Travel Tips

Residing in the mountainous areas of southwestern China, the Miao minority group respect and worship oxen. They think oxen is an auspicious animal which can bring them good luck. The image of oxen always appears in their handcrafted embroidery, batik, and silver jewels. In the 12-year animal cycles, the year of ox is regarded as the best year.

Why do the Miao respect oxen rather than any other animals such as a tiger? Here is a story popular in the Miao areas:

A long time ago a tiger and an ox live together in a mountain. Both of them were strong and had super strength. Nobody could tell who was the strongest. One day the tiger and the ox decided to have a fight. Before the competition was started, they prepared for seven whole days. Everyday the tiger wrapped his body with canes layer upon layer, while the oxen rolled in mud and then basked to have the mud getting dry.

Seven days later, they met to start a battle with their unique armor. The tiger rushed at the ox to bite it, but the ox didn’t get hurt at all with the heavy layers of dried mud on his body. Then it’s the ox’s turn. With the sharp horns, the ox immediately broke the canes on the body of the tiger, and almost hurt the tiger’s belly. The scared tiger shouted, “Stop, stop!”

Since then, oxen became an hero in Miao culture. People believe oxen can guard their life, and give them peace and safety. Thy decorate their gates with a small piece of horn-shaped wood. This way they can prevent any evil spirits from entering their home.

Beautiful images of oxen are used in the art of embroidery, silver jewels, and batik. Some Miao women wear a big silver headdress in the shape of an ox horn, which is regarded as the symbol of wealth; others have an ox horn shaped wooden comb adorned on their hair.

You can even feel the influence of oxen on Miao music. A famous bullfight dance is popular in the Miao areas. The dancers hold a bamboo made ox head in their hands, and imitate vividly the movements used in bullfight.

A special holiday is held for oxen every year. During the holiday, oxen are fed with good food, and bathed comfortably with clean water.

Dragon is considered a lucky animal too in the Miao culture. During the Dragon Boat Festival, people decorate their dragon boats with a pair of ox horn. They believe this will bring them more luck.

Visit a Miao village in a nice sunny day to experience the interesting Miao culture. The local people will dress them up with their ethnic costumes and unique silver jewels, and welcome you at the gate of their village with wine contained in a big horn-shaped cup. The wine is quite strong. So just taste a little bit. Don’t hold the horn-shaped cup by yourself, otherwise you will have to drink up the whole cup of wine.

C. Liu has been writing about 925 silver jewelry, for years. She occasionally supports the work of select Miao artisans. Click over to her website to view some excellent fine silver jewelry. Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory