Today’s A Journey
through Aesthetic Realms
will be presented
in Laotian,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian,
Italian, Japanese,
Korean, Laotian, Mongolian,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian and Spanish.
Greetings,
graceful viewers.
Welcome to
A Journey through
Aesthetic Realms
on Supreme Master
Television.
Today, our program will
introduce the amazing
traditional costumes
of Hmong tribes
in Northern Laos.
The Hmong people are
agricultural nomads in
the mountainous regions
near the borders
between China
and Âu Lạc (Vietnam),
Laos, and Thailand.
Their origin can be traced
back to 5000 years ago
in the Yellow River Valley
of China.
Over a period
of three millennia,
they gradually migrated
southwards and
moved into the eastern end
of the Himalayas
where fast flowing rivers
carve out parallel
deep valleys among
majestic mountains.
Another 2000 years passed
before many of them
began moving
to Southeast Asia
in the 18th century.
Although without
a written language,
the Hmong people
have well preserved
their cultural identity
for thousands of years.
Therefore they are
sometimes called “Living
Terracotta Warriors.”
Their ethnic traditions
and history have been
passed on through both
oral literature and patterns
on their woven garments.
In Laos,
Hmong communities
are generally classified
according to
the color scheme
of women’s costumes.
Blue Hmongs batik
their fabrics heavily with
a plant-derived indigo dye.
White Hmongs,
on the other hand,
don’t practice batik
and their skirts
are pure white.
Flowery Hmongs are known
for the many colors
of their women’s attire
with ornamental coins
and sparkling beadwork.
Let’s visit
a Hmong textile shop
and find out more
about their vibrant
traditional dresses.
This one we talked about
clothing for the hill tribe.
We wear multi-colors.
For this suit, this is
multicolor Hmong fabric.
These mixed materials
have this shirt and a hat
and a belt and this one.
There must be fabric
covering the front
and a skirt in order to
become a suit.
And the waist must
cover the body entirely.
This is the rule
of the Hmong tribe;
one must cover this way
throughout.
This also uses pure silver.
This one is pure silver
which we make by hand.
This attire is used
for religious ceremonies
or special occasions.
When we play
Hmong-styled drama,
we would wear this attire.
When we dance we would
wear this attire also.
This one we sell to
our people and foreigners,
they come to support us.
Men’s clothes are equally
splendid with bright colors,
elaborate patterns
and elegant coin work.
This suit for the men.
but for the adults,
the shirt’s got to be bigger.
The hat’s also got to be
a little bit bigger.
For the color,
there are many colors.
This color is fine.
Or any color is also fine.
But the men must
have red trousers.
And there is also this one
to tighten the waist
to cover the front.
Inside, they have to
have a long sleeve,
white long sleeve
with a collar.
One must wear
a white shirt with a collar
for good looks.
This is in keeping
with our Hmong tribe.
Any color will do.
It is up to anyone’s liking.
This one we made by hand.
The green color is fine,
the white color is also fine.
This one has embroidery
for beauties.
The adult must use
big coins to adorn
as embroideries.
But for the young ones,
we use small coins
to hang in there.
That is all.
Most woven fabrics
of the Hmong people
are made from hemp,
which has been cultivated
by humans
for over 12,000 years.
In recent years,
hemp has been promoted
as the crop for the future
due to its low
environmental impact,
high fiber content,
and versatile applications.
Equal weight of hemp
has three times as
much raw fiber as cotton,
while at the same time,
its farming and processing
can be done
without using chemicals.
Hemp fiber is
a good source of pulp
for paper making.
Rich in protein,
minerals, vitamin,
and essential fatty acids,
hemp seeds
have been touted as the
most nutritional complete
food source in the world.
Hemp oil is also
a low-emission bio fuel.
In many Hmong tribes
of Northern Laos,
women are responsible
for the entire
hemp production process,
from sowing seeds
to weaving textile.
After harvesting,
the stems of the crop are
cut into ½-meter stalks
and left to dry in bundles
under the sun.
The fibrous bark
is then removed
from the dried stalks.
Hmong women would
join the short fibers
into long pieces by
twisting their ends together
and winding them
into a hand-sized ball.
The yarns are then woven
on a wooden loom
into plain hemp cloth,
which is ready for the
traditional batik process.
In the batik process,
the fabric is first
patterned with wax
to mark the places where
color is to be avoided.
