The Mythology of Hmong Batik Art
Artist: Peide Yang (1986)
In ancient times, great deities such as Bao, Xiong, Qie, and Dang separated heaven and earth, yet the sky remained unstable, threatening to collapse. To hold up the sky, the goddess Washuang decided to create a celestial umbrella.
She gathered mist and wove it into white cloth, hanging it to dry beneath the pear trees. The spring breeze scattered the pear blossoms across the cloth, and bees, while collecting nectar, accidentally left traces of wax on the fabric. Using these gifts from nature, Washuang gathered bluegrass to create indigo dye, soaking the white cloth and ultimately crafting a unique batik fabric.
With this batik cloth, Washuang made a celestial umbrella, successfully holding up the sky. The blue of the batik fabric transformed into the vast blue sky, while the white flowers on the cloth became twinkling stars, adorning the sky created by the goddess herself.
The Hmong maidens, Ayang and Abu, skilled in weaving, created many pristine pieces of cloth. Impressed by their wisdom and diligence, the goddess Washuang passed on the ancient art of batik to them.
Ayang and Abu, using their mythological imaginations, transformed elements of nature such as flowers, birds, fish, and insects into beautiful patterns, incorporating these designs into batik to create enchanting and magical batik garments.
Since then, batik art has taken root in the mountainous regions ofthe Hmong lands, spreading far and wide.
For her contribution, Washuang has been honored as the Hmong Batik Goddess, and generations of Hmong people continue to remember her with gratitude.