Although cheongsam has a "flag", it is not necessarily related to the Eight Banners of Manchu Dynasty. It's just a continuation of China's women's robe culture in the Qing Dynasty for thousands of years. The long river of clothing in China has entered the modern era. After more than two thousand years of evolution, China robes have entered the era of "cheongsam". From the 1920s to the 1940s, great changes took place in modern women's clothing in China, and it was also a crucial period for the traditional robes to evolve into cheongsam. At this time, whether in the south or the north, all kinds of improved cheongsam have entered the stage of women. In this era of great change, there are three necessary conditions to promote the emergence of cheongsam: the first is the "integration of Manchu and Chinese" and the social environment of the integration of Manchu and Chinese cultures. Second, "advocating women's studies", with the background of women's liberation and education. Third, "the west wind is spreading to the east", and the original clothing customs are impacted by western civilization.

In the early years of the Republic of China, due to the fall of the Manchu government, China people's life style and clothing concept changed obviously, and folk clothing entered a period of alternation between old and new. The number of people wearing Manchu clothes has been greatly reduced, and the traditional women's clothing of Han nationality has been favored by the public again. As Zhang Ailing said: "In the period of political chaos, people have no ability to improve their living conditions. They can only create their own personal environment-that is, clothes. " The original Hanfu has been modified and evolved, and the suit with extended vest and large sleeve shirt has become popular. This combination suit of Hanfu was further synthesized in the early years of the Republic of China and evolved into the embryonic form of cheongsam.