt hanging below a big purse.A tweed scarf hanging in the middle of the front, and sometimes bare shoulders also are disclosed an oblique plaid blanket, pinned to the left shoulder.Like this .In addition, if we look at it carefully, we can find there has a very subtle ornament—a pin in the kilt’s corner.This pin doesn’t pin two pieces of cloth together,but only one .Why？Because it justadds to the kilt’s weight,letting it droop.Thus, the skirt will not be blown uncovered.
There are a variety of plaids in the Scottish kilts .But plaids are not just designed for the beauty.Each plaid represents a family name .so even if people do not know each other, they can recognize each other by the kilt.Scots are also very concerned about how to namethe kilt .The square pattern on behalf of the company and the family recorded in register is called tarten, others general square pattern are called cheque.
In the 17th and 18th century ,scottish highlands had year-round endle warsbetween tribes.The men on the battlefield had to wear plaid to identify themselves, it’s just like the current \"military uniform.\" And now, a military band cannot play music without wearingkilt in Scotland.The British royal family also meets foreign guests with kilts.This shows the importance andthe status of the Scottish kilt .The saying \" a kilt is equal to the history of the British Empire\" really has no exaggeration.By the way, in Scotland, there is a custom that men do not wear underwear with a kilt.From such an interesting story: 300 years ago, in a battle to defend the Scottish Highlands, an officer suddenly forced the soldiers to take off the kilt and underwear , wearing only a shirt to fight.Seeing this, the enemy thought they were crazy, then turned around and fled.Since then, the custom wearing a kiltwithout underwear is spreadwidely .
Today, the kilt is popular everywhere ,and it wasreformed several times, becoming common in daily clothing.It also plays an increasingly important role in the fashion , and isloved by morepopular stars and designers, more frequently getting on the fashion stage.Besides, as more and more derivatives from the square pattern appear ,the plaid ,as an element ,has penetrated into a variety of costume and even architectural design.Such as plaid shirt, plaid coat,
plaid bag, plaid scarf .
I appreciate the kilt very much, but I didn’t find any poems about it ,so I wrote one myself.I just want to expre my love of the kilt.The title is the invitation of life.The Invitation of Life
I cannot forget your paionate face ,like fire
I cannot forget your flowing emotion,like water
The rays from your square
Like light’s resplendence
Shine into my heart
You are a holy virgin
You are a flourishing bloom
You hide in the wind
And keep in the highland
I can see
Your skirt is swinging
Your color is swaying
As if you
Sent me a life invitation
Soplease come to my arms
OrLet me live in your heart
He Jiao
Thank you ! Oh, how wonderful I am ! the poem is great,right? Maybe I could consider to be a poet in the future, ifI cannot find any job.Just kidding.Let’s return to the subject.
I really think that kilts can be included in the must-have items !Referring the must-have item, I must mention Chinese Chi-pao !Last decades, chi-pao appeared frequently in the international fashion stage, And it was the representative of nation as a kind of formal dre ,appearing in a variety of ceremonial occasions and the international communities.On the streets , we can see people wearing it as they regard it as a fashion style.First, let’s watch a video.That\'s so amazing! I am very fond of the Chi-pao, because its cut and design can perfectly show the shape of the curve of a woman, giving people the impreion of Eastern women’s sex appeal , gentlene, decency and so on .Additionally, wearing Chi-pao can improve women’s sitting and walking temperament , shaping her into to an elegant woman.
A Scottish kilt is made of pure wool, by handworkin scotland.Similarly, a Chi—pao with Chinese characteristics also has some requirements.It’s generally believed that a modern chi-pao has the following features : standing collar; waist
line; round buttons; slits in leg side.But chi—pao still has a lot of styles incollar, material, color, pattern and button .They can have many changes in details.However,the most special design with ethnic characteristics are Chinese Collarand hand-making buttons.Also worth mentioning isthe traditional Chinese Chi-pao’s pattern decoration, such as rich flowers, plum blooms andthe floral patterns with Chinese ink paintings.All of these enrich Chinese elements ,makingchi—pao’s Chinese features more obvious.This unique design and excellent handwork gives Chi-pao more of a delicate beauty.
Asthe most representative clothes of a country, kilts and chi-paos all reflectthe evolution, development and innovation of the culture.Meanwhile ,it reflects the national people’sawarene of the beauty and national people’s character.Scots are enthusiastic andlively, however, Chinese women have reserved style.Moreover,it reflects the inner spirit of a nation.
Today, in the cultural exchanging world ,kilts and chi-paos are not only
belonging to their own residents, but also can be appreciated, loved and worn by people all over the world.They all have made huge contributions to the modern fashion .And it does impact every detail of our lives.This is the charm and magic of the culture! Kilts do not conflict with chi-paos , I can like both, And I do love both.I think we should treat cultural differences with a tolerant attitude and seek common ground.Under the background of globalization,the combination of different cultures is the major trend.Like a popular drinking way in China, mixing a kind ofwhiskey ,exported from Scotland ,named Chivas,with a typicalChinese drinking -tea together, I really hope that one day a piece of clothing could have both Scottish and Chinesefeatures.Maybe it could be the style of that,the upperis chi-pao, the rest is the kilt.Fashion changes fast, who knows the future.
Kilts and chi-paos are just two micro shadows under Scottish and Chinese culture.I hope China and Scotland could have more and more cooperations and developments in the aspect of the culture, making more significant progre for human beings.
Finally, I would like to expre my love of Scotland and the yearning to study there.I very want to be a dieminator of Chinese-Scottish culture, letting people in China and Scottland understand and love each other more,Perhaps one day, I will wear a chi-pao ,sitting in the Highlands ,enjoying the bagpipes, telling the local people about Chinese history !
Thank you for listening!
