The Miao People of Southeastern China

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Hello everybody,

We visited a remote village near Qiandongnan. Less than 10%!o(MISSING)f the entire population of China is considered a minority. We think of minorities as people who have been in the country for three or four generations. These minorities have been in China for 4,000 years! The Miao (pronounced meow) people are the largest minority in this region. Their homes have cell phones and telephones, but they retain the original dancing, crafts and customs that they brought with them. Very warm and hospitable people.



再见

Donna

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Photos

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Maio are very attractive people.

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Our visit started with drinking rice wine out of a carved horn.

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We were piped in with these ancient instruments made from bamboo.

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Their history is told through costumes rather than written form. Notice the headgear--they worship the water buffalo.

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The embroidered pieces that they sold are handmade. Notice the elaborate hair style. This was common on women in this region. It is as long as she is tall and is kept shiny and black with tea tree oil.

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Went to theatre based on Miao. The original headdress looked like these. They were pure silver and could weigh 20 lb. The silver could be handed down through generations. It was a way to pass down wealth. Silver also wards off evil spirits.

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Miao people in the village.

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Springtime planting.

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Tidy fields in this mountainous area.

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Farming is done on terraces down the side of mountains.

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Leftover rice shafts are dried like this and then fed to animals.

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Hard work. The bars across their shoulders have no padding. This older woman was carrying two pails of soil.

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Still dry corn in traditional way, but notice the satellite dish.

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There are 100 subgroups of Miao. Lots of different head covering.

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They have dozens of festivals each year. Lots of stuff for celebrating.

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More head covering.

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More head covering.

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What a pair of hams!

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They seem to like having their pictures taken. Giggle when I show them the shot afterwards.

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Even men would smile when I held up my camera.

Comments

[Gretchen Huntley]

Head coverings
I love looking at all of the different head coverings. The colours and varieties seem to be endless.

[Claire Villeneuve]

People Pictures
Love seeing these. Some are beautiful, some warm or funny and some, such as the woman carrying the buckets of dirt are sad.

[Claire Villeneuve]

People Pictures
Love seeing these. Some are beautiful, some warm or funny and some, such as the woman carrying the buckets of dirt are sad.