By Julia Cao
(Image: A poem written in Jiangyong Nüshū)
What is Nüshū? Is it Chinese?
Yes and yes.
Nüshū, literally means “woman’s writing” in Chinese. It is a script created by women and used exclusively by women. It is the ONLY women's script in the world.
This female script was a code invented by women during feudal society, in Jiangyong county, Hunan province, mainly used for recording events and self-expression.
At that time, local women were not allowed to learn Chinese characters like men, so they invented their own script to record sisterhood pledges, marriage and family, social interactions, private complaints, local anecdotes, and song riddles.
Manifestations of the written Nushu script have been discovered adorning aesthetically pleasing and color-rich hand fans and handkerchiefs, as well as in booklets boasting gorgeous floral designs. These Nushu writings delved into an array of topics, with the notable exception of finance, hinting at an aspect of daily societal life that remained inaccessible to women.
Hu Xin, born in 1988, is the fourth generation inheritor of Jiangyong Nüshu and the youngest among the current Nüshū inheritors. She once said that Nüshū is not just a script, but also a song - Nüshū words, Nüshū songs, Nüshū embroidery, and the folklore they pass down constitute a rich and three-dimensional Nüshū cultural space. It is private, delicate, romantic, and also sad.
Nüshū has 396 basic characters, which have been included in the international standard character set. The skim strokes and narrow shape of the characters seem to transfer a feeling of repression, helplessness, and humility -- feelings that the women experienced at that time, but it also shows gentleness, tenacity, wisdom, and unity of those women.
In 2006, Nüshū was listed as the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage. The origin of Nüshū can't be definitively traced, but documents show that it was prevalent in Jiangyong during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Nüshū in contemporary art and fashion:
👗 Liu Wen, Chinese supermodel and brand ambassador for PUMA, launched a personalised fashion joint series with PUMA in 2020. The LOGO of this joint series is written in Nüshū script, promoting the spread of Nüshu culture on the world fashion stage. She was born in Hunan -- the birthplace of Nüshū.
📖 "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan", a novel based on Nüshū, written by Chinese-American author Lisa See , depicting a story in rural Puwei, Hunan, China -- Lily is bonded with Snow Flower, a girl from Tongkou, in a 'laotong' relationship. This bond, stronger than marriage, prioritizes emotional companionship and loyalty. Unlike a marriage aimed to produce sons, a 'laotong' is chosen, beginning in childhood and continuing into motherhood. It was later adapted into a film.
🎞️ "Hidden Letters" -- directed by Du Feng, this documentary narrates the journey of two Chinese women striving to maintain their independence in contemporary China, amidst the struggles posed by traditional norms that both shape and suppress them. United by their affinity for Nüshū, they each evolve during a crucial phase in their lives, moving a step forward towards realising their individual potential.
Commercialisation of " Nüshū" on Global Level
As it becomes increasingly known and societal attention to women's issues grows, Nüshū has turned into a symbol frequently 'borrowed' by more and more organisations and businesses. They either develop related merchandise or link their brand story with it, thus enhancing their brand value. For instance,
- a small business in Barcelona, featuring female hygiene products, has adapted "Nushu" as its brand;
- a club for female business only named as "Nushu Female Business" was created in Munich and has more than 20k followers on Linkedin;
- a community, named as "Nushu" that focuses on fostering connections grounded in wellness and empowerment was founded in New York.
And the list goes on.
Back Home in China
Young female artists who are passionate about researching Nüshū, have been creating related content on social media, attracting a large number of young female fans.
They also collaborate with some female entrepreneurs, creating a series of merchandise such as tattoo stickers, eco-bags, and customised T-shirts, which have been well-received in the market.
Recently, some designers have begun to explore incorporating Nüshū into jewellery design.
(Image: Ear piercing design inspired by Nüshū characters -- Rebel)
We are delighted to see female artists and entrepreneurs from around the world interpreting Nüshū in different ways. We hope to one day bring Nüshū-related jewellery, decorations, and artworks to interested individuals worldwide.