Woven through culture
Updated: 2014-06-17 08:01
By Wang Ru (China Daily)
|
|||||||||||
Miao people, living mostly in southwestern China, are known for their unique dresses and dazzling silver ornaments. |
"A middle-aged Asian couple drove six hours in storm to see the exhibition. The moment they saw the costumes, they burst into tears," Huang recalls.
"They were two of the 300,000 Miao people who are living in the US who were transferred as refugees after the Vietnam War."
Huang's research into the culture of the Miao also led him to make significant discoveries about the migration history of the Miao.
"In old songs sung by the elderly Miao people, a gigantic animal lives in the ocean and is often seen. I assumed they were referring to a whale," says Huang.
"But how could the inland mountainous people describe whales?" says Huang. "The only reason is the ancestors of the Miao people used to live by the sea."
Huang discovered that among the archeological discoveries in Hemudu town in East China's coastal Zhejiang province, some patterns matched the ones he collected in Guizhou.
"It proved that a large group of Miao people migrated from the east coast to the mountains. In other words, they were fishermen," says Huang.
Related Stories
Sisters Festival, Valentine's Day for Miao people 2014-03-24 11:03
Bridge Worship Festival in Taijiang, SW China 2014-03-13 14:10
Lin Xiangxiong exhibition opens at Peking University 2014-06-09 16:00
A response to place 2014-06-08 14:56
Art of enlightenment 2014-06-08 07:32
Spring Silkworm painting fetches $7m at auction 2014-06-03 14:59
Today's Top News
Former military leader expelled from CPC
China's top banks account for 32% of global earnings
HK chief poll has 'no legal standing'
Transformers 4 breaks records
China to increase personnel for peace
Over 1,200 Chinese evacuated to Baghdad
World Cup can damage health
Transformers helps growth in China
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
China helps fight international war on drugs |
Crackdown on terrorist attacks |
My China Story: Meeting the master |
Long march to end employment bias |
Variety is the spice of academic life |
Documents prove the truth can't be buried |