Who are the Miao?
How do you feel to wear 30 pounds of silver ornaments from head to toe? Well, the Miao are a fascinating group of people who make huge silver ornaments in a way that almost covers their entire body! Being a minority group in the mountainous areas of south and southwestern China, the Miao think the glistening silver is a symbol of light that can bring hope and prosperous future. There are so many different kinds of Miao silver ornaments, here are just a few:
Silver headdresses
Miao silver headdresses are quite a sight and are worn only on very special occasions, like weddings or important holidays. They consist of three parts: the horns, the hat, and the hood.
Silver horns: The silver horns are the most important part of a Miao silver headdress, and they are crafted to mimic the horns of an ox. The headpiece spans about three feet from one horn to another, and reaches almost the same height. So they can be almost half the height of the wearer!
The pictures on the horn are colorful and showy. An image of two dragons playing with a ball is often carved on it. Women put some silver flowers, butterflies, or a pair of white feathers onto the horn to make it higher and more attractive.
Silver hat: A silver hat is the base of the headdress and can be a foot tall. It’s completely covered with silver flowers, birds, animals, bells, and
tassels. Behind the hat are twelve pieces of silver feathers hanging all the way down to their waist.
Silver hood: The silver hood hangs down from the hat and covers parts of the face and neck. In some Miao areas, the silver hood has five ornaments placed on it, with the biggest one in the middle dropping from the forehead and the others hanging around ears.
And in other areas, a silver hood has three distinctive layers. There are 29 round silver flowers which make up the highest layer. The middle layer has a round glass showing off in the center, and 14 warriors riding horses on each side. Beautiful fringes form the lowest layer.
Silver hairpins
Miao silver hairpins always feature flowers, birds, and butterflies. The most attractive patterns feature 10 silver flowers laid out just like a Chinese fan. Colorful beads glisten in the flowers and five silver phoenixes fly around the center.
Some hairpins are just like chopsticks with silver bells or tassels adorned on them.
Silver combs
Miao women use a silver comb to decorate their hair. It's in fact a wooden comb covered with thin sliver slices. The image of a Bodhisattva, or designs of birds, flowers are often engraved on the surface. Some combs feature long silver chains falling down.
Silver earrings
Fabulous Miao silver earrings are crafted to resemble flowers, birds, butterflies, dragons, or plants. Miao women like to wear 3 or 4 pieces of silver earrings at the same time. Reaching directly to their shoulders, a single silver earring can weight 200 grams. But many small earrings have threads which are as thin as a piece of paper.
Silver neckbands
Wide silver neckbands are similar to necklaces in the West, but they are rigid and have many pendants hanging down from them. In different Miao areas, the neckbands vary a lot.On a dragon silver neckband you can see the image of two dragons playing with a ball, and 11 various ornaments hanging from it. Another kind of neckband has about 14 connected silver rings, with some silver flowers or birds falling from each ring.
Silver bracelets
The Miao silver bracelets are engraved with the images of flowers, fish, or dragons. Some bracelets have wide, heavy bands that look like the cuffs worn by ancient warriors. Miao women usually walk around with their arms almost overloaded with silver bracelets on any given day, sometimes more during festivals or holidays.
Silver rings
A Miao silver ring is usually quite small and has fine pieces of silver bent and shaped into flowers, birds, or plants. Some Miao women have rings on their eight fingers, only with their thumbs free. Some rings can be half the length of their fingers.
Silver garments
Tiny silver slices or threads are commonly woven into the fabric of Miao clothing. There are more than 40 silver pieces in round or square shape that can be used.When place on a silver garment, the clothing shine beautifully when the Miao walk or dance.
Each piece is carved with beautiful patterns like lions, tigers, phoenix, flowers, butterflies, and dragons.
And sometimes there are about 60 silver bells hanging from the garments, which make sweet and beautiful sounds.
Silver waistbands
A silver waistband features hundreds of silver images of Bodhisattvas sewn on a piece of cloth. The Miao wrap it tightly around their waist, and the images shake and sparkle brightly when the Miao dance.
Silver anklets
Last but not least are small but sturdy silver anklets that clasp above the foot. Miao children wear silver anklets to ward off evil spirits.
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