Nüshu | the secret language of sworn sisters
Four thousand years ago, in Jiangyong County, Hunan Province, China — women created a language they shared in secret.
It was here, hidden amongst the rocky slopes and rural river villages where Nüshu was born: the only writing system in the world created and used exclusively by women.
Meaning women’s script in Chinese, rose to prominence enabling the ethnic Han, Yao and who live here a freedom of expression not often found in many communities of the time.
Some experts believe the female-only language dates to the Song dynasty (960–1279) or even the Shang Dynasty more than 3,000 years ago. The script was passed down from peasant mothers to their daughters and practiced among sisters and friends in feudal-society China during a time when women were considered inferior, denied education, and often abused.
Many of these women were illiterate and to learn Nüshu they would simply practice copying the script as they saw it. Over time, Nüshu gave rise to a distinct female culture that was only revealed to the outside world in 1980 and still exists today. It was Zhou Shuoyi, who tirelessly translated it and created the first dictionary in 2003.
Chinese composer Tan Dun created a multimedia symphony entitled “Nu Shu: The Secret Songs of Women” for harp, orchestra, and thirteen microfilms. Tan Dun spent five years conducting field research in Hunan Province, documenting on film the various songs the women use to communicate.
Read about it in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, the 2005 novel by Lisa See, which was adapted in film with the same title, starring Hugh Jackman.
Here at wonder | wander| women we honor our female ancestors — our brave Asian elders and women of substance.
Originally published at https://wonderwanderwomen.blogspot.com.
