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.
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
The documentary centres on the last natural heritage practitioner of Nüshu - Yanxin He, the villages of Heyuan and surrounding areas. It interviews multiple stakeholders, including: government-recognised heritage practitioners, descendants of Nüshu practitioners and discovers, scholars, unofficial practitioners, enthusiasts and local residents. The film also captures Nüshu-related folklore—such as songs, crafts, rituals (e.g., funerals) and documents local architecture.
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.
Nüshu practitioners teaching at the Nüshu Museum. Huijuan Zhou: Nüshu practitioner, the younger sister of Shuoyi Zhou, who discovered Nüshu.Yanyu Hu: Nüshu practitioner, a resident of Pumei Village, one of the birthplace of Nüshu.Meiyue Hu: Nüshu practitioner, her grandmother was proficient in Nüshu.Jiner Zhou: Nüshu practitioner, daughter of Shuoyi Zhou, the discoverer of Nüshu.Xin Hu: Nüshu practitioner, a resident of Pumei Village, the birthplace of Nüshu.Yuejuan He: Nüshu practitioner, school principal.Huang Apo: A 102-year-old villager from Huang Village, who is able to remember many Nüshu songs.Local Nüshu Exhibition Hall: preparing Nüshu fans for promotion.Members of the local Nüshu Community Museum: Yuan Jiang, Shuaijuan Yang, Huaiping Jiang, lingyun JianngLiuhe He: Owner of the local Nüshu memorial shop.Xianglu He: Local officials, Nüshu linguistics scholars and organiser of the local Nüshu community.
Shuoyi Yang portrait. Shuoyi Yang is a natural user of Nüshu, passed away in 2024, leaving behind a large collection of original Nüshu materials.Taken at Xiawan Village, one of the birthplace locations of Nüshu.Lingguo Hu: A villager from Heyuan Village, one of the Nüshu birthplace locations, who was once a local elementary school teacher.Xiangyu He: A villager from Heyuan Village, one of the Nüshu birthplace locations, who was once a local elementary school teacher, wife of Lingguo Hu. Xinmei Hu: A villager from Pumei Village, the mother of Nüshu practitioner Yanyuhu.Market day, taken in Heyuan Village.Pig used for funeral ceremonies, taken in Heyuan Village.In memory of the deceased, villagers gather at the village entrance to share a meal, taken in Heyuan Village.Villagers gather, waiting for the funeral procession, taken in Heyuan Village.Funeral ceremony, taken in Heyuan Village.Funeral ceremony, taken in Heyuan Village.Funeral ceremony, at the ancestral hall, taken in Heyuan Village.Funeral ceremony, at the ancestral hall, taken in Heyuan Village.