Hmong History : Ancient Dress of the White Hmong

The Changning Bai Miao/White Hmong traditional dress was officially recognized in 2006 as part of the Chinese intangible cultural heritage. The Miao migration (history), science, math, philosophy, art and etc... are found in the Changning Bai Miao clothes. "Writing with thread" Miao clothes are beautiful, but they also hold a significant value in the fact that they record the history of the group that wears it. According to the Changning Miao (above), women wear pleated white skirts to represent the snowy mountains their ancestors once called home in ancient times. White is also a symbol of purity. The stripes on the sashes represent the different locations their ancestors have migrated to due to the expanding Han Chinese. Yellow represents Yellow River, white for Yangtze River, green for Lake Dongting and Lake Poyang. The middle red stripes represent where they are currently and the lower red stripes represent their survival. The tassels at the end of the sashes represent grassy plains. Around the waist are triangle pieces. Legend is that after being defeated in battles they would take their flags and wrap it around their waist, leaving the poles behind. This was to show that they considered themselves undefeated. Eventually it was adopted as a clothing style. Their clothes also include many abstract embroideries of animals and flowers to represent their love of nature. Geometric shapes and circles are used to represent agriculture and worship of the sun. Eventually Lake Dongting and Lake Poyang would be where the Changning Miao flourished again. However due to constant invasion they were once again forced to migrate further southwest. On their journey, they made shawls, and draped them with shells to symbolize grief and nostalgia for their homeland. Charming Dresses of the Changing Miao (Movie)    • [苗族电影 | Miao/Hmong Movie]: Charming Dresse...