Before the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), there were varieties of costumes of Miao ethnic group. For the Miao people, “With his belly unrevealed, the lads might be unreliable; without prominence of her breast, the lassies might be immature. Miao lads from Shiyangshao, Yankoushan, Jinhe, Chaxi, Guogongping, and other places wear large breasted short clothes and wide legged pants, with a handkerchief wrapped around their heads, and a belt with embroidered ribbons at the waist. This outfit exudes a handsome and unrestrained demeanor. Miao lassies have hair tied in buns, with black handkerchiefs wrapped around the heads, layer by layer, adorned with floral attire, earrings, and necklaces. They wear sleeves and shoulder loops, with floral patterns in a large front. They wear a pleated floral skirt that is knee length, tied with a floral apron at the waist, and two pairs of floral streamers at the back, all aligned with the skirt. The legs are wrapped in floral leggings. Dressed in this way, it resembles Kuanyin.

During the Republic of China period (1912-1949), Miao costume was simplified. In places of such towns as Shiyang Shao and Jinhe, some Miao lads wore green cloth around their heads, some changed to dog hats, and some wore leather belts. Lassies wore skirts but not pleated ones. Some changed their skirts to pants, some wore earrings without necklaces, some tied aprons without floral ribbons, some kept long hair without buns, and few people had black handkerchiefs wrapped in layers. At that time, jackets, Sun Yat-Sen suits, and student uniforms were popular, with the fabric mainly in black, blue, and gray. Rich lassies or privileged women wore cheongsam.

After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (1949), great changes took place in the society, and Miao people started to step out of the mountains and into cities. Some entered into government, some joined the military, some were admitted to vocational colleges, and some worked on business. Comparing Miao costume with Han’s, they favored the latter for its convenience in labor, production, and other physical activities. In the 1850s and 1970s, Leninist suits, Sun Yat-Sen suits, and military casual clothing were popular. With a decrease of double-breasted costume, it started the trend of wearing liberation shoes. In the 1980s and 1990s, there was an increase in styles, including Sun Yat-Sen suits, suits, hunting suits, coaching suits, woolen coats, synthetic leather jackets, bell bottoms, straight legged pants, prince pants, and denim skirts. Lassies’ clothing is particularly colorful, with short, long, windbreaker, overcoat, flared skirt, tube skirt, triangle skirt, pleated skirt, ultra short skirt, set skirt, and cheongsam popular. Since the 1990s, eiderdown clothes have emerged and jeans have been thriving for ever. Lads prefer to wear suits and casual clothes. Lassies tend to wear leather jackets and woolen overcoats. Nevertheless, on major holidays, Miao costumes are still a popular choice.

(Translated by Tian Xia)