Beautiful Miao Silver Jewels With Images of Oxen
Residing in the mountainous areas of southwestern China, the Miao minority group respect and worship oxen. They think oxen is an auspicious animal which can bring them good luck. The image of oxen always appears in their handcrafted embroidery, batik, and silver jewels. In the 12-year animal cycles, the year of ox is regarded as the best year.
Residing in the mountainous areas of southwestern China, the Miao minority group respect and worship oxen. They think oxen is an auspicious animal which can bring them good luck. The image of oxen always appears in their handcrafted embroidery, batik, and silver jewels. In the 12-year animal cycles, the year of ox is regarded as the best year.
However in many other parts of China, a tiger year is considered a hopeful year. Why do the Miao prefer oxen? Here is a story:
It's said that a long time ago an ox and a tiger were neighbors. They both were strong and had great strength. But who was the strongest? So one day they decided to have a fight. Before the competition, they prepared for 7 days when the tiger used canes to wrap his body layer upon layer, and the oxen bathed in the river with mud all over his body and then bask to have the mud getting dry.
7 days later, they wore their special armor to start a battle. The tiger pounced on the ox, trying to bite it, but only gnawed off a little dust from the dried mud covering the ox's body. The ox then used his sharp horns to easily break the canes on the body of the tiger, and almost broke the tiger's belly. The tiger got so scared that he had to cry craven.
Since then, oxen became an hero in Miao culture. People believe oxen can guard their life, and give them peace and safety. Thy decorate their gates with a small piece of horn-shaped wood. This way they can prevent any evil spirits from entering their home.
Images of oxen are widely used in the art of silver jewels and embroidery. Miao women's silver headdress in the shape of an ox horn is considered the most important silver ornaments for big holidays. In some area, people wear a large ox horn shaped wooden comb to adorn their hair.
You can even feel the influence of oxen on Miao music. A famous bullfight dance is popular in the Miao areas. The dancers hold a bamboo made ox head in their hands, and imitate vividly the movements used in bullfight.
The Miao people respect oxen, and they even have special holidays for oxen. On that day people feed cattle, oxen, and water buffalo with refined food, and bathe them with clean water.
Dragon is also a lucky animal respected by the Miao. During the Dragon Boat Festival, people adorn their dragon boats with a pair of ox horn, as they think dragon together with oxen will bring more luck to their life.
Visit a Miao village in a nice sunny day to experience the interesting Miao culture. The local people will dress them up with their ethnic costumes and unique silver jewels, and welcome you at the gate of their village with wine contained in a big horn-shaped cup. The wine is quite strong. So just taste a little bit. Don't hold the horn-shaped cup by yourself, otherwise you will have to drink up the whole cup of wine.
Residing in the mountainous areas of southwestern China, the Miao minority group respect and worship oxen. They think oxen is an auspicious animal which can bring them good luck. The image of oxen always appears in their handcrafted embroidery, batik, and silver jewels. In the 12-year animal cycles, the year of ox is regarded as the best year.
However in many other parts of China, a tiger year is considered a hopeful year. Why do the Miao prefer oxen? Here is a story:
It's said that a long time ago an ox and a tiger were neighbors. They both were strong and had great strength. But who was the strongest? So one day they decided to have a fight. Before the competition, they prepared for 7 days when the tiger used canes to wrap his body layer upon layer, and the oxen bathed in the river with mud all over his body and then bask to have the mud getting dry.
7 days later, they wore their special armor to start a battle. The tiger pounced on the ox, trying to bite it, but only gnawed off a little dust from the dried mud covering the ox's body. The ox then used his sharp horns to easily break the canes on the body of the tiger, and almost broke the tiger's belly. The tiger got so scared that he had to cry craven.
Since then, oxen became an hero in Miao culture. People believe oxen can guard their life, and give them peace and safety. Thy decorate their gates with a small piece of horn-shaped wood. This way they can prevent any evil spirits from entering their home.
Images of oxen are widely used in the art of silver jewels and embroidery. Miao women's silver headdress in the shape of an ox horn is considered the most important silver ornaments for big holidays. In some area, people wear a large ox horn shaped wooden comb to adorn their hair.
You can even feel the influence of oxen on Miao music. A famous bullfight dance is popular in the Miao areas. The dancers hold a bamboo made ox head in their hands, and imitate vividly the movements used in bullfight.
The Miao people respect oxen, and they even have special holidays for oxen. On that day people feed cattle, oxen, and water buffalo with refined food, and bathe them with clean water.
Dragon is also a lucky animal respected by the Miao. During the Dragon Boat Festival, people adorn their dragon boats with a pair of ox horn, as they think dragon together with oxen will bring more luck to their life.
Visit a Miao village in a nice sunny day to experience the interesting Miao culture. The local people will dress them up with their ethnic costumes and unique silver jewels, and welcome you at the gate of their village with wine contained in a big horn-shaped cup. The wine is quite strong. So just taste a little bit. Don't hold the horn-shaped cup by yourself, otherwise you will have to drink up the whole cup of wine.
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