Hmong Traditional Story Telling - See An Original in Our Room!

This article was written by Kou Vang, ELL Family Outreach Liaison for the Minneapolis Public Schools.

This article is about Manichan Xiong, the first Hmong woman to create the Hmong story cloth in Ban Vinai, Thailand. The reasons behind the story cloth were created because of her life at the time. She came to Thailand in 1976 and was settled in Ban Vinai Camp. Her family struggled with many things in their lives such as food, shelter, clothing, and work. Her husband went back to Laos to help the refugees who were left behind. She was alone providing for her children. She was at a stage in her life that was very sad that she couldn’t read or write, she wasn’t educated enough to provide for her families and children. She felt helpless. Then they got to know one of the Thai Native men named David who helped them with ideas how to make some money. He helped them built a little shelter in Camp Ban Vinai to do some sewing (Paj Ntaub) to sell in Bangkok, Thailand then later on was sent to sell in the United State.

She thought of an idea that since she couldn’t read or write she would tell the Hmong stories (their lives) by sewing on a cloth that will tell how Hmong people lived, why and how they escaped the war from Laos to Thailand, then finally came to America. While living in the Vinai camp, she tried very hard to learn Hmong written language everyday and she did learn to read and write Hmong Languages later on. She was able to write a letter to her relatives who lived in the United States and it made her very happy because her relatives sent her $100.00. She lived in Vinai camp for many years and sewed many story cloths (Paj Ntaub) to sell over many countries such as in United State, Australia, France, and Thailand. She built a very good business helping her family, her friends, her neighbors, and her communities. She didn’t come to America until they closed camp Ban Vinai.

The History of Hmong Story Cloth

[...]In addition to oral storytelling, textiles are another form of Hmong art. Paj Nataub (flower cloth) is the best-known art form. It is very elaborate embroidery that serves many purposes throughout Hmong culture. For example, when a baby is first born, he is considered very fragile and a cap is given for a baby to wear. Many believe when the spirits see the designs they will think they are flowers and they will leave the baby alone. Its beauty also serves to intrigue the baby and keep its spirit from wandering. “The Hmong believe if the spirit stays with you, you are not going to be sick, but if the spirit wanders away, you are going to be sick.”

Today, use of Paj Nataub is widespread. In addition to traditional uses, it can now be found in such items as purses, water bottle holders, baby carriers and bookmarks. Sadly, however, the art form is being lost as in the United States it is rare for moms or grandmothers to pass on this art form due to it being very time consuming and few youth having an interest in learning the craft. Luckily, according to Seexeng, there are still some programs such as Concordia Hmong Culture and Language program along and few other school programs out there still trying to teach it to young Hmong girls.

”It has been practiced for centuries and passed down from mother to daughter . . beginning as early as 4 years old.” He shared various types of textile arts including weaving (basket making) and skirt making. The making of a traditional skirt takes about one year to complete, so it is easier for Hmong living in the United States to order traditional dresses and costumes from Laos, Vietnam or Thailand. Fewer and fewer are made by Hmong in the United States, he admitted[...]