Things You should Know about Hmong

The terms Hmong or Mong refer to an Asian ethnic group in the mountainous regions of Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Burma. Hmong are also one of the sub-groups of the Miao in southern China. Hmong groups began a gradual southward migration in the 18th century due to political unrest and to find more arable land.

Hmong People

A number of Hmong/Mong people fought against the communist-nationalist Pathet Lao during theSecret War in Laos. Hmong/Mong people were singled out for retribution when the Pathet Lao took over the Laotian government in 1975, and tens of thousands fled to Thailand seeking political asylum.

The early history of the Hmong has proven difficult to trace. Evidence from mitochondrial DNA in Hmong - Mien?Miao - Yao language speaking populations supports the southern origins of maternal lineages even further back in time, although Hmong/Miao speaking populations show more contact with northeast Asians (i.e. northern Han) than Mien/Yao populations. Historical Chinese documents describe that area being inhabited by ‘Miao’ people, a group with whom Hmong people are often identified.Yet, the history of the ‘Miao’ cannot be equated with the history of the Hmong.

While China has the largest population of Hmong people, And Indochine (Vietnam, Lao and China) were the greatest population of Hmong people. And There is also small population of Hmong people in Myanmar.

Outside of Asia, the United States is home to the largest Hmong population. The 2000 census counted 169,428 persons of Hmong people.

Hmong language

Hmong or Mongis the common name for a group of dialects of the West Hmongic (Chuanqiandian) branch of the Hmong-Mien/Miao-Yao language family spoken by the Hmong people of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, northern Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos. The total number of speakers worldwide has been estimated to be more than 4 million, including over 200,000 Hmong Americans.Some dialects are mutually intelligible while others are so distinct as to be considered separate languages.

Custom and culture

The Hmong people are a minority ethnic group in several countries, believed by some researchers to be from the Yellow Basin area in China. The Hmong are known in China as the Miao, a designation that embraces several different ethnic groups. Hmong history has been passed down through legends and ritual ceremonies from one generation to another.

However, throughout the recorded history, the Hmong have remained identifiable as Hmong because they have maintained their own language, customs, and ways of life while adopting the ways of the country in which they live. In the 1960s and ’70s many Hmong were secretly recruited by the American CIA to fight against communism during the Vietnam War.

In the United States, new generations of Hmong are gradually assimilating into American society while being taught Hmong culture and history by their elders. Many fear that as the older generations pass on, the knowledge of the Hmong among Hmong-Americans will die as well.

Hmong cuisine

Hmong cuisine is the cuisine of the Hmong people, found mostly in Southeast Asia, China and the Hmong American community in the United States. It is unique, but has Lao, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese influences. Hmong cuisine varies somewhat by region

Hmong textile

Hmong textile art consists of textile arts traditionally practiced by Hmong people. Closely related to practices of other ethnic minorities in China, the embroidery consists of bold geometric designs often realized in bright, contrasting colors. Different patterns and techniques of production are associated with geographical regions and cultural subdivisions within the global Hmong community.[1] For example, White Hmong are typically associated with reverse appliqué while Green Mong are more associated with batik.

Hmong Music

Hmong music is an important part of the culture of the Hmong People. Hmong music and language are bonded closely together since Hmong language is tonal. Their words and all their poetry are sung. Also, Hmong song is used in many important rituals, including deaths and courtships.

Hmong musical instruments includes flutes such as the dra, leaves also called nblaw, and mouth organ called gaeng. The gaeng/qeej is important instrument which is one of the base of hmong music. Sung poetry and story cloths were the way the Hmong people would share their cultural hertiage from generation to generation. While older songs are often memorized, singers often add to them. Nowadays, Hmong songs are poems that the singer makes up using rhyme and clever word play. Very skilled singers gain great renown among the Hmong people. There are ritual songs, courting songs, and teaching songs. Even thought Hmong may have left china, their songs still connect with the life they had there.

Only the older generations know how to tell stories in the traditional way because Hmong people have slowly moved toward using technology more and can’t find the time to teach children kwv txhiaj. Only time kwv txhiaj is performed, nowadays, is during Hmong’s New Year Celebration, a skilled singer is usually surrounded by people with tape recorders who wants to learn kwv txhiaj style.

Instruments used in hmong music play a large role in hmong culture. Hmong Instruments are ussually associated with hmong rituals such as hmong funerals, dating practices, marriages, offerings, ancestral rites, among others. Hmong Instruments have a unique tone quality that allows words to be herrd just by playing. There are many instruments known to the hmong culture, but the instrument most well known to hmong music are; Qeej; Raj, Ncas, Nplooj

Hmong New Year Festival

Members of the local Hmong ethnic community in United State of America (USA) hold their annual New Year’s Festival at El Dorado East Regional Park.

The festival, the main Hmong cultural celebration, honors the harvest. Community members will re-create the atmosphere of a Laotian mountain village with the sights, sounds and aromas of Hmong culture. Activities will include a fashion show and cultural arts programs, such as music and dance performances. Sports activities will include top spinning, in which teams compete by hurling hand-carved tops 40 feet to knock out the tops of their opponents.