“Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.” – Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

By studying and researching a topic, we can gain a deeper understanding and contribute to the advancement of knowledge. Without research, we risk stagnation and a lack of progress in various fields, which is why it is crucial to prioritize and support studies and research efforts.

If you have done research and / or published any works related to the field of Iu Mien Studies, please reach out. I would love to highlight your work.  If you know of any works that should be added below, please advise. 

Here is a short post highlighting one of our visiting scholars from the past, Professor He Hongyi from South-Central University for Nationalities located in Wuhan, China.

Professor He Hongyi and the Iu Mien/Yao Manuscript Collection at the Library of Congress

Iu Mien records and texts are traditionally written in Chinese characters and Iu Mien coined characters unique to our people. “These documents represent a wide spectrum of subjects and genres, consisting of official documents, family and clan genealogy, religious texts, songbooks, information on herbal medicines and exhortative health tips and familial and clan contracts” (He). They provide a wealth of information that requires a team of scholars capable of understanding both Mien and Chinese.  In 2009, Professor He Hongyi (何红一) from South-Central University for Nationalities (中南民族大学) came to the U.S. to sort, collate, and analyze a number of Iu Mien manuscripts owned by the Asian Division of the Library of Congress.  I was present during one of her meetings with our community members and served as an interpreter during the session since the elders in our community who understand and can read the documents cannot directly communicate with Professor He Hongyi and vice versa.  Professor He Hongyi mentioned that there are certain characters in these manuscripts that she does not recognize.  These characters do not exist in the Chinese language as we know it today. Since then, Professor He Hongyi has published a book titled Research of the Yao Manuscript Collection at the Library of Congress (美国国会图书馆馆藏瑶族文献研究). Currently, there is only a Chinese edition available. If and when there may be an English version available, I will let you know.

*NOTE: This page is currently under construction. Thank you for your understanding. This is a growing list of scholarly work and resources. Connect with me to help me grow this list. Check back for updates. 

World Cat.org

WorldCat.org is a comprehensive online catalog that enables users to search for and access millions of books, articles, and other materials from libraries and institutions all over the world. With its extensive database and user-friendly interface, WorldCat.org provides a valuable resource for anyone seeking to expand their knowledge and access a wide range of information. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or simply an avid reader, WorldCat.org is an indispensable tool for discovering new information and resources.