Nomenclature: Miao and Hmong
The term "Miao" gained official status in 1949 as a minzu (nationality) encompassing a group of linguistically related ethnic minorities in southwest China. This was part of a larger effort to identify and classify minority groups to clarify their role in national government, including: establishing areas of autonomous government and allocating the seats for representatives in provincial and national government.
Historically, the term "Miao" had been applied inconsistently to a variety of non-Han peoples. Early Western writers used Chinese-based names in various transcriptions: Miao, Miao-tse, Miao-tsze, Meau, Meo, mo, miao-tseu etc. Some Hmong have claimed that the name "Miao" is derogatory, but this may be a political expedient, as the term is neutral in China, and is used by the Miao themselves. The prominence of Hmong people in the West has led to a situation where the Miao linguistic/cultural family is sometimes referred to as Hmong, despite the fact that they are only one a small sub-group contained in the classification. Following the recent increased interaction of Hmong in the West with Miao in China, it is reported that some non-Hmong Miao have even begun to identify themselves as Hmong. However, most Miao are unfamiliar with the term, and continue to use "Miao".
Though the Miao themselves use various self-designations, the Chinese traditionally classified them according to the most characteristic colour of the women's clothes. The list below contains some of the self-designations, the colour designations and the main regions inhabited by the four major groups of Miao in China:
- Ghao Xong; Red Miao; west Hunan
- Hmu, Gha Ne (Ka Nao); Black Miao; southeast Guizhou
- A-Hmao; Big Flowery Miao; northwest Guizhou and northeast Yunnan
- Gha-Mu, Hmong, White Miao, Mong, Green (Blue) Miao, Small Flowery Miao; south Sichuan, west Guizhou and south Yunnan
Read more about this topic: Miao People