diamond and a cross stitch appliqué

hmong vietnam

A profound bond with the Divine, beckoning the gods of abundance and happiness to shower their blessings, warding off malevolent spirits.

Hmong people believe that beautiful patterns, such as this diamond pattern, will help them maintain a close connection to the Deity, invite in the gods of wealth and joy to bestow blessings onto their families while fighting against evil spirits. The cross added in between of diamonds symbolized the protection from evil spirit and the cross-shaped diamond symbolized xwm kab or house and ancestral spirit altar, which communicates protection from ancestral spirits to descendants of the family and the lineage. Each pattern, and each part of one pattern, is believed to fulfil multiple wishes at once. A diamond shape with zigzag lines separating four triangles signify houses of Hmong people that represents the cohesiveness of Hmong society and the harmonious relationship between families in a village. Zigzag motifs with flower embroideries, represent path of happiness and elders’ good wishes to young girls for her life’s journey for bright and future growth and full of happiness.

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