Miao People’s Silver Complex
 2016-12-20 16:49:28   Zhangjiajie Tourism Information Website  

Miao nationality’s silver ornament is popular in the south-east of Guizhou province and western Hunan.

Since ancient times, silver has been used as a kind of currency. Of course, Miao ancestors also understand silver’s values. Owing to long-term war, Miao people had no other choice but to migrant from one place to another, pursuing a living. You can imagine how severe their living environment was at that time. As poplar folktale goes, a Miao man named Ba Gao was very smart. He cut the silver sticks short, bent them and then hung on his own neck. As to the extra ground silver, he also made them into small rings and wore on hands, which gained other people’s approve. This was the earliest silver ornaments.

When talking about the reasons why silver ornaments emerged, maybe there exists one thing standing in the most important status, deep-seated spiritual motivation.

During Miao people’s migration, they really suffered a lot. However, they couldn’t explain all the inextricable misery fate. As a result, their primitive religious beliefs centralizing in generated witchcraft got further development. And their living place was surrounded by full-bodied witchcraft culture.

From its birth, silver ornament had the function of witchcraft. Miao ancestors believed that all the sharp things could drive out evil. Silver ornament topped among those apotropaions. What’s more, it is believed silver ornament could also act as a safeguard that helped people escape tribulations and enjoy good health.

Translated by Becky