So far, the Hanfu revival movement remains a spontaneous activity by ordinary Chinese Han people who want their traditional costume back. They do not desire to impose this costume on any other ethnic group, neither do they have the ability to do this. In the long run, if Hanfu does catch on, it will only be another beautiful clothing style added to Chinese traditional clothes in general.

Gu Xiaoming (China News Week): Do the Chinese Han people need Hanfu? Absolutely. This is more than a question of cultural independence and national self-esteem. This is a time of rapid globalization. On such important occasions as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' meeting, participants always wear the traditional national costume of the host country. On some special diplomatic occasions, quite often, delegates from the Third World wear their traditional costumes, to show their cultural independence.

At the 2004 Athens Olympics, while athletes from many countries appeared in front of the world in their own national costumes, many overseas Chinese felt quite disappointed and embarrassed to see that the Chinese team appeared in Western-style suits.

The Hanfu revival movement among the young generation reflects the youth's consciousness with respect to traditional national culture. While embracing Hanfu, they are also looking for the lost national (or ethnic) identity. The more we globalize, the more we need our own national identity. If Hanfu can help to promote people's understanding of Chinese culture and build up their self-confidence, why should it be rejected?

Hanfu belongs in the past

Du Yuzhe (www.tianya.cn): No clothing style will remain the same forever. Hanfu is no exception. From the birth of Hanfu to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), this costume had been evolving and perhaps adding features from the costumes of other ethnic groups. Chinese history is about national integration, and does not belong only to the Han people.

Hanfu supporters always rebuke their opponents as "traitors." They call their opponents "people left over from the Qing Dynasty." I don't think their behavior conforms with the spirit of traditional Chinese culture. In my view, Hanfu supporters seem more like people left from the ancient days. This is the 21st century. We have advanced science and technology, Internet and the freedom of choice. Even in such a modern age, Hanfu supporters want to hang on to this ancient garment. They need to modernize.

Is the absorption of Western culture so terrible? It will never destroy traditional Chinese culture, but I'm afraid Hanfu supporters who have launched the campaign in the name of reviving traditional culture may well damage the very culture they seek to protect. What keep the traditional culture alive are tolerance and the continuous absorption of fine factors of other cultures. If we all behave like Hanfu supporters, the traditional Chinese culture is doomed.

Han Haoyue (cul.sohu.com): In May, more than 20 domestic websites jointly put forward the proposal of using Hanfu as the ritual costume for the 2008 Olympic Games and also the costume for Han ethnic athletes in the opening ceremony.

Every country has its traditional culture and China especially needs a cultural symbol to represent its long history and rich culture. In this sense, the websites' proposal is understandable. However, whether Hanfu is a suitable ritual costume needs further discussion.

The Olympic Games will draw attention from the whole world. The host country, of course, will try its utmost to present the best of the nation to the rest of the world. Suppose our athletes and working staff for the Olympiad all wear Hanfu, is this costume capable of fulfilling this significant task? The revival movement has happened in many places and is receiving more and more attention, but it is far from being a "Hanfu fever" as is exaggerated by the media.

First of all, participants of the Hanfu revival movement are not as many as is reported, at most several hundred; second, this costume is restricted only to college students and teachers, or culture scholars; third, its influence is quite limited. Apart from a few reports from the media, the revival movement has not stirred up much public interest. This limited entertainment is not based on the correct understanding of modern Chinese demand for traditional culture. When most Chinese do not even have a clear idea of Hanfu, it's unwise to present this costume to the world during the Olympic Games.

Apart from Hanfu, China has so much excellent traditional culture to show. The rest of the world has already recognized Qipao as the typical Chinese costume, so it's unnecessary to have Hanfu trying to fulfill the same role.

Xin Ning (people. com.cn): It seems no exaggeration to describe people's interest in Hanfu as a "fever." Especially after some websites and several scholars proposed that Hanfu should be used as the ritual costume for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The Hanfu revival movement has gained momentum. Some lawmakers at the National People's Congress and political advisors at the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference have proposed using Hanfu as the "national costume" of China. It is also suggested that in college degree awarding ceremonies, students should wear Hanfu. Gradually, the Hanfu revival is being upgraded from a spontaneous civilian movement to something related to national "cultural strategy" and "national revitalization," triggering extensive debates in society.

To some extent, the Hanfu revival movement is a reflection of people's search for traditional culture, which happens at a time of rapid globalization, when people are craving a national identity. At the same time, it reflects the increasing confidence in our own culture because of China's economic growth.

The rise of China needs a cultural foundation, but what is the part of traditional culture we are in real need of? What is the proper form of this cultural revival? How can we take advantage of the current passion for traditional culture revival to manifest cultural products that help the social development in the modern time?

If Hanfu and ancient rituals are only regarded as a desire of a few people to reconnect with their roots, it is acceptable. However, it's unacceptable to force the government to announce Hanfu as the "national costume" and to believe that if Hanfu is not used as the national costume during the 2008 Olympic Games, it's equivalent to abandoning Chinese traditional culture.