Mo Mie: The Temperature of Intangible Cultural Heritage Hidden in Zhuang Textiles

In the cultural river of the Zhuang ethnic group in Guangxi, there is a unique existence that uses cloth as language and needlework as words to convey blessings for thousands of years —— it is the "Mo Mie", an intangible cultural heritage of the Zhuang ethnic group.

"Mo Mie" is a highly distinctive handmade artwork in the Zhuang region of Guangxi. As a national - level intangible cultural heritage, it carries the historical memories and cultural genes of the Zhuang ethnic group. In terms of appearance, it mostly uses brightly - colored and gorgeous Zhuang brocade as the fabric. Through cutting, splicing, and sewing, it is shaped into a cute form, commonly like a gourd, implying good fortune and prosperity. Its pronunciation (mó miè) in the Zhuang language is inherently full of the meaning of "peace and good luck", and it is a cultural symbol for the Zhuang people to place their beautiful visions. From the ancient scenes of sacrifices and prayers to the current daily life decorations, "Mo Mie" has always accompanied the passage of time for the Zhuang people with a warm posture.

At first sight of this sachet pendant, the blue - and - white interwoven patterns are like the ripples of the Lijiang River, spreading out in front of the eyes, instantly making people fall into the gentle embrace of Zhuang culture. The craftsmen select the characteristic brocade fabrics of the Zhuang ethnic group. The raw materials of these brocades mostly come from natural dyestuff plants and high - quality silk produced locally. Through traditional dyeing and weaving techniques, they are woven into colorful and layered patterns. Between the interweaving of warps and wefts, there are hidden pattern codes passed down from generation to generation: those geometric patterns are the observations and abstractions of the ancient Zhuang people on the heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers, and the crystallization of their wisdom in understanding and conforming to nature; the main colors of blue and white are just like the clarity and tranquility of Guilin's landscapes, condensing the spiritual charm of Guangxi's landscapes onto a piece of cloth. Subsequently, the cloth is cut, folded, and sewn into a cute shape, and then filled with natural spices such as wormwood and eupatorium collected from the local mountains and fields. Thus, a "Mo Mie" has a soul —— it is not only a sachet that can repel mosquitoes and ward off filth in summer and retain a faint fragrance in winter, but also a token carrying the profound blessings of the Zhuang people for their relatives and friends to "be safe and smooth".

The process of making "Mo Mie" is a dialogue with tradition. Zhuang women sit around together. The sunlight shines through the window lattice onto their hands, which are full of calluses but extremely dexterous. Their fingers are as agile as butterflies. When threading needles and sewing, they sew the cares for their families and the expectations for life into the dense stitches. From the strict selection of the texture and color of the brocade during material selection, to the precise cutting according to the traditional shape proportions during cutting, and then to the careful operation to make the cloth perfectly formed during sewing, each step follows the ancient methods. There is no cold replication by machines, only the transmission of the temperature from the palms. This makes "Mo Mie" transcend the category of ordinary handicrafts and become a microcosm of the living inheritance of the Zhuang intangible cultural heritage. In each pattern, the history and aesthetics of the Zhuang ethnic group are alive, and each shuttle of the needle and thread is a vivid footnote for cultural inheritance.

Hang "Mo Mie" on a bag, and as you walk, the patterns of the brocade gently sway with your steps, as if telling ancient stories; fasten it in a car, and the faint fragrance of wormwood will fill the carriage, dispelling the fatigue and boredom of the journey; or give it as a gift to send the unique charm and sincere blessings of Zhuang culture to relatives and friends far away. It makes us see that intangible cultural heritage is not a cold specimen in a museum, but a life aesthetics that can be put in a pocket, hung by the side, and integrated into daily life. In the current fast - paced era, "Mo Mie" reminds us in the softest way —— those traditions polished by time always carry temperature, carrying the Zhuang people's love for life and reverence for nature, waiting for us to touch and inherit.

May this small "Mo Mie" become a connection point between you and the Zhuang intangible cultural heritage. When you smell the fragrance of wormwood, may you think of the landscapes of Guangxi, the ingenuity of the Zhuang people, and those warm scenes of sitting around and sewing. Let the light of intangible cultural heritage shine brightly in daily life, and let the unique charm of Zhuang culture cross mountains and seas, and be known and cherished by more people.