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I & Hmong

 "The places where words cannot reach are conveyed through art."

The first time I encountered Hmong culture was when I had the privilege of viewing a ceremonial oxhide from the Moon Mountain Hmong’s Drum Festival, housed in the He Wan Hmong Studies Museum.

Although it was only presented online, the exquisite batik craftsmanship and attention to detail still left me in awe. The square cloth, with white flowers on a blue background, featured dragons that seemed to come to life in each corner. After researching the batik technique, I silently made a vow to one day witness this remarkable craftsmanship in person.

Perhaps because it was the first Hmong artifact I encountered, and the first I researched, I was particularly invested in it. I spent countless days and nights drafting introductions and origin stories for it, yet none satisfied me. Writing has always been my passion, but I had never felt so conflicted or frustrated when writing on any other topic. I believed that the monotonous, traditional museum descriptions could not capture the stunning artistry and grandeur of the festival. During a meeting, my colleagues suggested that I maintain my personal writing style—perhaps I’d make new discoveries. It was then that inspiration struck, and I boldly wrote from the perspective of the ox itself, crafting a story that moved people. While writing, I felt as though I was transported to that thousand-person celebration, hearing the drums, feeling the people’s joy, and being enveloped by a boundless vitality that carried me through millennia, allowing me to witness every grand festival. If there is any beauty that cannot be expressed in words, it must be the beauty of a culture.

"The beauty of a culture lies in the thousand-year history, in the needle of every embroiderer, the song of every young woman, the silverwork crafted by every young man, and the clamorous festivals with their gongs and drums. This beauty is composed of extraordinary colors found in the ordinary lives of countless individuals. The beauty of a culture is the beauty of its people."

Through numerous conversations with Dean Anhong and other teachers, we gradually developed the concept for this online museum, ultimately settling on the theme, “Shamans and the Joy of Life.” Unlike traditional online museums, we decided to showcase the beauty of the culture through the stories of Hmong artisans, presenting a unique perspective. We engaged with Hmong embroiderers who had participated in Hermès fashion shows and talked with young Hmong women about the collision between ethnic and modern cultures. In Shidong Hmong Village, we learned about silverwork from a master silversmith, "Da Jiu," and during our interview with "Ma Youying," we marveled at the intricacies of Hmong paper-cutting. We explored Hmong aesthetics hidden in the bustling market of the Hmong Village Fair. Throughout these dozens of conversations and learning sessions, I was repeatedly astonished by the craftsmanship and wisdom behind each work, and deeply moved by the vibrant stories they told. Each person is the protagonist of their own story, and these stories, when combined, create the story of an entire community. Zooming out even further, it becomes the story of a people.

“The sheer volume of cultural heritage accumulated over millennia is so immense that even a lifetime of collecting would only reveal the tip of the iceberg. And what can be captured on film is even more limited.”

One of the most important steps in preparing this online museum was photographing the artifacts. During the days we spent in the He Wan Research Institute at Shidong Hmong Village, most of our time was spent in the photography studio. Each artifact took about half an hour to photograph, as we sought the best angles. Dean Anhong carefully explained the stories behind each piece, and the days flew by in this combination of learning and shooting. In three days, we photographed dozens of artifacts. I marveled at how many there were, but Dean Anhong smiled and said that these were just the tip of the iceberg. “If you want to see all the Hmong artifacts in existence, no one could achieve that in a lifetime,” she said.

Although the Hmong people make up only 8% of China’s population, their long history has produced a cultural treasure trove that seems boundless, waiting to be explored.

For me, the creation of this online museum was a rare and precious opportunity. It allowed me to experience the charm of Hmong culture firsthand, through the stories of great folk artists and cultural researchers. I believe this is knowledge that cannot be gained through any other means. Unlike monotonous history, ethnic culture is full of vitality and life. Our hope is that through this online museum, every visitor can feel the vibrant stories that belong to the Hmong people and their creations.

Monica Meng
“The Hmong Living Culture Museum” Project sponsor Monica Meng, a high school student from the Hun School of Princeton, New Jersey, is a rising star in her academic and athletic pursuits. She is a member of the student leadership association and serves as the proctor of the residential collective. Monica is passionate about women's rights and leadership, as a crucial member of the school's young women leadership cohort. She is also passionate about writing and interviewing, frequently submitting articles to school magazines and social media. She actively shares her thoughts with teachers and fellow students through the school's communication and marketing department's internship program, and she started an interview program with The Hun school alumni, aiming to create the bridge between students and alumni who dedicate themselves to different fields of passion.
Monica is also an active advocate for cultural diversity and social justice, winning a silver key in the Scholastic Writing & Art Awards for her essay on contemporary social issues like human trafficking and gender discrimination. Despite her achievements, Monica is eager to create more opportunities to address social problems, using her collection of interviews to challenge societal glorification of suffering, which is displayed through an interview series called “I only Bloom in Winter”. She has also dedicated her extracurricular time collaborating Hmong community experts to create this online museum showcasing Hmong art and culture.