National Cultural Revival and the Transformation of National Identity: The Case of the Chinese Hanfu Movement

In discussing the role of culture in nationalism, most scholars focus on how shared cultural elements facilitate the emergence and persistence of modern nation-states. However, fewer studies explore how already nationalized individuals are transformed into new national identities. My project aims to contribute to this neglected area by focusing on national cultural revival. Drawing on the case of the Hanfu Movement in contemporary China, I will examine the effects of Hanfu revival on the discourses and practices of national identity on participants, as well as the reinterpretation, appropriation, and alternative use of Hanfu by non-revivalists.