Community Builder : Inspiring Communities From Around The World

Written by Suvro Sanyal.

This section provides us the opportunity to deplore certain Inspiring Communities – their origins, their traditions and how they have developed over time. From ancient civilisations that have stood the test of time to newly formed communities that break stereotypes, get an insight into how these people came together.

1. The Haenyeo Community in South Korea: 

The Haenyeo community is a group of female divers in the Korean province of Jeju. The word “Haenyeo” refers to the women who gather seaweed, abalone, and other shellfish from the sea. Jeju’s diving tradition started way back in 434AD, but it wasn’t until the 18th century that the number of female divers outweighed the male. Supposedly this shift occurred because of a significant number of men dying at sea due to war and deep-sea fishing accidents.

The first records of Haenyeo come from 1629, and for 350 years they used to dive wearing cotton clothes called mulsojungi. It was not until the 1970s that the Haenyeo started wearing the rubber wetsuits they wear today. During dives, they gather shellfish such as abalone and sea urchins, kelp and other sea creatures to sell for food, using only a knife or their bare hands.

The diving season on Jeju is short; the women dive for only about 90 days a year. They descend below the surface for minutes at a time, attached to an orange buoy at the surface, and make a whistling sound when they resurface to communicate their whereabouts to the other divers. Known as “Mothers of the Sea” and “Warriors against the Sea,” they are traditionally categorised according to three levels of experience—the sanggun being the most experienced, followed by hagun and junggun. More accomplished divers offer their guidance to the others and teach the younger divers the vital breathing technique, called sumbisori. The Haenyeo are lifetime companions. Not only do they share everything they gather evenly between themselves, but they support each other through life’s challenges such as pregnancies, illnesses, and any crises.

Traditional outfits which are called mulot are composed of three pieces such as mulsojungi meaning pants, muljeoksam meaning jacket and mulsugun tying hair. Mulsojungi which is made of cotton is designed for minimizing the water resistance to work well under the sea. It has a side opening for Haenyeo to change clothes without showing their bodies. The distribution of rubber diving suits has greatly increased Haenyeo’s income since their application in the early part of 1970.

Muljeoksam is a white cotton top, which is worn over the mulsojungi, and it has been common since 1960’s. It is a kind of jeogori (a basic upper garment in Korean traditional clothing), which is mixed style of a jeoksam (an unlined summer jacket) and a shirt. It protects Haenyeo from the cold and sunburns.

In the 1960’s, instead of mulsugeon, kkaburi came into wide use by young chulga haenyeo, who went to the mainland or Japan. The kkaburi covers the head and entire nape. It is easier to wear and warmer than a mulsugeon. It can cover the cheeks as well as provide protection from the sun. There are holes at about ear level to let the water out.

But there were few haenyeo who made kkaburi themselves and wore it. They wore it in summer as a substitute for the rubber diving suit (wetsuit) cap, which is the modern garb of the haenyeo.

Today’s rubber clothes, worn by Haenyeo’s were introduced from Japan in the early 1970’s. They are made up of: a ‘cap’ in one piece that goes down to the neck, ‘top’ with buckles, and pants-like ‘bottoms’ that cover the ankles and up to the chest. 

In addition, Haenyeo’s wear flippers on their feet in the sea also known as ‘Oribal’ (fins). As sponge-type rubber clothes are buoyant, Haenyeo’s need to tie lead sinkers called ‘Yeonchul’ to their body to get into water. 

The Haenyeo have an elevated social status in an otherwise patriarchal South Korea, but it is unclear why free-diving became a female-dominated profession on Jeju. Explanations range from men dying in deep-sea fishing accidents or wars, to physiological reasons, for example women’s fat reserves supposedly making them more resistant to cold water. Historically, so many families depended on the income of the Haenyeo that a semi-matriarchal society developed in Jeju. It was not unheard of for women to be the main breadwinners, while men would stay home and take care of the children. One way in which non-standard gender roles were manifested was through the payment of dowry to the family of the bride, instead of the groom. Unlike families in mainland South Korea, families on Jeju would wish for the birth of baby girls rather than boys.  

In recent years, Haenyeo culture has declined due to increased industrialisation, new education and work opportunities for girls, and environmental degradation of Jeju Island. In 2016, the Haenyeo culture was assigned to the list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage due to its unique history and the rapid decline of female divers. Its elevated status due to the UNESCO listing has resulted in a new tourist industry, and increased protection and funding of the women in the industry and the natural environment of the island. [The government provides free healthcare, and the necessary diving equipment, and has opened a diving school and museum]. However, while this new heritage status has brought benefits for the community, it has also made the women into living artifacts who perform their work for tourist audiences.

2. The Miao embroiderers in China:

Embroidery is a traditional folk art of the Miao people who live in the mountains of Southern China. Historically, Miao embroidery has been considered one of China’s 5 great traditions of embroidery. It is a craft handed down from generation to generation among Miao women, who produce works of art inspired by traditional Miao songs and legends.

In Miao villages, girls inculcate the artistry of embroidery from their mothers and aunts at a young age. Starting from the age of 15, girls begin to hand embroider their own dowry, an ornate embroidered garment. While they work, they not only refine their skills as embroiderers, they are also come to know their own culture.

The origins of Miao embroidery are shrouded by history. The first written record of the ancestors of the Miao is in the Book of Han, which suggests that Miao embroidery was being produced as early as the Warring States Period. The Miao do not have their own written language, and their embroidery itself takes on the role of documenting their history and culture. Miao embroidery motifs handed down from generation to generation not only reflect the world view, values, and aesthetics of the Miao, they also illustrate their history and religion and the social changes they have undergone over the centuries. This makes embroidery an extraordinary medium for expressing and preserving Miao culture.

“The embroidered patterns are about the story of the ancestor of mankind. By embroidering his story on clothes and the cloth with which we carry our babies and singing songs about his story, we believe that he will protect us and our children.” —Pan Yuzhen, Miao embroiderer

The Miao are among the larger ethnic populations in China. They also live in neighbouring countries as well as in the United States and Australia, where they are more generally known as the Hmong. In China, they are mostly concentrated in Guizhou Province in the southwest, where subgroups are identified by their dress and embroidery motifs, such as “Big Flower Miao” and “Small Flower Miao.” Working with silk and cotton thread, as well as horsehair, embroiderers adorn cuffs, sleeves, collars, and tunic fronts with designs of mythical animals (dragons and phoenixes) and ordinary insects, fish, and flowers. These designs are not only decorative; more importantly, many record daily life, life cycle events, and community legends and history.

Writer Suvro Sanyal

Mavericknews30 has launched a series of articles on community building, sharing insights and success stories. Stay tuned for the next article as we explore how to create stronger, more connected communities!

Log on : www.mavericknews30.com
Follows us on : Twitter @mavericknews30
YouTube : @MarvickNews30