Cherry Blossoms, Wuhan, & Chinese Women In Kimonos

Three days ago, two Chinese women (a mother and daughter) in Wuhan went to see the “sakura” cherry blossom at Wuhan University and take pictures. However, they were different from the other people who went to admire the flowers because they were wearing kimonos, a traditional Japanese outfit for women.  Soon, this angered many other Chinese who told them to leave and over 10 young Chinese also followed them.

From Sohu:

Over ten people drove away the “wearing kimonos taking pictures” mother-daughter pair.

A March 20 shot in Wuhan University campus shot of the blooming Sakura cherry blossoms and the crowds appreciating the flowers.

Debate topic on Sohu:

Should the mother-daughter pair wearing kimonos to take pictures have been driven away?

13,964 total people [as of 2009 March 24, 1:00am]

• Supporting Point of View:
  Should, we cannot forget Japan’s violations of our country, and doing this can make them wake up.
  7198 people.

• Opposing Point of View
  Should not, it is only wearing kimonos to take pictures, we should be mature and tolerant, and not react extremely.
  6656 people.

Poll on Sohu:

Q: Mother-daughter wearing kimonos taking pictures at Wuhan University were driving away by city residents, what do you think?

97,884 votes [as of 2009 March 24, 1:00am]

1. We cannot forget the eight years of hardships during the War of Resistance, wearing kimonos to admire the sakura cherry blossoms is an injustice to the martyrs who died resisting the Japanese.  46,649 votes (47.66%)
2. History of course must be remembered well, but sakura cherry blossoms and kimonos have become a victim of the war.  19,078 votes (19.5%)
   
3. The women admiring kimonos can adopt other ways to satisfy their own curiosity, and do not need to incur the public’s wrath in broad daylight. 19,528 votes (19.96%)
4. Why does something like this happen every year, why is there this kind of news every year? Truly speechless… 12,629 (12.91%)

Comments from Sohu:

搜狐山西省网友:

Narrow-minded! If it is like this, then would pictures of classic European wedding gowns be a controversial yearning for when the Allied Forces of Eight Powers entered Beijing [in 1900]!? Truly narrow-minded! In the future, we should forever never mix national/ethnic culture then! Kimonos do not represent Japanese militarism, the Japanese common people also do not represent Japanese fascism. I truly feel ashamed for this kind of narrow-minded nationalism!

搜狐江西省网友:

I despise these fake patriots who only know how to bully the weak and small. This is not what courageous and upright men do.  If the [foreign] devils truly staged a comeback, I believe they [fake patriots] would flee faster than mice.
I have met several tens of people crazily surround a knocked down skinny thief because the thief could no longer retaliate, yet  several hundred people not dare to chase two brazen thieves because they looked a little mean, and also several train cars of people including the train police all not daring to concern themselves with bullies/tyrants on a train who seized and resold seats for money because they had a gang. At the time, it fell to me alone as a student to drive away those seat stealing bullies. Although not a single passenger helped me, the criminals could see in my eyes my fearlessness, that I would use physical violence at any time, so they did not dare to physically fight me.
There are too many people who use strength to bully the weak, and too few who maintain justice and fight for the living! Those whose hearts do not have conviction are all impulse and empty words! Bullying two women who do not have the same interests are not true men! When the enemy puts the edge of the knife to your face, you being able to put forth and be fearless for your belief, that is being a true man!

搜狐河南省平顶山市网友:

If it were only to take photographs, there is no need to make such a big deal. From their situation, we can see they were intentionally trying to provoke, completely disregarding the disaster Japan brought to China and the disgrace to China’s history.

搜狐江西省南昌市网友:

I finally understand why the Japanese were defeated in World War 2: they were wearing kimonos to fight.

搜狐北京市网友:

Narrow-minded countrymen, may I ask how we should deal with the Japanese cars filling the streets, the Japanese electronics filling the department stores, and the Japanese cosmetics that fill the counters?

搜狐广东省深圳市网友:

When can China truly become strong and powerful?–When its citizens’ characters are elevated!!! Using many to bully the few is patriotism?! Sad!!! Where is your heroism when in front of a knife-wielding gangster?! I also hate Japanese people, and dream of being able to see China destroy it in my remaining years!!! But this kind of behavior I very much despise!!!

