A few years ago, at a bustling temple fair in Beijing, I was fortunate enough to witness the singing and dancing feast of the Flower Waist Yi. At that moment, I was deeply attracted by their moving songs, graceful dance moves, and stunning costumes. The clothing of the flower waist Yi women is like a flowing artistic painting, cleverly matched with more than ten exquisite accessories, each part emitting endless charm and charm.
This set of clothing carries a profound historical heritage, with its origins dating back to the war robes and armor of ancient warriors, and is therefore still affectionately referred to as the “armor suit” to this day. From a distance, it not only retains the outline and momentum of ancient armor, but also centers around “flowers”, embroidered with intricate and delicate patterns, colorful flower clusters, and dazzling bead chains, making it unforgettable at first glance.
Huayao Yi, a unique ethnic group living in the high-altitude mountainous area of Shiping County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, is renowned for its unique clothing culture. Especially for women’s clothing, it is a masterpiece that combines craftsmanship and aesthetics. The birth of every piece of clothing is the crystallization of the diligence and wisdom of the flower waist Yi women, often requiring years of careful carving. They started learning embroidery skills from a young age, from simple patterns to complex flower stacking and pasting. Each technique requires repeated practice to become proficient.
The clothing structure of the Flower Waist Yi women is complex and exquisite, consisting of multiple components such as headbands, large skirts, shoulder rests, collar hangers, waist scarves, waistbands, bellybands, embroidered shoes, etc. Each piece carries a unique aesthetic and meaning. The headwear is particularly eye-catching, decorated with colorful scarves, wool, and silver bubbles. The main pattern is the Da Ma cherry blossom, surrounded by exquisite lace. As you walk, the silver tassels on the brim and shoulder peaks sway in the wind, like colorful butterflies dancing gracefully.
Exploring the cultural ecology and aesthetic psychology behind the floral waisted Yi costumes, it is not difficult to find that all of this stems from their love and longing for the beauty of nature. The Huayao Yi people, who live among the green mountains and clear waters, bathe in the unbeatable flowers of the four seasons all year round. This natural beauty inspires their pursuit and creation of beauty. So, they incorporated the most brilliant flowers and vibrant colors into their clothing, making themselves feel as if they were in an eternal sea of flowers.
During traditional festivals, social gatherings, or markets, flower waisted Yi women wear this carefully prepared and gorgeous outfit, becoming the focus of attention. Their figures are like blooming red azaleas in the mountains, adding endless joy and happiness to the festival. Nowadays, flower waist Yi clothing is not only widely praised in China, but also attracts experts and scholars from countries such as the United States and Japan to visit and study. The National Museum of the United States even collects some exquisite flower waist Yi embroidery, which shows its high artistic value.
