Handmade Miao
The migration history of Miao ethnic group in China
Who are the Miao?
The Miao people are a small minority group who reside mainly 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. Chi You, a great general, was their leader. It's said that his forehead was very sturdy like iron, and his copper head had a pair of protruding horns. Chi You created the first Chinese law, a criminal law in his clan.
Led by Chi You, the Miao beat lots of clans. They were excellent at manufacturing various kinds of swords, spears, arrows, and bows.
Chi you and his tribe were smashed in a big war against another powerful tribe. He was killed, and his head and body were buried in two different places. Miao stories say the first maple trees grew out of his blood.
Chi You died, but his soul and story still held his opponents respect, and they painted a picture of him on their flags to rally their soldiers.Soon the Chinese emperors bestowed high praise on him and gave him the name " God of War".
To commemorate Chi You, today the Miao wear a silver headress adorned with silver horns and long. As a totem, a maple tree in Miao culture has a special meaning.
Following Chi You's death, some Miao people were apprehended and then blended into Han, the biggest nationality in China. However most of them had to give up everything in their hometown and escaped to the south areas 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 came to the mountainous areas of southern and southwestern China, and dwelled in there till this days.
Then just over 700 years ago, some Miao people moved to the countries of southeast Asia, like Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. After the Vietnam War in the 1970’s, some Miao refugees moved to America, Europe, and Australia. Today it is estimated that about 280,000 Miao people reside in western countries.
Today
Despite widespread migration, the Miao have kept their unique culture and tradition alive to this day.
They don't have historical texts, so they have invented a special way to remember the past----embroidery. 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.
Handmade Miao Silver Jewels
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $188.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $138.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $88.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $188.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $188.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $95.00 |
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Chinese Handmade Minority miao silver Carving Flower cuff bracelet #1895 $0.67 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $188.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $75.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $145.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $110.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $328.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $138.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $138.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $188.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $238.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $268.00 |
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Big Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Carved Miao Silver Necklace $288.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $199.00 |
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Big Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Carved Miao Silver Necklace $288.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $168.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $299.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Carved Miao Silver Necklace $199.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $338.00 |
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Handmade miao silver Snake earring A pair $0.01 |
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FOLKVISION ETHNIC TRIBAL MIAO HANDMADE BRACELET/ JB194 $9.99 |
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Big Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Carved Miao Silver Necklace $288.00 |
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Big Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Carved Miao Silver Necklace $288.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Carved Miao Silver Necklace $118.00 |
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Big Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Carved Miao Silver Necklace $188.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $268.00 |
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Big Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Carved Miao Silver Necklace $288.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $388.00 |
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Big Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Carved Miao Silver Necklace $288.00 |
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Big Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Carved Miao Silver Necklace $288.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $248.00 |
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Big Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Carved Miao Silver Necklace $288.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $110.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $268.00 |
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Old Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $488.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $238.00 |
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Big Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $188.00 |
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Tribe Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $88.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Tribe Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $99.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Tribe Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $88.00 |
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Tribal exotic chinese handmade miao silver Necklace $79.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Tribe Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace 30cmx29cm $118.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Tribe Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $69.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $135.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Tribe Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $79.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $188.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Tribe Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Decorative Bird $79.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver pipestem 14.3″ $108.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $88.00 |
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Vintage exotic chinese handmade miao silver Collar Necklace $239.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver costume ornament $88.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $99.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $128.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $75.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $128.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $98.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $75.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $128.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $79.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $79.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $188.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $79.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $148.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $128.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $128.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Hat $499.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Necklace $118.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Carved Miao Silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver embroidery Hat $138.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Hat $128.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Carved Miao Silver Necklace $88.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Carved Miao Silver Necklace $88.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Hat $128.00 |
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Tribal Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver Earring $120.00 |
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Vintage Exotic Chinese Handmade Miao Silver headgear $60.00 |