Then it is dipped in a pot
of dye and allowed to dry.
To achieve
different shades of color,
the process is repeated
for up to 40 times
over two weeks.
After the final round
of dyeing and drying,
the material is boiled
to release
the color-resistant wax.
Indigo is the most
popular natural dye
for Hmong batiks.
The motifs
used in Hmong textiles
can be as simple
as geometric shapes
or as complex
as storytelling murals.
Besides floral designs
such as flowers, leaves,
fruits, and seeds,
nature-derived patterns
also include
faunal elements
such as spiral snail shells,
butterflies, and birds.
Zodiac animals are
the most popular motifs
for children’s clothes
as they are considered
to safeguard
against ill fortunes.
Typical human images
are in pairs, where
a parent or ancestor
holding hands
with a child symbolizes
guidance and protection.
The most fascinating
patterns are those
with historical meanings.
These motifs frequently
appear on clothing designs
and depict
mythical Hmong stories.
The images
of “Butterfly Mother”
describe the Hmong version
of genesis.
Born on a maple tree,
Butterfly Mother
fell in love
with water bubbles
of the lake and
gave birth to the ancestor
of the Hmong.
She also laid 12 eggs.
A bird helped her hatch
the eggs over 12 years
and gave rise to the 12
Eastern zodiac animals.
Other images
portray the Yellow River
and the Yangtze River
in memory of the
great ancestral migration.
Before a fabric
becomes finally useable,
a finishing process
is applied,
during which it is rolled
between a round log
and a cylindrical rock
to flatten the threads.
After this procedure,
the material
becomes smoother.
Besides batik dyeing,
embroidery, appliqué
quilting and silversmith
are essential skills
of making Hmong textile.
With the exception
of metalwork,
all techniques are passed
from mothers to daughters.
Embroidery is frequently
used in conjunction
with appliqué
to create a colorful pattern
with appealing
visual effect.
Before a garment
is completed, rows of
shimmering metal coins,
sequins, and colored beads
are suspended from
specific anchor layers.
It may take a few months
to make a Hmong skirt
by hand,
and the finest artistry
is highly valued.
Elaborate silver jewelries
are worn by both men
and women of Hmong Lao
and they represent
protective power
against harmful spirits.
Neckbands are the most
prominent accessories.
Babies typically
have a simple band
attached with a small bell.
Adults wear larger bands,
often attached
with engraved
ornamental pieces.
This collar, according to
Hmong style, is for men.
But both men and women
can wear.
This one is
made of pure silver.
Both men and women
can wear this one.
And for the women,
there’s got to be
a pair of red earrings.
And there is a bracelet,
and this one
to make it complete.
That is all.
For the men,
they’ve got to wear this,
and must wear this,
and a bracelet.
A bracelet is fine.
That would be enough.
We wear it
because it is the rule
of the Hmong tribe.
It must be worn like this
all the time.
It comes from the heart
of the Hmong tribe.
Women
of certain Hmong tribes,
such as the White Hmong,
wear a distinctive hat
with a characteristic
cross pattern
above their forehead.
This one has to be worn
in white, with trousers.
This one is
for the White Hmong.
This hat, in the olden time,
it was not like this.
It used to be a long satin,
3 meters long.
We use it to
tighten around the head.
Fold it repeatedly,
until it is done.
But now, we have
progressed already.
They made it
readily beautiful.
When it is time for use,
we just wear it.
This is modern.
This hole, they must
fold it to fit the head.
If it is too long,
to fold it around the head
would take too long.
But now
they have it ready-made.
Nowadays, they use sponge,
and they make it
in modern way.
When it’s time to wear,
just put it on.
Therefore, it is easy.
The beautiful costumes
of Hmong Lao
are a manifestation
of their long and rich
cultural history,
lofty aesthetic pursuit,
hardworking spirit,
as well as a lifestyle
in harmony with nature.
May such
a glorious heritage be
cherished and preserved
for many generations
to come.
We also pray that
the gentle Hmong people
in everywhere
be blessed with peace
and a sustainable future.
Loving viewers,
thank you for your
heartwarming company
on today’s A Journey
through Aesthetic Realms
on Supreme Master
Television.
Coming up next is
Vegetarianism:
The Noble Way of Living,
after Noteworthy News.
Wishing you
lasting inner tranquility,
with Heaven’s
immense blessings.