I heard that Miao silver ornaments have different meanings. Can someone tell me something about it?

Throughout the Miao silver ornaments, we will find butterflies of different sizes and shapes, whether it is headdress, chest and neck ornaments, hand ornaments, clothing back ornaments or waist ornaments, whether in the overall shape or in the detailed patterns. In the eyes of Miao people, butterfly is the ancestor of all things and is affectionately called "mother butterfly". Legend has it that long ago, butterflies and blisters "wandered" (fell in love). Later, Mother Butterfly laid twelve eggs and hatched twelve brothers, including Jiang Yang, Dragon, Tiger, Buffalo, Snake, Centipede and Lei. Jiang Yang is the ancestor of Miao nationality, so "Butterfly" is the ancestor. Miao people worship her and integrate her into their favorite silver ornaments in order to protect the peace of the village, the reproduction of future generations and the bumper harvest of grains.

Fish is also a symbol of women in Miao family, because its shape, lubrication and fertility are all metaphors and expressions of women. Fish pattern is a common pattern of Miao silverware, because in the concept of Miao family, fish is a very fertile creature, which is an auspicious symbol of their fertility. Miao people carve fish on silver ornaments, hoping that people will prosper, have many children and be blessed for generations to come.

Another common pattern in Miao silver ornaments is dragon pattern. According to legend, people in Miao areas have a strange disease that cannot be cured with various drugs. The two-headed dragon, the protector there, couldn't bear to see the people suffer, so he prayed to the gods and was willing to lay down his life to save people. When he got the answer from the gods, the two-headed dragon flew up and jumped out of the bottomless "Oumen Youjing". In the evening, the two-headed dragon had a dream. The next day, he bathed in the water in the well and recovered from his illness. After people did it, they really got better. To commemorate the double-headed dragon, the Miao people carved it on silver ornaments and wore it with them. In addition, the dragon is one of the life hatched from twelve eggs laid by mother butterfly, symbolizing good luck, wealth and strength.

Miao people are a brave and intelligent people. In ancient wars, it is said that Miao ancestors dressed their headdresses with water horns in order to resist the invasion of foreign enemies, so as to make themselves look more powerful and dignified, so as to deter the enemy. Later, this practice really played a role in winning the war for the Miao ancestors. Since then, this decoration custom has been inherited. The big silver horn worn by the Miao nationality in Leishan looks like a buffalo horn. The horn is very long, and it is very high on the head.