One of the ancient peoples of China are the Miao. More than half of them live in the Province of Guizhou, 20% in Hunan and in Yunnan, and smaller amounts in Guangxi, Hubei, and Hainan Island. The origin of its name is reflected in Chinese history books from the earliest times.
According to historians, the mythologies of the Miao themselves are the cause of their origin as a name and a people. The Miao are related to the Nine Lys of ancient times. And according to his legend, Chi You, his ancestor, was the lord of the Miaos 5.000 years ago, when he fought with another tribal group led by Huang Di (the Yellow Emperor, ancestor of the Chinese). Defeated, from the Yellow River basin the population withdrew to southern China.
And as a people, the Miao have their own language that is spoken throughout Southeast Asia. This language had its own written alphabet that has been lost over time. The chronicles tell that the first Miao in China date back to the Chiyou tribe that inhabited the central plains in ancient times.
Later, during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the Miao settled on the banks of the Yangzi River, then moved to the southernmost areas of China, also settling in neighboring Vietnam and Laos.
And on their locations, they live in mountainous areas and their homes are usually built on pillars, allocating the lower part for animals. In other areas such as Yunan, houses are built with woven and linked branches or with bamboo and mud.
Regarding their population, we can tell you that in terms of clothing they use jackets with brightly colored drawings accompanied by blankets with geometric drawings. You will notice that female dress changes between different towns. In Hunan and Guizhou, they wear colored jackets buttoned at the sides and complement their clothing with silver jewelry.
