【民歌中国】苗族服饰文化 The Legend of Miao As Recorded on the Costume

(贵州苗族）

As an ethnic that did not develop a writing system, costumes therefore played an important role to preserve the history and culture of the Miao people. The costumes of Gejia Miao have the following characteristics:
- simple male costumes
- complicated female costumes
And further divided into two types:
- simple costumes
- traditional (ancient) costumes
Ancient costumes are only wore during big ceremonies. Women wear white flower patterns, covered completely in beautiful embroidery. The colours used are:
- red
- white
- blue
- black
Unmarried Gejia Miao girls only wear bow & arrow (shooting the sun) head gears, married women wear Sun and Moon head gears, because the sun and moon were shot down by bow and arrow, and must be hidden inside the hair.
All embroideries are made by Gejia Miao women themselves. Each costume can take up to 10-15 years to complete.

【Background Info】
Gejia Miao distinguish themselves as the descendent of Hou-Yi（后羿）, Hou-Yi is the legendary hero that shot down rampaging suns.

In Chinese mythology (Han and Miao), there was a sun tree in the Eastern Sea, on top of the tree rested nine suns. The suns take turn each day to come out in the morning, and rest at night back on the sun tree.

However one day the nine suns all came out at once, causing draught and fire on earth. The hero, Hou-Yi, came to the rescue. He shot down eight suns, and left only one sun in the sky, therefore saved the people on earth.

The legend passed down in history as a legend and myth --- until the discovery of San Xin Dui (三星堆) prehistorical site, where a sun tree made of bronze 3000 years ago was discovered, on the sun tree, rested 8 suns, the 9th was missing, presumably on its journey in the sky. Along with the sun tree, a golden disc of 4 solar birds were discovered. This was one of the most significant discoveries in Archaeology, and the solar bird pattern was embroidered on the spacesuit of Chinese astronauts.

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