History of the Hmong people | Hmoob | Miao (Short Documentary Film)

Summary

The history of the Mong people is complex and intertwined with migration, warfare, and resilience. Originating possibly in Mesopotamia, the Mong people lived alongside the Han Chinese around 2700 BC, led by the warrior chief Chiu. After a major defeat, the Mong formed the kingdom of Sanow, which eventually fell under Chinese rule. Over centuries, the Mong were subjected to repression, their language and culture nearly eradicated. Many fled to Southeast Asia, where they became involved in the Vietnam War, aiding the U.S. against communist forces. Today, the Mong continue to preserve their culture and language as a dispersed global community.

Takeaways

• 😀 The origin of the Mong people is uncertain, with some scholars suggesting they originated in the Mesopotamia region before migrating to northern China.
• 😀 Many believe that the Mong people lived alongside the Han Chinese in China around 2,700 BC, under the leadership of the legendary warrior chief, Chiu.
• 😀 Chiu was captured and executed in 2704 BC, his body being divided into three pieces and buried in separate mounds to prevent the Mong people from reuniting.
• 😀 A thousand years after Chiu's death, the Mong people formed a kingdom called Sanow, but were later defeated by the Han Chinese.
• 😀 Following their defeat, the Mong people dispersed and migrated southward, particularly to the lower reaches of the Yellow River and Yunnan province.
• 😀 Between 704 and 223 BC, the great Mong Kingdom of Chu existed in Yunnan, but after a prolonged war, it fell under Chinese rule, leading to the destruction of Mong books and punishment for using the Mong language.
• 😀 The ancient Mong people were said to have blonde hair and blue eyes, which made them easily identifiable and targeted for execution during Chinese rule.
• 😀 Mong history was preserved in pictorial quilts known as 'panda.'
• 😀 In 1615 AD, China began constructing a 100-meter-long Great Wall in western Hunan, known as the Southern Great Wall, to block Mong rebellion.
• 😀 Many Mong people migrated to Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Burma) seeking refuge from Chinese rule, and the term 'Mong' means 'free people' according to Dr. Yang Da.
• 😀 During the Vietnam War, the CIA recruited the Mong people to fight against the communist forces, and they became skilled in guerilla warfare. After the fall of Vietnam and Laos in 1975, many Mong people were targeted for genocide, while others fled to refugee camps in Thailand and resettled in countries around the world, including the United States, Australia, and Europe.

Q & A

Where is the origin of the Mong people believed to be from?

The origin of the Mong people is unclear, but one scholar suggested that they originated from the Mesopotamia region and gradually migrated to the Heppe province in northern China.

What is the significance of Chiu in Mong history?

Chiu, a legendary warrior chief, is significant as he led the Mong people during their early history. He was captured in 2704 BC after a major battle and was executed, with his body cut into three pieces and buried in separate mounds to prevent the Mong people from reuniting.

How did the Mong people interact with the Han Chinese during ancient times?

Many scholars believe that over 5,000 years ago, the Mong people coexisted with the Han Chinese. A battle occurred between different Mong groups and the Han Chinese, leading to the eventual merging of two Mong groups into the modern-day Han Chinese.

What was the outcome of the Mong Kingdom of Chu?

The Mong Kingdom of Chu, which existed between 704 and 223 BC in Yunnan, fell to Chinese rule after a 200-year war. Following its collapse, all Mong books were burned, and speaking the Mong language became punishable by death.

How were the Mong people identified during ancient times?

The Mong people of ancient times were said to have blonde hair and blue eyes, which made them easily identifiable by others, leading to their persecution and extermination.

What role did the Great Wall play in Mong history?

In 1615 AD, the Chinese began constructing the Southern Great Wall in Hunan to block Mong rebellion, which was a part of their ongoing efforts to control the Mong people and prevent further uprisings.

What was the significance of the term 'Mong' and 'Mayo' during the Vietnam War?

The term 'Mong' means 'free people' in their language. Before the Vietnam War, they were often called 'Mayo' or 'Meo,' with the term 'Meo' meaning 'barbarians' or 'sons of the soil.'

What was the involvement of the Mong people in the Vietnam War?

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency recruited the Mong people to fight against the communist army. They were trained in guerrilla warfare and had specific objectives such as blocking the Ho Chi Minh Trail, rescuing American pilots, and defending radar stations.

What happened to the Mong people after the fall of Laos in 1975?

After the collapse of Laos in 1975, the North Vietnamese Army, in alliance with the Pathet Lao, overthrew the existing government. Many Mong people were forced into labor camps, and those who resisted were targeted for genocide.

Where did many Mong people migrate after the war and genocide?

Following the war and the genocide, many Mong people fled to Thailand, seeking refuge in camps. Eventually, they were resettled in third countries, including the United States, Australia, Europe, and South America, where they continue to preserve their culture, language, and customs.