Miao embroidered cow

In a general sense, bull is the symbol of agricultural civilization and bulls earned the respect of the people for their contribution to human beings But for the Miaos, the implications of bulls are not only that. Ancient legends have it that bull horns were used by Chiyou tribes as weapons and in Guzang Festival of the Miaos held every twelve years, and big buffalos were chosen for sacrifices.

In Leishan County the Long Skirt Miaos have bullhorn like silver head ornamentations, which is called dragon horn or bull horn. In Shidong area of Taijiang County, the Miao people’s Dragon Boat festival use 20-meter long dragon boat, which has bullhorn as the decoration of foreIn Zhijin county and Liuzhi county in Northwest Guizhou, Long Horn Miaos have their head wear using a huge bullhorn like comb to signify that their totem is bull.

Classics and legends all have it that the bull worship of the Miao people shows the implication of ancestral worship So this is why bull’simage is of ten found in Miao embroidery.

hancheng

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