The Miao people, also known as "Hmong in the West," (population 7,000,000) are one of fifty-six recognized minority people-groups, contributing to China's rich cultural heritage. The history of the Miao, or as they prefer to call themselves "the Vaj Peb Hmoob," tells the story of a people ridden with political, economic, and social hardships. However, the colorful customs and meaningful traditions of the Miao have helped to bring balance to an otherwise harsh existence.

　　In ancient times, approximately 5,000 years ago, the Miao people inhabited a region that encompassed both the Yellow River, and the Yangtze River, stretching from the central regions of China to the lower reaches of the two rivers. As time and the seasons of early-Chinese empires turned, the Miao were forced to migrate from northeastern regions to the southwest.

　　Throughout the Qin dynasty, the Miao often found themselves engaged in bitter disputes with the Han people. During this time, the Qin government categorized the Miao people into two groups: "the Shu Miao" (those that obeyed the Qin authority), and "the Sheng Miao" (those who rejected Xia authority). Obviously, the Sheng Miao bore a great deal persecution from the Qin government and conflicts were often ignited. These disputes often developed into war and inevitably forced the Miao to leave their resource-rich territories, destined for the unrelenting, mountainous regions of the southwest.

　　Today we find the densest populations of the Miao people group along the intersections of the Guizhou, Yunan, Hunan, Guangxi, and Hainan provinces. Their communities and lifestyles are a source of intrigue for people all over the world. Since they were forced to move throughout history, often being forced into China's most remote locations, the Miao existence represents the epitome of human endurance, persistence, and ability to realize beauty in spite of raw environments.

　　The absence of means for transportation and communication has caused the Miao societies to develop slowly. The culture and traditions of the Miao people have been well-preserved, resisting change due to outside forces, and maintaining their uniqueness, the result of displacement from other early-Chinese societies.

　　Since the Miao were separated geographically from other societies and each other, their languages developed into many dialects and sub-dialects. Today we find that there are three main regional dialects; eastern, central, and western. The eastern dialect is referred to as "Hunan Miao," located in Hunan and northeastern Guizhou. The central dialect is referred to as "Qiandongnan Miao," located in southeastern Guizhou. The western dialect is recognized as "Yunan Miao," spoken by the Southeast-Asian Hmong.

　　As a result of the oppression and displacement, the Miao society developed very slowly. The development of early societies is best characterized by their ability to record their own history. The Miao have not developed their own written language. The majority of their history is passed down verbatim or through design of their handicrafts.

　　Genuine Miao handiwork tells of a family's ancestors and history. It is also possible that the articles, such as hand-weaved embroidery, depict village legends and beliefs. In Qin Shui Jiang Valley, the Miao embroidery design resembles that of bronze and jade artifacts, which have recently been excavated. The origin of these artifacts reaches as far back as the Shang (1600-1066 b.c.) and Zhou Dynasties (1066-256). Indeed, each Miao creation is piece of history, rather than an article of clothing. China's minority history offers concise insight into man's most simple needs and desires. In the past, the Miao expressed their humanity through incredible tapestries and elaborate metalwork. Now, however, their skills and crafts are facing extinction as new generations begin to assimilate into China's incredible development.