Writing with Thread

A world-class exhibit "Writing with Textiles: Traditional Textiles of Southwest Chinese Minorities" extends it's run at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa Art Gallery through November 30, 2008.

In this 6:33 minute multimedia extra from the UH Malamalama magazine, Assistant Professor of Chinese Art History Kate Lingley gives a scholars-eye view of the exhibit, which features beautifully crafted clothing from over 15 ethnic groups and 100 subgroups of people from southwest China.

Lingley begins by mentioning that UH Manoa's art history program is unique in that it is explicitly Asia-Pacific focused. Then she introduces the exhibit by pointing out clothing styles influenced by proximity to Han Chinese. Special attention is given to the Miao people, both their elaborate silver ornamentation and prosaic expression of "Writing with Thread."

This is the first time these items have been seen in the United States. The music is a traditional Miao folk song for hauling water called "Dan shui ge."

Malamalama magazine
http://www.hawaii.edu/malamalama/2008/11/writing-with-thread-chinese-textile-...

"Writing With Thread" exhibit home page
http://www.hawaii.edu/artgallery/writingwiththread/en/Chinese-threads-en-01.html

Manoa Art Gallery location and hours
http://www.hawaii.edu/artgallery/

Manoa Department of Art and Art History
http://www.hawaii.edu/art/

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Chinese
• art
• textiles
• Hawaii
• UH
• Manoa
• University
• of
• Hawai'i
• Miao
• history

[UHmagazine]

Thank you everyone for the positive and interesting comments about our video.

The exhibition at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa has ended, but you can see this show next year:

Jan 31-Apr 12, 2009

Madison, WI

Chazen Museum

May 15-Aug 16, 2009

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Museum of International Folk Art

[MeyKhuangPien]

This is amazing, and she completely explained, so briefly, the true beauty that lies within the embroidery of these works. I would love to visit this museum one day.

[boyjohnnyyoyo]

Extraordinary B-U-T-ful! Beautifully amazing! Nicely done! Very informative and explanatorily. Just fascinating! These clothing have always been a been a key of symbols to the Hmong/Miao from the ancient times to the present days. There are so many decorations and a hand full of a variety clothing designated to every tribes in each clans. This is just beautiful! Thanks for the upload!

[jephboy]

@niamtxiv

That's exactly what I've been saying for ages... ok, the last 20 years. I'm actually writing a historical fiction story right now about a Hmong teen who goes back in time to learn about the paj ntaub and why he needs to appreciate it. Hopefully, my son will read the book someday?

[mneetdo]

thanks for sharing,

its brilliantly curated

[hetty922]

@adaneth The exhibition is over but you may buy the catelogue from University Of Hawaii Art Gallery.

[blongsiab]

Thanks for sharing this video I was in China for New Year. The Hmong no longer celebrate New Year on their lunar calender but they celebrate it on the Han lunar calender now so that they are in sync with the entire country. It saddens me greatly to see the the Hmong (miao) clothes in China being made by sewing machines. Most can't even make them by hand anymore. I have come to understand that they need to make a living so they had lost a lot for modernization.

[niamtxiv]

@MrsNtxhaishmoobusa

You are correct. We have known for a long time that the paj ntaub on our clothes are our writing scripts. This is why the word for learning is "kawm ntaub kawm ntawv." Learn the cloth, learn the scripts. Our scripts were embedded onto our clothes. Sadly, through many generations, the meaning of these scripts were lost; however, there are still some Hmong elders, who can interpret these scripts in term of religious rituals.

[MrsNtxhaishmoobusa]

the patam on the clothes is our writing. we had known that. we put it on our clothes so we would keep it for ever. no matter where we lived it always go with us.

[niamtxiv]

I so want to go to this exhibition when it was display in Wisconsin. I wish this exhibition comes to Northern California. I really want to see and listen to Miao history and lectures.

[adaneth]

Yes, please tell me where I can get information on this exhibition.  Will it come to Northern Californai? Who is in charge of the exhibition?

The story about the map on their backs left me in tears too. My grandma always cry when she tells us about stories her grandmother told her about what happened in China.

[niamtxiv]

Great information. I wonder if this exhibition will be display in Northern California?