Miao traditional patterns: the origins and design transformation

This work explores Miao’s decorative art. The relevance of the study stems from the fact that artefacts produced by Miao people have high aesthetic and cultural values, whereas decorative patterns covering their surface have meanings, which transform over time. Research objects are from the Palace Museum in Beijing. Various research methods were used to determine the visually encoded meaning of Miao ornaments within the context of philosophy, mythology and ethnic religion. This study answers questions about the evolution of Miao decorative patterns and offers a thoughtful overview of risks and prospects of today’s Miao culture.