Who are the Hmong?

The word Hmong means "human being" or "free people" in the Hmong language. They may have originally come from Siberia and Central Asia. Although they lived in China for centuries, they were often slaves, and killed or treated badly.

The Hmong have, in time, mostly settled in Burma, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. However the many wars in this area have caused them to migrate from their settled homes. After the Vietnam War, many Hmong escaped to Thailand by crossing the Mekong River. Although the Hmong have mostly lived in Southeast Asian countries, they have worked hard to keep their unique culture with a commitment to remain the "free people."

The Hmong did not have any written language until thirty-five years ago when Christian missionaries wrote it down. Previously, all of their communication was oral and/or pictorial. Many of the oral history traditions have been transcribed pictorially on a storycloth known as pa'ndau. The pa'ndau, composed of applique, cross-stitches, batik, and embroidery, tells Hmong personal family history, village life, the death and disturbance of war and emigration, and life in a new land. Many Hmong now live in other countries, but they still make storycloths to keep the traditions of their culture.