搜狐辽宁省网友:

The flowers are innocent, and some people in China simply have nothing better to do. Japanese people occupying your islands allow you to go attack others and allow your own country to bully your own people is really impressive.

搜狐陕西省网友:

You all have an inferiority complex!!! China is a very big country, and as the people of a big country, you should have the bearing of people from a big country. but when someone wears a kimono, you forget it! It is none of your damn business, you are all too ignorant~ If you cannot tolerate kimonos, then why can you tolerate Japanese sakura cherry blossoms?

搜狐网友:

Ignorant thing! Sakura cherry blossoms belong to all humanity, how can it be Japan’s sakura cherry blossoms? Even if it were planted by Japanese people, it does not belong to Japanese people! If it belongs to them, then I can plant flowers around the world, and would these flowers all belong to me alone?

搜狐广西壮族自治区南宁市网友:

China public spaces forbid beast dress/clothing! If you want to be beautiful, you can go be beautiful in Japan! Do not be beautiful here in China! Because Chinese people do not think this is pretty! Just like you seeing your wife giving me a gift of affection and me showing off in front of you!

湖南省长沙市网友:

Wuhan University’s sakura cherry blossoms s were planted when the Japanese army occupied Wuhan and established their headquarters at Wuhan University. It is because of this that some countrymen with consciences would oppose those wearing kimonos here to take pictures. This thing must be viewed with respect to the issue’s historical background. If you do not know history, there is no need to rashly drag in Japanese products, dress, art, etc.

Comments from Tianya:

我爱小杜:

Sakura cherry blossoms is Japan’s national flower, why not tear down the Wuhan University’s Sakura garden?

愤怒的MAJIA:

I do not know about Wuhan…
But in Nanjing no one dares to wear kimonos and walk around the streets.

流苏梦醒:

I am not that sensitive.
That mother-daughter pair can go to Japan, wearing kimonos, no big deal, individual freedom.
But when you are clearly Chinese and you wear kimonos on the streets of China, then you are completely crazy.
Wearing Korean dress, India sari, all the same, all crazy.

lilywinters:

They look nice, but the moment I see them I think of Japan, this cannot be changed…
Everyone can look at wisterias, which are also pretty good looking…

来沉没吧:

Spare the sakura cherry blossoms, they are only a type of plants. It is not as if they were unique to Japan, or would the cactus belong to Mexico?

找抽的柠檬:

There is nothing wrong with the clothes themselves, but you must consider the occassion/situation when you wear them. Don’t say that you had no intentions, would you have the courage to wear it to the Nanjing Massacre Museum? You were trying to provoke, do not pretend to beinnocent. And what more, what more, what more…this kimono is too ugly, even Japanese people would condemn it.

tian心:

Do not be too extreme, they were just taking pictures, not doing anything that was unreasonable or unnatural. I do not know why everyone is so excited. I do not understand…

韵云纭酝芸:

What right do they have to not let them wear kimonos? In fact, kimonos are the son [descendants] of Chinese [traditional] dress.

klj1983:

How come it does not look like a kimono to me~ so ugly~ any COS group’s kimonos are better looking~~~ and what more~they are wearing it very unprofessionally~~ truly awful~~~ Regarding the sakura blossom issue~~~ Sigh~ the truth is that little Japan has made the sakura cherry blossom phenomenon as the embodiment of their country for promotion~~ Look in the manga, anime, and Japanese dramas~~~ the main character is always happily going to school and studying in the midst of sakura blossoms floating down~~~ not to mention the classic scenes of being under a sakura cherry tree~ Also there is the popularity of whatever SAKURA song~~~ slowly and eventually~~ it will become Japan’s~~~
Actually Little Japan wears kimonos during official occasions~ this tradition should be respected~ I always fantasize~ if I can wear a traditional Chinese dress for the new year or holidays~ and have a traditional hair style to walk around on the streets~ how cool/amusing/interesting that would be~~~

lzq1984:

When I see kimonos I think of Japan, and it cannot be unsaid that Japan is an unease forever in the hearts of Chinese. If I were there, I probably would not drive them away, only look at her curiously, and feel embarrassed for them.

More information and translation of Chinese netizen comments at EastSouthWestNorth.