Hmong STory cloth
The Hmong (pronounced "Mong")
people are known for sewing story cloths.
Their history is one marked with war,
cultural persecution, and tragedy.
people are known for sewing story cloths.
Their history is one marked with war,
cultural persecution, and tragedy.
Hmong History (In brief):
1100 BC. Hmong tribal villages settle in southern China 1840 AD - The vast majority of Hmong migrate to Laos to avoid oppression. 1936 - From 1936-1945 Japan takes control of Laos while WWII wages on. 1945 - With World War II over, the French once again resume control of Laos. 1952 - A Hmong writing system is designed to finally put the Hmong language on paper. 1957 - American soldiers enter Laos to train the Hmong and fight against the communists. 1960 - The "Secret War" begins in Laos as Hmong people are beginning to launch deadly guerrilla warfare. 1961 - General Vang Pao leads the Hmong people into secret battles and works closely with the United States from 1961-1973. 1973 - A ceasefire is signed between the Royal Lao Government and the Pathet Lao. 1975 - A significant year in Hmong history - Americans are completely withdrawn from Laos and the massacring of Hmong people begins immediately. Hmong Army officials including Vao Pang are airlifted to Thailand. Hmong families are forced to attempt a life- threatening escape from Laos across the Mekong into the Thailand Refugee camps. 1976 - The first wave of Hmong immigrants begin to arrive in the United States. |
Embroidery: A sewing technique using needles and colorful string Hmong women use to create their designs on fabric. Young girls learn from their mothers, aunts, and grandmothers and the tradition has been passed on for generations. Embroidery is used to embellish clothing and story cloths.
Cultural "Iceberg": A term used to illustrate the idea that culture includes many hidden factors; the arts and food and traditions of a culture are the "tip of the iceberg" but other important factors lie underneath, such as values, morals, and religious beliefs.
Where does Hmong embroidery lie on the cultural iceberg?
See this prezi by a Hmong woman living in Minnesota
Where does Hmong embroidery lie on the cultural iceberg?
See this prezi by a Hmong woman living in Minnesota
Visual Narrative is a picture that tells a story. What stories do the Hmong story quilts tell us?