Hmoob Xyoob Dej Kab Kev

Miao Bamboo Culture

Maid Wux, Mao Jiayan and Amy Eisenberg, Ph.D.

Mao Jiayan

Guizhou Museum

Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China 550004

Amy Eisenberg, Ph.D.

Sonoma County Indian Health Project, International Society of Ethnobiology and

Center for World Indigenous Studies Associate Scholar, USA

In their long history in China, the Hmong developed a unique culture through adaptability, wisdom and resourcefulness.[1] In the everyday traditional life of the Hmong people, bamboo plays a very important role. The Hmong regard bamboo as a sacred plant because it serves the people in myriad ways and has been indispensable for their very existence and cultural survival. The Hmong have utilized bamboo for hunting, and as protection against their aggressors. There is a Hmong song that narrates the historical usage of bamboo by the people:

Hmoob pul laus sawv lus raug teb, Raul tuaj dua roob, Roug tau txooj xyoob, Hmoob yawm laus sawv lus raug chaw, Raug tuaj dua dawm, Raug tau txooj rawm, Txooj xyoob cuaj xyoo, Hlub ntauv ceg niab, Txooj rawm kaum xyoo, Hlub ntauv ceg aib oo, Yas pis suab txuas huab, Yas pwb teb tuaj ntxhb, Yas dua nrab du nplws, Khaws txuas tub tuag suab.

The song's meaning signifies:

The grandmother set up the cropland. She set up the cropland on the hill. She planted many bamboos. The grandfather reclaimed the wild land. He reclaimed the wild land on the hillside and planted many mottled bamboo. When the bamboo was nine years old, its stem came into leaf. The mottled bamboo, at ten years of age had lush leaves and its culms were very tall. The apex of the bamboo was linked with the clouds and mist. Its roots were fully covered by moss. The internode of the bamboo culm is smooth. Hmong people used it to communicate the word of the dead.[2]

There is an ancient song that is sung about Jiang Yang, who, according to Hmong folklore, is the ancestor of the people. The Hmong plant bamboo on the ridges between fields. The bamboo reaches 2 meters in height. What enabled it to grow and develop? Jiang Yang employed the bamboo culm to make the staff of the ancestors.[3]

Today, it is customary and universal in Hmong funeral ceremonies, for the bamboo arrow to be present. This phenomenon has been observed since the inception of Hmong funerary practices. From its beginnings, bamboo has occupied a very significant and specialized position as the Hmong bow and arrow. Bamboo serves as a divinatory instrument and sacrificial tool. Hmong people believe that the bamboo arrow will guide the dead to the netherworld where their ancestor grandfathers and grandmothers live. The dead can use the bamboo to resist wicked birds and beasts. The bamboo divinatory implement is a tool of communication between the living and persons of the netherworld (including the dead). For example, in the Hmong song entitled, "Guide the Road for the Dead", the beginning is sung:

Lau qiab xyis koj kiv, Txhib nteeg txuas koj lus, Mum tes coj ntaj hlau, Ntxim qaum tsis hneev khub, Dab tuaj mum ntaus, koj tau kiv koj tau kiv koj mus.

The meaning expresses:

The cock leads the way for you. The bamboo divinatory implement talks to you. You hold the iron sword. You place the bamboo bow behind your body. You beat the wicked ghost, if it nears. You go to your place if you have an illuminated path. Thus, from the song, it is clear that bamboo serves a very important function.

In Hmong marital customs, bamboo represents fortune, satisfaction and contentment. When a woman and man marry, the bride takes a bamboo belt to her husband's family, from her family (her mother’s house). This symbolic act is so that the new husband and wife will liken the bamboo to bearing children. Hmong people understand that bamboo can proliferate vegetatively by its shoots and it is very strong. In the Hmong ceremony, the chair sings:

Lial tias ua nyav ni puj tswv tsev ntsug yawm tswv tsev, Peb tuaj txug nras laum , Tshu tau tug yuaj xyoob, Peb tuaj txug nras roob, Tshu tau tug yuaj xyoob, Yuaj rawm luag ziag nqais ntoj kiv, Yuaj xyoos luag ziag nqais ntoj kab, Yuaj raum luag ziag lus txug mij vaj, Txug mij vas txug mij kab, Peb khaus lus cob tau mij puj tswv tsev ntsug yawm tswv tsev, Mij coj mus cog tauj nras tiaj lias ciaj, Tau nras hav lias hlav, Tawg paj lus muaj nkawm, Txi txiv lus muaj npoj, Tawg paj tsov sau ntsis, Txi txiv lus tuaj niab cag, Cia puj cuas yawm cuas tau chawj noj nqiaj lus chaw haus cawv, Nkawm ntsaus tuv yau, ua tau noj tau hnav, Tau chaw ntauj chaw cua tsov tom qab nia - Puj tswv tsev ntsug yawm tswv tsev.

The song's meaning translates: I want to say to the host, the daughter’s father-in-law and daughter’s mother-in-law, that when we went beneath the mountain we brought the bamboo culm. The bamboo likes to follow the tracks, of which we speak. Now, the bamboo comes to your house, so that it will observe your good behavior. It will observe your etiquette. Host, daughter’s father-in-law and daughter’s mother-in-law; plant the bamboo culm in your garden. It will survive. Plant it in your garden and it will reproduce. If it bears fruit, it will develop a pair. Bamboo flowers at the apex of the culm and bears fruit, and roots in the garden. Like this, daughter’s father-in-law and daughter’s mother-in-law, every day you shall have meat to eat and wine to drink. When the young man and woman marry today, they will be healthy and prosperous. We can come and go from now on, so we are very happy.

In the song, bamboo not only signifies fortune and provides contentment, but it also represents the bride. The bamboo is placed in hand, which denotes to give her hand, as in the girl’s hand in marriage.

In another life domain, the bamboo culm is an instrument of music and entertainment. The lusheng, xiao, flute and other wind instruments, which are composed of bamboo, are used in the production of life. Throughout the Miao cultural landscape and ethnosphere, bamboo is widely valued and utilized. It is employed in the construction of buildings, chairs, stools, sifters, wicker baskets, etc.

Understanding the complex history of the Hmong; the remote and distant past, their struggles, and migration is quite a projecting problem.[4] Although the ancient Hmong people had often experienced great tribulation, they would not be exterminated. Their hope was to be prosperous, like the bamboo. The Hmong people, as the bamboo have an inalienable origin. Hmong Bamboo Culture has a highly significant and integral place in their history as a people.

References:

[1] He JiQue. 1999. A Study on Hmong Culture. Pp. 1. China: Guizhou People’s Press.

[2] The Committee in Charge of National Affairs, DaFang County. 1993. The Worshipping Words. Pp. 3. China: Guizhou National Press.

[3] YanBao. 1993. The Epic of the Hmong. Pp. 639. China: Guizhou National Press.

[4] The Compiling Group. 1985. A Brief History of the Hmong. Pp. 6. China: Guizhou National Press.