The Hmong: A Guide to Traditional Lifestyles Edited by Robert Cooper Times Publishing Group More Information / To Order.

Once upon a time, the Hmong had a very valuable Book which told them many important things that it was necessary to know in life and during the great journey between death and rebirth. That Book was eaten by cows and rats. Since that time, no text has been able to represent a culture as rich in variety as that of the Hmong.

This text is not, and cannot be, fully representative of the detailed Hmong Way. It does not seek to recreate the magnificent menu lost to the cows and rats, but to provide a taste of traditional Hmong life and a basic knowledge of the structure of Hmong society.

With Hmong villages perched on mountain tops from southern China, through Vietnam and Laos to Thailand, and divided and sub-divided into linguistic and cultural variants, any book talking - as this one does - of "the Hmong", must generalise. All generalisation is dangerous and the Editor is well aware that different types of Hmong do things somewhat differently. A deliberate attempt has been made to prevent generalisation falling into abstraction. Apart from the short section on history, everything described or explained in this book is the result of on-the-spot observation, interview, or participation in Hmong villages in Laos and Thailand by several people who contributed to the information upon which this book was compiled. Of course, all observers and all participants have not quite agreed on every statement in this text, and the final responsibility for omissions and errors remains with the Editor.

An editorial decision has been made to limit reference to cultural differences between sub-groups to those most clearly evident, enduring and (what the Editor sees as) functionally significant. The Editor has also decided that things must be presented as simply as possible (although when it comes to music codes, even the possible strays from the guideline of plain simplicity). It is recognised that Hmong society is not static and that many Hmong no longer live the life described in these pages. Some of the most important changes have been indicated within the text. However, this is not a treatise on change. It is a guide to traditional life and the reader is requested to excuse the use of the present tense throughout - it makes the text more readable.

This book should provide a basic understanding of Hmong traditional village life for the increasing number of non-Hmong coming into contact with Hmong: for Thai, Lao, Chinese, and Vietnamese as well as Westerners visiting Hmong villages. It began life in prototype in 1989 as a handbook for non-Hmong working with Hmong in refugee camps in Thailand and in countries of resettlement. To facilitate use as a handbook, a detailed index was appended. This has been retained in this 1997 version, which has been thoroughly reviewed, enlarged and rewritten for a wider readership.

The book is written in English, with a non-Hmong reader in mind. It is very much hoped, however, that young Hmong currently in school in the United States and other Western countries, many of whom have never seen a Hmong village and perhaps never will, together with their non-Hmong American friends, will find the book interesting and enjoyable. It is primarily for the Hmong reader that Hmong terms have been written in the romanised Hmong script, which is now widely accepted. Whenever known to the Editor, Green and White Hmong dialect differences have been noted.

The Editor recognises that for some Hmong, the wounds of the long civil war in Laos remain open and painful. For others, the wounds are now healed, although scars may be visible for a long time to come. This war has been mentioned only briefly in the short chapter on history. This book is not about war or politics, although these subjects cannot be completely ignored. If the reader finds anything politically partial in this text, the Editor has failed in his job. Similarly, any academic conjecture has been weeded out and, while the book should certainly be useful to students of anthropology, language and style has been kept as simple and clear as the Editor could make it. This is a book for the "man in the street" or in the village, or in the school.

Good, bad, academic, proselytisational, sensational, controversial, right and wrong: much has already been written on the Hmong. With this book an attempt has been made at something of a fresh start. It is acknowledged that past writings have had a conscious or subconscious influence on this book, but in this text the reader will find no footnotes pointing out where views of different observers conflict with or support material presented here. For the reader wishing to further his studies of the Hmong, a small number of books are listed at the back of this text. Chief among these are the works of Geddes, Jacques Lemoine, Yang Dao and Heimbach. The pronunciation guide to Hmong script found at the back of this book is an adaptation of that in Heimbach's dictionary. The translation of a Hmong incantation given in Chapter 14 was made byJacques Lemoine. Heimbach is also the inspiration for the saying on the dedication page. Jacques Lemoine and Yang Dao are the pioneers of Hmong studies:

Hauv mis koj xub noj

Hauv tsoos koj xub hnav.

This book has involved much exchange of ideas between four people over a lengthy period. It is now difficult, if not impossible, to attribute specific chapters to the unique work of any one of the researchers. Very generally, the first seven chapters (History through to Economy) and the final chapter on The Way of Death were written by Robert Cooper; the two chapters on music and crafts were reworkings of notes provided by Gretel Schwoerer-Kohl; chapters 10-13 on religion and shamanism are largely based on the work of Nick Tapp; the Editor has added a short postscript on change.

The entire text has been reviewed in detail by Gar Yia Lee and a great many changes and improvements have been made following his comments and advice. Many Hmong have read the text in draft and particular thanks go to Issara Yangsirisuk (Nhia Yang), Wichai Songyangyuenkul (Ntxais Sooj), Prachuap Yangsukplub, and Chatree Kirisantikul for their useful recommendations and comments and to Karlong Kirisantikul (Kiab Lis) for her reminders about the role of women in Hmong society.

Knowingly or unknowingly, so many Hmong have participated in the provision of information contained in this book that it would require a second volume to name them all. Thanks are expressed collectively in the form of the simple dedication of this book to the Hmong.

Robert Cooper 1997