Miao Hospitality
by Pei Mingming
In the United States, the South is
seen as a culture of hospitality. In
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Dazhai village in Dafang county, Guizhou.

China, at least among the Miao, I've found the same to be true. Last spring, I spent several days in a Miao village called Dazhai in northern Guizhou and learned firsthand about Miao hospitality.
  When we arrived at our host family's home in the early evening, the first thing they treated us to
was a home-cooked meal. Though the Miao themselves don't eat a lot of meat, serving guests smoked pork and pork fat is an important sign of hospitality, so our bowls were always full.
[Full story]




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More Ethnic Art Products
from the editor
If you haven’t visited our online shop
recently, it’s time to come back for
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Yi book covers
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Yi 'shirt' magnets
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Bai Tie-dye Tablecloth
a visit! We are pleased to present several new ethnic art products from people groups in Yunnan Province. As with previous products, these items are handmade.
  From the Bai people, we are featuring their famous tie-dyed tablecloths in two sizes and two colors. These designs have been particularly popular with individuals who enjoy earthy, artsy décor. Hardly a trekker comes to the Yunnan region without purchasing at least one or two Bai tie-dye batiks to take home. I enjoyed using them to decorate my home in Yunnan: as wall hangings, table cloths, and to cover up ugly electronics.
  From the Yi people group, we are happy to offer you a chance to own samples of their well-known hand embroidery. Typically, they use their patterns to embroider motifs on their ethnic costumes, shoes, head coverings, and bags. We are marketing their colorful
designs on items that will be more fitting for the international customer: magnets and book covers. These items will brighten any bookshelf, desk or metal surface!
  We are writing the stories on this website with a view to give you a virtual firsthand visit through the regions of the ethnic minorities of China. After hearing some words from their languages, listening to songs, seeing photos, and with a few pieces of their ethnic art in your own home, you might even have trouble being convinced yourself you didn’t make the trip yourself after all!