Hmong Silver
2011
Interesting love stories between a Miao man and his woman
Who are the Miao?
Being a minority group, the Miao mainly inhabit the mountainous southern and southwestern China. They have another name: Hmong. The Miao are well known for their extraordinary handmade arts and crafts like embroidery, brocade, batik, and unique silver jewelry.
During holidays, the Miao would like to get together singing and dancing to express their happiness. Youngsters are busy with searching for their lovers at this moment.
Flirting
If a man shows interest in a girl, he will follow her and may suddenly give her finger a gentle pinch. If the girl likes the man, she will smile at him as a sign of agreement; but if the girls doesn’t like, she will just ignore him.
“Asking for candy” is an excuse for some men to flirt with girls.” He will stop a girl and beg some candy, and if she have no interest for him, she will answer, “my candy is all eaten up, you can go to some other people to ask.” But if the girl likes the man, she would say in a low voice, “come with me.” Then she leaves. Following her, the man goes to the riverside or woods to have a chat together.
Dating
When going on a date, Miao lovers have their own signs to indicate the place and time to meet. The one who arrives first will use a patch of tall grass to tie a knot and leave a special mark directing the other to the meeting place.
Each peculiar sign has a meaning. A bee braided by couch grass signifies: I am now waiting here, will you come or not? A dragonfly made of a vanilla plant indicates: I will see you in the same place, come here soon please! A grasshopper signifies: please forgive me, I can’t come to see you now. Grass interweaved with a white flower suggests: we are finished as you have been always breaking our dates.
After their lover gets there, he/she will make another knot at the center of the same patch of grass to inform other people not to annoy them.
When they have met for a few times, the couple will swap their personal things. The man gives his waistband or tobacco pipe to the girl, while the girl gives the man her silver rings, hair pin, or a pair of embroidered shoes.
Marriage
When a Miao couple decides to get married, they will tell their parents, who then ask a matchmaker to fix the wedding date.
But if the parents have an objection to this, then a funny thing is about to happen. The man together with his friends will enter the girl’s home in the evening to ” rob” her and bring her back to his home. After three days, an old honorable man sent by the man’s family come to meet the girl’s parents, and tries to let them give up their opposition.
On their wedding day, a large fire will burn at the gate of the man’s home to pray that their marriage will last. In the evening, a choril with both family members will sing songs together for long hours until the next morning.
The songs tell how the couple met and fell in love, the basic information of their parents, grandparents, and great-grand parents. They will also tell how their forefathers migrated across China throughout history.
The bride and groom can’t sleep, because they have to constantly serve their guests with sweet rice wine, while the songs last the whole night.
In some Miao areas, married women can’t go back to their parents’ home until they have a kid.
I’m C. Liu and I am very interested in Miao culture. I even have a website with some of the most beautiful examples of Miao silver jewelry available here. The best silver jewelry is produced in Miao areas: such pure silver can be hardly got in your local markets, and their workmanship is unmatchable.
Silver Ornaments of Hmong (Miao) 1/3
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