Meet the Miao

The Miao people have rich histories. In this mini-series, we look at the Miao people’s presence in China, the US, and France — sharing their culture, craft, and modern ways of living. Our Host James Chau tells their story.

[APBpa]

"kawm ntaub kawm ntawv"
This is an old Hmong saying. Its literal meaning is "learn embroidery, learn writing".
Its cultural meaning is deeper. My mom said that it meant that we believe that clothing and embroidery is more important and that it lasts longer than ink on paper, therefore we always learn embroidery before learning to write. Learning how to embroider from my mom and how to farm from my dad. This was the Hmong life and we loved it.
My grandfather on my maternal side was an amazing silversmith. He was actually famous for his knives. He's since passed, God rest his beautiful soul, but we still own his knives and swords. They are still as sharp as the day he made them.
My father passed away from agent orange exposure due to the Vietnam war. He was an amazing farmer and talented in weaving baskets, but his true passion was music which he passed down to each of us whom have all ventured in music at one point or another in our lives.
I am biggo proud of my Hmong/Miao heritage.

[azuretran]

This is so sad that we, Hmong, have lost our heritage. We are arguing about the most ridiculous issue, such as Hmong vs Miao, instead of embracing the collaboration and corroboration of our history when our history has been substantiated. The lack of education is what is heart-breaking.

[rootsgaps]

Thank you so much for this video. Ignore the negative comments. There are some of us who appreciates this.

[hmongwisdom]

An extraordinary documentary covering the Hmong/Miao people and rich history.

[lateblossom]

The Miao are my favorite group of people in China. They also seem to be very happy.

[chanceyang]

Beautiful video and thank you for covering bits of our culture and history. And for the naysayers about Miao and Hmong not being the same group of people move on with your ridiculous argument. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

[cukhaab]

In about 1820 our Hmong people spread to many countries as you did mention on the video after the war with the Han people in China, this video will make the Hmong history for the young generation to comes . thankyou very much .

[Saichenyang]

Hmong is a subgroup of Miao. We share the same ancestor and story.

[RealandRelatablePodcast]

Amazing job here- sharing the history of the Hmong aka Miao

[mabv]

Thank you for this video, it is pretty informative and educational. Hmong are a subgroup to the Miao because Hmong are the ancient civilization who lived on the yellow and Yangtze River before the flood and Hans invasion. After the Han invasion many of the Hmong migrated to the Miao kingdom and built a brother and sisterhood with them.

[sangaychoden]

Can anyone tell the name of the song playing in the background?

[gerryher]

Around the world we still miao as hmong hmong as miao miao exists from chinese but as hmong exists from Hmong mother language for people not to confuse Hmong and miao you got it

[loveever]

Hmong are the ones that fled out of China during the war centuries ago. Miao are their cultural origin.

[OhGodisaLiar]

Gran Torino is not a movie about Hmong but a white man!

[edwindiegomaradonasilaban]

miao-yao/ hmong-mien, northeast indian people, nepalese, bhutanese, han chinese share y dna like it or not

[Euphoria]

I always love the Miao ethnic clothing

[LUNARXERIA]

I’m a bit confused :(

I’m a hmong girl (my family is from Laos) but does that mean I can identify and embrace the culture and clothing of the Miao and say it is also Hmong? And can I identify as miao if I am a hmong girl who’s family came from Laos?

[PracticaProphetica]

Those silver hats are the best head-dress of any tribe/ethnic group. Some unknown geniuses were responsible for inventing them.

[rat]

i love how the majority of the negative comments on this vid is just the same stupid person repeating the same stupid stuff

[takingoutthetrash]

we have lived in china as long as the chinese... im sure there were thousands of miao-hmong who was enslaved to build the great wall in ancient times