Creative Beading

Handmade Chinese Miao silver jewelry

Who are the Miao?

How do you feel to wear 30 pounds of silver ornaments from head to toe? Well, the Miao are a nation who proudly show off the beauty with their handmade, elaborately designed silver jewelry in a way that almost covers their entire body! Being a minority group in the mountainous areas of south and southwestern China, the Miao think the glistening silver is a symbol of light that can bring hope and prosperous future. There are so many different kinds of Miao silver ornaments, here are just a few:

Silver headdresses

Miao silver headdresses are quite a sight and are worn only on very special occasions, like weddings or important holidays. They are made up of three individual parts: the horns, the hat, and the hood.

Silver horns: The silver horns are the most important part of a Miao silver headdress, and they are crafted to mimic the horns of an ox. The headpiece spans about three feet from one horn to another, and reaches almost the same height. So they are nearly half the height of the wearer!

The patterns of the horn are quite impressive. An image of two dragons playing with a ball is often carved on it. Women place a pair of white feathers onto the horn to make it higher and more beautiful, or adorn the horn with some silver flowers and butterflies.

Silver hat: A silver hat is the base of the headdress and can be a foot tall. It’s wholly adorned with silver birds, flowers, tassels, and bells. Behind the hat are twelve pieces of silver feathers hanging all the way down to their waist.

Silver hood: The silver hood hangs down from the hat and covers parts of the face and neck. In some Miao areas, the silver hood features five ornaments set on it, with the largest one at the center falling from the forehead and the others dropping around ears.

And in other areas, a silver hood has three distinctive layers. The highest layer has 29 beautiful, round silver flowers. The middle layer sports a bright, round glass at the center, and 14 warriors riding horses standing at each side. The lowest layer is fringes.

Silver hairpins

Miao silver hairpins always feature flowers, birds, and butterflies. The most extraordinary designs sport 10 silver flowers arranged like a Chinese fan. Beautiful beads shine in the flowers and five silver phoenixes fluttering around the center.

Some hairpins are in the shape of a chopstick adorned with silver bells and long tassels.

Silver combs

Miao women use a silver comb to decorate their hair. The wooden comb has a layer of silver slices covered on its surface. Patterns of flowers, birds, dragons, or the image of a Bodhisattva are usually carved on the surface. Some combs feature long silver chains falling down.

Silver earrings

Intricate Miao unique silver jewelry is often shaped like flowers, birds, butterflies, dragons, or plants. Miao women usually wear 3 or 4 pieces of silver earrings at one time. A single silver earring can weigh 200 grams, falling down directly to their shoulders. But many small earrings have very fine threads which are nearly invisible.

Silver neckbands

Wide silver neckbands are similar to necklaces in the West, but they are rigid and have many pendants hanging down from them. The neckbands vary in different Miao areas.  A dragon silver neckband features two dragons playing with a ball and has 11 different ornaments hanging from it. Another kind of neckband has about 14 connected silver rings, with some silver flowers or birds falling from each ring.

Silver bracelets

The Miao silver bracelets are engraved with the images of flowers, fish, or dragons. Some bracelets have wide, heavy bands that look like the cuffs worn by ancient warriors. Miao women often have 4 or 5 pairs of silver bracelets around their wrists at one time, sometimes even more during holidays.

Silver rings

A Miao silver ring is usually quite small and has fine pieces of silver bent and shaped into flowers, birds, or plants. In some areas, Miao women wear rings on all eight of their fingers, keeping only their thumbs free. Some rings are half the length of their fingers.

Silver garments

Tiny silver slices or threads are commonly woven into the fabric of Miao clothing. About 40 main silver pieces can be used, all of which are in round or square shape.When put on a silver clothes, the beautiful light shines with the Miao walking.

Each piece is engraved with amazing patterns such as phoenix, tigers, lions, butterflies, and flowers.

Also, sometimes as many as 60 silver bells can hang from the garments, which make beautiful sounds and add to the overall look.

Silver waistbands

A silver waistband features hundreds of silver images of Bodhisattvas sewn on a piece of cloth. The Miao wear it around their waist, and the images shine beautifully when the Miao walk or dance.

Silver anklet

Last but not least are small but sturdy silver anklets that clasp above the foot. Silver anklets are usually worn by Miao children to drive away evil spirits.

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