WEI
Tracing Nüshu in Contemporary China
Nüshu: A Hidden Script of Women’s Voices.
Introduction to Nüshu
Nüshu, originating in Jiangyong County, Hunan Province, China, is the world's only known writing system created by women. It arose in response to the traditional Chinese society, where women were denied access to education and formal written language. As a result, local women developed their own script, used privately among women. Nüshu spread through handwritten letters, poems and songs, serving as a tool for education, emotional release, social bonding, and psychological support. Over time, with societal changes, Nüshu faced the threat of extinction and widespread misinterpretation.
Yanxin He: The last natural heritage practitioner of Nüshu
Yanxin He, born into a prestigious family, was profoundly shaped by her grandfather, a ‘zhuangyuan’ (imperial examination top scholar), and her grandmother, an adept Nüshu practitioner. This lineage facilitated her rare early education in both Nüshu and Chinese characters, positioning her as one of the few women literate in both systems during her era. Enduring the Cultural Revolution, during which Nüshu was banned, she refrained from using the script for 50 years. It was only in the 1990s, when rediscovered by scholars, that she reengaged with Nüshu. Yanxin He focusing solely on preserving the script as a private, authentic means of female expression. She strongly opposed the commercialisation and bureaucratic use of Nüshu.
First Field trip: July -August, 2017
The first phase involved visiting a government-established Nüshu school, located within a local museum in the script’s birthplace. Over three weeks, students try to explore its cultural context of Nüshu, under the instruction of state-recognized heritage practitioners. In the second phase, the researcher lived with Yanxin He, documenting her personal experiences with Nüshu.
Second Field trip: May - June, 2024
The second field trip focused on conducting follow-up interviews with Yanxin He and over twenty locals and stakeholders. Footage was collected for a documentary, along with additional research material.
Documentary
Director and Produced: Yehong WeiProduction Consultant: heng
Cinematography: Yuxuan Wu
Additional Camera: heng, Yehong Wei
Sound Recording: Yuxuan Wu
Self founded by Yehong Wei
Tracing Nüshu’s History:
The documentary examines the social conditions in Jiangyong county, where Nüshu originated, and the cultural forces that shaped its creation and use. It seeks to reconstruct the development of Nüshu over recent decades, analysing the external influences on its evolution.
Nüshu and Contemporary Chinese Women:
The film explores how shifts in Chinese women’s consciousness have contributed to Nüshu’s revival. It positions Nüshu as a symbol of female identity, exploring its significance for different groups of women. By focusing on intergenerational figures, it offers historical insights into the changing lives and ideologies of Chinese women over time.