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The Miao Nationality live scattered throughout southern China from Yunan Province to Hainan Island, off the coast of VietNam.   There are about 8 million Miao people.   Most Miao live in the mountains.   Their language is unique.   They did not have a written language for many centuries. The women are accomplished at weaving, batik, and embroidery.   The Miao Brocade is rich in colors with exquisite design.   Their clothing tends to be light in color, as well as lightweight to help cope with the warm weather of their region. Miao dress is highly variable, and many villages have their own style.   Some Miao women wear enormous black hairpieces made from braided horsehair.   These hairpieces can often stretch 2-3 feet across.

One of the major features of the Miao that we cannot appropriately show here today is the use of silver as adornments.  Young unmarried females in particular wear enormous headgear made of a very thin and lightweight hammered silver and many necklaces. Miao originally lived in the central China region, but as the Han population has grown, the Miao have moved south and into mountainous areas.   The traditional festival on the fifth day of the first lunar month, called Hua Shan Jie is a sight to behold, with villagers collecting in the larger market towns in their finest dress.   This week is Chinese New Year, so that festival is fast approaching if someone out there wishes to catch a fast plane and get there in time. Next Picture