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| Figure 1: Nüshu script (Source: CPA Mediat Pte Ltd/Alamy) |
For this closing post of March, of which all posts have been dedicated to Women (in appreciation of Women’s History Month), I want to discuss an aspect of China’s language and culture that you may not be aware of: Nüshu. This language is technically extinct (as it no longer has any native speakers) but is being revitalized through active participation by various Chinese women, under the sponsorship of the Chinese government. This post will address the history, purpose, and cultural significance of the Nüshu language.
Nüshu translates in Chinese to “women’s script”. It is just that-a written and possibly previously spoken language that was created and exclusively used by women in the Hunan province of China. It is believed to have started in the AD 900 and eventually peaked in use between 1644-1911 (during the Qing Dynasty). It was created by women for the purpose of discussing topics that they were forbidden to discuss openly, allowing them the freedom to express their thoughts without fear of repercussions. It was used largely among illiterate women, and it was taught and passed down from mother to daughter. It was also used among close knit groups of women who called themselves “sworn sisters”, a fictive kin network where three to four women swore allegiance to each other and provided support in both good and bad times.
Nüshu is a phonetic script that is read from right to left (a common characteristic of many Asian languages). It is written with sharp bamboo sticks, typically on paper for letters and journals and on fans, but it was also widely embroidered on clothing, belts, and handkerchiefs. The script is an elongated style with curved, thin strokes. The script is so fine in detail that it is often referred to as “mosquito writing,” a designation used to characterize the stylized script.
Women would use this script to communicate in secret amongst themselves, speaking about topics, such as domestic troubles or financial woes, that were considered taboo to discuss among others (or even within families). This script was therefore an outlet for women to express themselves freely in times when they were otherwise not allowed to. Women also used Nüshu to compose their own autobiographies or have their daughters compose them on their behalf. These writings, unfortunately, were often buried with the decedent and are not available to this day. There are, however, some early artifacts with Nüshu script present on them, which allows scholars the opportunity to study the length of time Nüshu was used.
Nüshu was unknown outside of the Hunan province until the mid-1900s. This was when Zhou Shuoyi learned about the language through an aunt who moved to a village where Nüshu was widely used. He began studying it, but his work was halted when the Cultural Revolution of China occurred in the 1960s. At that time the new leadership banned his studies, as well as destroyed his work. They also destroyed much of the early evidence of Nüshu due to its ties and representations of Imperial Chinese culture.
Despite these efforts, Nüshu remained in existence among a few women, allowing it to be rediscovered by Cathy Silber in 1986. She began studying the language, as well as brought world wide attention to it. Between her and Shuoyi’s efforts the language has begun to be revitalized. In the early 2000s the Chinese government sponsored and opened a series of museums and schools to teach Nüshu to interested individuals, who are largely women. This effort may very well have saved the language since the last native speaker passed away a few years later (as did Shuoyi). Today the language is being studied and passed on through a new generation of Nüshu users, and hopefully the revitalization movement will lead to a new renaissance of Nüshu use throughout China.
Works Cited
Endangered Alphabets Project. "Nushu." 2018. Atlas of Endangered Alphabets. Electronic. 15 December 2020.
Lofthouse, Andrew. "Nüshu: China's Secret Female-Only Language." 1 October 2020. BBC. Electronic. 15 December 2020.
Xiaorong, Chen. "Nüshu: from tears to sunshine." 2018. The UNESCO Courier. Electronic. 15 December 2020.
13 comments:
This is very interesting. It shows that women have been treated a certain way for a long time. This kind of reminds me of how slaves made up songs etc. to communicate with each other so they didn't get caught.
I had never heard of Nüshu until reading this post. The first thing that stood out to me was the fact that the language is read from right to left, and apparently that is common in many Asian languages which I also did not know. I love the idea of an women's-only language. They used language to communicate with one another and express domestic and financial hardships, without being fearful. The most interesting thing about this is the fact that mothers used the language to write autobiographies for their daughter to write on their behalf, with the scripture actually buried with them.
This post is so intriguing and inspiring to women. I applaud the Chinese women for outsmarting and finding loopholes to communicate in their own subculture. I also love the "sworn sister" bond, it remind me of siblings and true kinship built through language. - kennedy thompson
As someone with an avid interest in languages, I find this absolutely fascinating. I love the idea of having a language that only women participate in. I will have to look into this more!
As I was reading this article, I’ve never heard of Nüshu. It’s really cool to me how the women came up with there own language to communicate. I like this idea because they were safe to talk about anything in that language because only women knew that language. One question that I do have is “I wonder is that language still being used today.” As I was reading this article it sounds like the Nüshu language is like a secret code that only women know. I like the fact that all the women keep each other in the loop. Also, I like how they support each other through good and bad times.
AJ Moore
As a woman I love the fact that they had a language specifically for women. Us as women everywhere should possibly learn it could be great for when a woman may be in danger.
-Jasmine Hill
Reading this article shows how women were treated they were forbidden to talk about certain topics among one another.I wonder does anyone use this language still and if so would they be willing to teach other women this language.-FE
I found it interesting how the language was created as a safe place for women to express themselves as they wish. I find it similar to the code words we as kids would create when we were younger to say things we knew our parents would not approve of.
-Jayla Templeton
When I saw the headline, it said women's only language, and I was startled to learn that China had a language only for women. According to the blog, women invented the language to be open and free, and I like that notion since it is to be unique and be safe.
-Hiba A.
This is an interesting langueage due to the passing down of mohter to daughter and the idea that it was used for illiterate women. Emboidering and other ideas also have strokes and scripts that would help in the financial and expressing themselves.
Qwynn Marquez
I have never heard of this practice, but I think it is a clever idea for women to come up with a discrete way to talk to one another about the things they were forbidden to voice. I also think that it is great that the women had their own unique way to speak amongst their gender. This practice not only was passed on through the generations, but I think it allowed women to become closer to one another since this form of communication could only be understood by the female gender. It is sad that this is no longer practiced amongst this culture, even if it is not to talk about specific things, I just found the secretive practice to be interesting and something that all women of the culture experience.
McKenzie Williams
Coming from an African American woman, I love that they have a language for dedicated to women. This would be a great secret language for women to know and learn for eachother, as a code.
- Jada Watkins
The post highlights how Nüshu, a written language used only by women in Hunan, reveals the gender dynamics and cultural practices of this society. It emphasizes how crucial language is for underprivileged communities to express themselves and gain empowerment. Also, it does a good job of explaining how Nüshu was created to allow women to talk about subjects they were not allowed to openly confront. This background knowledge deepens our comprehension of how language helps women in patriarchal settings communicate and stand together.
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