1199365     

      贵州文化薪火乡村发展基金会，2010年度贵州政府评审4A级社会组织资格获得者，福布斯中文网中国公益慈善基金会非公募全球十佳第二名，在执行了《苗绣》一书之后，又在执行《苗装》一书。项目赞助者，腾讯创始人之一，首席行政官陈一丹为此撰写了这个序言。我前几天将这序言处理成了英文。

苗装序言

继《苗绣》、《苗装》得到腾讯公司主要创始人、首席行政官，腾讯公益慈善基金会理事长陈一丹先生的资助出版

                            追寻属于人类的文化之美

    从资助曾先生和他的女儿曾女士出版第一本大型画册《苗绣》开始，我就和苗族文化结下了不解缘：一是缘于苗文化无法抗拒的美，二是源于苗文化饱含人类文明起源的深厚内涵。今天，这本姊妹篇《苗装》是这份缘分的延续。

    苗族，作为古老的中华民族中悠久灿烂的一支，历经岁月洗礼，一直在族群中滋养和传承着一种文化的唯美，《苗装》带给我们的正是这种感觉。如果说，我们之前的参与是惜缘和履行责任，那么，对于《苗装》的参与，我觉得是发自内心对属于人类文化之美的追寻结果。

    有人说文化是一面精神旗帜，也有人说文化是一个民族的灵魂。在我看来都是表述者在历史上各种力量的对撞中，希望重点强调或保存某种精神品质或意象的行为。作为有着千年迁徙史，如今大部分仍然主要生活在偏僻大山的苗族，其精神意象是什么？顽强、坚韧、不屈不挠、希望不绝于缕，哪怕是在弱势与苦难中也热爱美并创造、传承这种美。在世世代代、千针万线纳织的苗绣与苗装中，我们看到，其凝结的是苗族人的精神气质与文化灵魂。

面对这样一种有着灵魂寄托的美，我们还有什么话说？我想，唯一的答案就是努力地去留存这种美。即使是大浪淘沙，留存美，也是人类的共识。美是人类文化的一个核心基因，我们应通过发掘文化基因，把它还原回我们的生活中。因为，文化之美可以帮助我们拥抱未来。

    我也常常想，一个国家的繁荣富强，除了经济的富强，还有文化的繁荣。伟大的民族复兴，必然伴随着伟大的民族文化的复兴。“世界是平的”，但同时“民族的就是世界的”，包括苗族文化在内的中华民族几千年来的优秀文化，已经成为世界文明不可或缺的重要组成部分。在新的历史条件下，中华民族文化的复兴也必将顺应历史的潮流。

    然而，离开了传承，复兴也就无从谈起。我一直认为，对文化的弘扬与传承，就是对文化最好的保护。这也是我们面向未来，为复兴的潮流与使命而应肩负的责任。从上世纪70年代开始，曾宪阳先生就倾注了巨大的心力，致力于收藏、拍摄、研究和保护苗族服饰，几乎是以一己之力，奔走于苗族服饰的保护事业。如今曾丽女士继承父志，进行了许多卓有成效探索与尝试。从家族角度而言，本身就是一种忠诚的认同与传承，而对源远流长的苗族文化而言，这种传承的精神与行动，在庆幸与感动之余，更值得我们每一个人都转化为更积极、更有效的实际行动。

    感谢贵州文化薪火乡村发展基金会一丝不苟的精诚合作，画册在资料史实、内容遴选、图文设计及装帧印刷等方面保持高质量的水准，我想，这也是一种对民族文化源自内心的热爱的表达。

    在这里，让我们为苗族文化、为中华民族所有的优秀文化，为一切探究人类本源的宝贵文化以及为所有为苗文化的保护与传承做出贡献的志愿者们鼓掌！

                                                    陈一丹

                                                    2011年1月14日

In Search of Ethnic Cultural Aesthetics

I have been fascinated by Ethnic Miao cultures since I first aided the publication of “Ethnic Miao Embroidery” by Mr. Zeng Xianyang and his daughter Mrs. Zeng Li. I attribute it for two reasons, the irresistible charm of Ethnic Miao (Hmong) culture and the deep philosophical view about the origin of the world and civilization within it. So this second publication on “Ethnic Miao Costumes” is the continuation of my appreciation of the Ethnic Miao culture.

Ethnic Miaos or Hmongs, as one member in the Chinese ethnicities, with their distinctive ancient traditions, inherits their aesthetic values from forgotten times. Ethnic Miao Costumes brings back to us the ages-long feelings in their aesthetics.

If what we did for Ethnic Miao cultures is out of the duty, this time we do it from the depth of our hearts for the culture’s sake only.

Culture is said to be a spiritual banner or the soul of an ethnicity and in my eyes, it is the core values and spiritual characteristics which the relevant people wish to keep and pass down. For the Ethnic Miaos who live in mountainous areas after a long history of incessant migration, what are their spiritual characteristics? Perseverance, resilience, strong-mindedness, undying hope and love for the beauty even in hardships. In the colorful embroideries and costumes of the Ethnic Miaos we see the soul of their culture and their spiritual characteristics.

Beauty in such forms is beyond the description of the speeches. And the only thing we can do is to try our best to preserve this beauty for our future.

I often ponder, without the cultural diversity and prosperity, a nation with only economic strength is not full. The rising of China must be accompanied by the cultural renaissance. The Chinese culture and civilization including the Ethnic Miao culture as part of it, is one important part of the world civilization and culture as a whole.

Renaissance is not possible without inheritance and preservation. So I am in the opinion that the cultural conservation and promotion is based on protection. This is our duty for the future and for the renaissance of Chinese culture.

Mr. Zeng devoted his energy and attention to the preserving of the Ethnic Miao costumes in photographing, collecting and studying them since 1970s and now his daughter Mrs. Zeng carries on her father’s will and made some new ways. This is also a family inheritance of the efforts to the protection of Ethnic Miao culture. We are moved into action.

I am grateful for the careful and strict execution and collaboration in this cultural project by the Pensioners for Rural Development Foundation, Guizhou. This picture book is kept at highest professional standards in historical facts check, content selection, image, cover and book designing and printing. These joint efforts also reflect the love for the Ethnic Miao culture direct from the hearts.

Gratitude also goes to the people including volunteers who have contribute to the study, and the preservation of the Ethnic Miao cultures.

                                 Chen Yidan  (Charls Chen)

                                        14, January, 2011   邹蓝翻译