Part 1: Introduction to Chinese Ethnic Minorities with Mei-yin Lee (李美賢) (in Cantonese)

In connection with the current exhibition Embroidered Identities: Ornately Decorated Textiles and Accessories of Chinese Ethnic Minorities, collector Mei-yin Lee will present two talks to enrich the viewer’s understanding and appreciation of the colourful dresses and accessories of this exhibit.

In ancient times, the Han people regarded tribal groups living outside of Central China as barbarians. Who were they? In this first talk, Lee will give an introduction about their history and culture, and how they relate to the present day ethnic minority groups in China.

中國民族概論

你聽過古時居住在中原華夏族四週的東夷、南蠻、西戎、北狄嗎？ 他們是什麼民族？ 與現今的少數民族有什麼關係？李美賢女士這個講座會給你答案。

About the Exhibition

Supported by the Museum Society to commemorate the Society’s 25th and the Museum’s 60th anniversaries, the exhibition demonstrates the wealth of colours, techniques and styles found in the on-going traditions of Chinese minority groups. Elaborately embroidered costumes and baby carriers, most of which originate from the Miao, Dong, Shui and Zhuang ethnic tribes of the south-western Chinese provinces of Guizhou, Yunnan, and Guangxi are decorated with richly coloured, stitched and sewn ornamentations – and sometimes silver applications – indigenous to the particular culture and long-lived traditions they derive from. As some ethnic minorities lack a written script, the symbolism and colour-coding found in their textiles form a visual language that presents an important cultural and anthropological development and heritage still in practice today.