CLARIFYING THE MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE MONG AND THE HMONG
Since 1975, the spelling term “Hmong” has misrepresented and has overshadowed the Mong even though the ethnicity of the two groups consists of the Mong and the Hmong. The Mong and the Hmong have co-existed from time immemorial going back as far as the Mong and the Hmong could remember. There is still a dearth of literature on the Mong available to provide information to the general public about the Mong. The following sections of this article are to provide the much-needed information to debunk the misunderstanding and misconception about the Mong and the Hmong. The misinformation, miseducation and misrepresentation as well as the consequences facing the Mong will be discussed in details, so that the Mong themselves, the general public and service providers will have a true picture of the Mong people.
In the past, the Chinese, their neighbors, and Western scholars had used several terms to refer to the Mong and the Hmong. The term 'Miao,' loosely translated as 'barbarian,' was historically used by the Chinese (Pollard, 1909; Hudspeth, 1939; Bernatzik, 1947; Arlotto, 1972). This term is related to the Annamese word, 'Meau' transliterating for cat. 'Mong-tse' was also used by the Old Chinese historical work Schudjing, which compared the Mong and Hmong 4 languages to the howling or cry of the hyena. Terrien explained the meaning of the Chinese character for 'Meau,' transliterating a cat's head. When agricultural activities are involved, the term 'Meau' in Chinese character, consists of two parts: 'Miao' for 'plant' and the bottom part 'tse' for 'field;' whereas 'tse' is translated as an ethnicity. As a result, 'Meau-tse' means the 'son of the soil, the farmers, who do not belong to the Great Nation.' Schotter referred in the Chinese Kweichow province to designate 'Meau' as all non-Han people (Bernatzik, 1947, p. 7). The Lao and the Thai call the Mong and the Hmong by the term ‘Meo.’ As a consequence, other researchers have used the spelling of 'Meo' as called by their hosts, the Lao and the Thai (Savina, 1924; Barney & Smalley, 1953; Binney, 1968; Haudricourt, 1972). However, all the terms mentioned above have negative connotations. The Mong prefer to be called “Mong” and the Hmong prefer to be called “Hmong” referring themselves as to two classless egalitarian groups.
The Mong and the Hmong are an ethnic minority originated from China. Culturally and linguistically, they are classified into two groups. One group is the “Mong Leng” (Moob Leeg). Westerners also know the Mong Leng as “Blue Mong.” Another group is the “Hmong Der” (Hmoob Dawb). Westerners also know the Hmong Der as “White Hmong.” The Mong Leng always identify themselves as Mong, spelled “M-o-n-g” with the initial “M,” and the Hmong Der always identify themselves as Hmong, spelled “H-m-o-n-g” with the initial “H.” Moreover, the other classification of the Mong and the Hmong (e.g. Black Mong, Striped Hmong, etc.) is based on the colors of their costumes, but linguistically and culturally they all fall under the Mong and the Hmong groups. The Mong speak the Mong language, and likewise the Hmong speak the Hmong language. The Mong and the Hmong languages have co-existed at the same level for centuries. The linguistic difference between the Mong and the Hmong languages may be compared to the difference between the Lao and the Thai languages.
Since 1975, the spelling term “Hmong” has misrepresented and has overshadowed the Mong even though the ethnicity of the two groups consists of the Mong and the Hmong. The Mong and the Hmong have co-existed from time immemorial going back as far as the Mong and the Hmong could remember. There is still a dearth of literature on the Mong available to provide information to the general public about the Mong. The following sections of this article are to provide the much-needed information to debunk the misunderstanding and misconception about the Mong and the Hmong. The misinformation, miseducation and misrepresentation as well as the consequences facing the Mong will be discussed in details, so that the Mong themselves, the general public and service providers will have a true picture of the Mong people.
In the past, the Chinese, their neighbors, and Western scholars had used several terms to refer to the Mong and the Hmong. The term 'Miao,' loosely translated as 'barbarian,' was historically used by the Chinese (Pollard, 1909; Hudspeth, 1939; Bernatzik, 1947; Arlotto, 1972). This term is related to the Annamese word, 'Meau' transliterating for cat. 'Mong-tse' was also used by the Old Chinese historical work Schudjing, which compared the Mong and Hmong 4 languages to the howling or cry of the hyena. Terrien explained the meaning of the Chinese character for 'Meau,' transliterating a cat's head. When agricultural activities are involved, the term 'Meau' in Chinese character, consists of two parts: 'Miao' for 'plant' and the bottom part 'tse' for 'field;' whereas 'tse' is translated as an ethnicity. As a result, 'Meau-tse' means the 'son of the soil, the farmers, who do not belong to the Great Nation.' Schotter referred in the Chinese Kweichow province to designate 'Meau' as all non-Han people (Bernatzik, 1947, p. 7). The Lao and the Thai call the Mong and the Hmong by the term ‘Meo.’ As a consequence, other researchers have used the spelling of 'Meo' as called by their hosts, the Lao and the Thai (Savina, 1924; Barney & Smalley, 1953; Binney, 1968; Haudricourt, 1972). However, all the terms mentioned above have negative connotations. The Mong prefer to be called “Mong” and the Hmong prefer to be called “Hmong” referring themselves as to two classless egalitarian groups.
The Mong and the Hmong are an ethnic minority originated from China. Culturally and linguistically, they are classified into two groups. One group is the “Mong Leng” (Moob Leeg). Westerners also know the Mong Leng as “Blue Mong.” Another group is the “Hmong Der” (Hmoob Dawb). Westerners also know the Hmong Der as “White Hmong.” The Mong Leng always identify themselves as Mong, spelled “M-o-n-g” with the initial “M,” and the Hmong Der always identify themselves as Hmong, spelled “H-m-o-n-g” with the initial “H.” Moreover, the other classification of the Mong and the Hmong (e.g. Black Mong, Striped Hmong, etc.) is based on the colors of their costumes, but linguistically and culturally they all fall under the Mong and the Hmong groups. The Mong speak the Mong language, and likewise the Hmong speak the Hmong language. The Mong and the Hmong languages have co-existed at the same level for centuries. The linguistic difference between the Mong and the Hmong languages may be compared to the difference between the Lao and the Thai languages.
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