"People of the Horn"

Changjiao Miao people live in the mountains 2,000 meters above sea level in 12 villages located close to each other with a total population of 4,000. On a typical day, the women simply wrap their hair behind their head around a sharp-ended wooden board. They wear the long horns only on holidays and during festivals, together with the decorative hair bun made of linen, wool and small amounts of ancestral hair. They first fix the horns with their real hair and then wrap the "decorative hair" around a wooden frame into the shape of a horizontal "8" and tie it to the horns with a piece of white cord. The heavy ornament places extra strain on their neck and waist, leading to their typical walking posture. The hair bun can weigh up to 2 kilograms. The most precious dowry gift a mother can give to her daughter is ancestral hair. The reason for the horn is still unclear. A village elder told me that both men and women at one time wore real buffalo horns. He said it was used as a form of camouflage while they were hunting.

Window Light

Window Light

Playing with mirrors

Playing with mirrors

Thanks for the bear

Thanks for the bear

Mirror and Bear

Mirror and Bear

System of writing

System of writing

Changjiao records

Changjiao records

Bedroom playtime

Bedroom playtime

Too bright

Too bright

Nine Year Old "Duku"

Nine Year Old "Duku"

Hand held mirror

Hand held mirror

Language barrier

Language barrier

Longhorn Ladies Sewing

Longhorn Ladies Sewing

Young girl

Young girl

Smile

Smile

Window Light

Window Light

Mirror Image

Mirror Image

Teenage smile

Teenage smile

Drinking water

Drinking water

Tooth enamel

Tooth enamel

Changjiao Miao

Changjiao Miao