Miao

/ˈmiːaʊ/ noun

Definition

An ethnic group and language primarily found in southern China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos; also spelled 'Hmong.'

Etymology

From the Miao/Hmong language itself; the term 'Hmong' is the group's preferred endonym (what they call themselves), while 'Miao' is a Chinese exonym (what outsiders called them).

Kelly Says

The Miao people have an incredible textile tradition with patterns so complex they represent a form of visual language—some anthropologists believe the designs contain encoded stories and genealogies!

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