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The migration stories of Miao minority group in China
Who are the Miao?
As an ethnic group, the Miao people mainly live in China and southeast Asia. Over the past several thousand years, they have migrated numerous times throughout China, and these journeys are reflected in their unique handmade embroidery, silver jewelry, and batik artwork. Reasons for this movement varied a lot, but wars were the main cause.
The first big migration
Over 5,000 years ago, the Miao resided in the Yellow River and Yangtze River areas of central China. Their headman, Chi You, was a heroic soldier. It's said that his forehead was very sturdy like iron, and his copper head had a pair of protruding horns. The first law in China is the criminal law Chi You created in his tribe.
Chi You directed the Miao to defeat many tribes. They were so clever that they could make various kinds of weapons, like swords, arrows, and spears.
But in a famous war with another mighty tribe, Chi You and his tribe were destroyed. He was slain, and his body and head were buried in two sites which are far away from each other. His blood changed into a maple tree, according to Miao epics.
Although Chi You was dead, his soul and legend still awed his enemies, who drew his image on their flags to encourage their soldiers.Later on, he was regarded as the god of war by the Chinese emperors.
In order to remember Chi You, today in Miao's holidays people would dress themselves with a big silver headdress adorned with silver horns and long. Also, a maple tree is considered to be a special totem among the Miao.
After Chi You died, some Miao groups were seized and merged into the Chinese Han nationality. But the majority of them had to discard their home and went to the south of China.
Continued movement
Throughout most of Chinese history, the Han nationality has been the most powerful and has generally dominated the whole country. As an ethnic group, the Miao were consistently tortured by the arbitrary local rulers. Because of the constant wars and persecution, the Miao had to migrate throughout China.
About 2,000 years ago, the Miao settled in the mountainous areas of south and southwestern China, where most Miao people live today.
Then just over 700 years ago, some Miao people moved to the countries of southeast Asia, like Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. With the end of the Vietnam War in the 1970's, some homeless Miao people escaped to America and Europe. Today about 280,000 Miao people live in western countries.
Today
Despite widespread migration, the Miao have kept their unique culture and tradition alive to this day.
As the Miao don't have a written language, the art of embroidery is their unique way to remember their history. Once you check their embroidery carefully, you will know that each embroidered piece has a meaning relating to their culture, history, and religion.
C. Liu has been studying interesting Miao culture for a few years. Occasionally she supports the work of certain Miao artists. Go to her website to learn more about Miao culture and see fine Miao silver jewelry here.
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