The Study Of Baby Carrier In Southwestern Minorities

A baby carrier refers to the wide band and quill that are used for carrying, binding and wrapping a baby. In contrast to the Baby carrier of other regions, those in the minority regions in southwestern China feature much richer forms of artistic expressions. In this region, there are such more than 30 nationalities as Miao, Bouyei, Dong, Shui, Yao, Zhuang and Mu Lan; due to regional variations, Baby carrier feature different structures and rich pattern decorations. Baby carrier is a carrier which the elders use to show their love to the newborns. It represents the highest needlework level of different peoples. Therefore, the study on Bei Shan of the minority regions in southwestern China is an important way for us to learn and inherit minority culture.The paper chooses baby carrier of the minority regions in southwestern China as the study object. These minorities include Miao, Dong, Zhuang, Bouyei and Shui etc. Based on living environment, production mode, manners and customs, religious belief and aesthetic taste etc of all nationalities, it analyzes the materials and literature on baby carrier, summarizes southwestern ethnic minorities' shape, craft and pattern etc. The paper describes the history and social customs of southwestern ethnic minorities' Baby carrier, summarizes the main shape structures of southwestern ethnic minorities' Baby carrier, compares some groups of Baby carrier which are similar but are from different peoples, analyzes the original religious belief behind the southwestern ethnic minorities' Baby carrier patterns, further highlights the important role of Baby carrier in southwestern ethnic minorities.The paper studies the southwestern ethnic minorities' Baby carrier from four aspects. First, it introduces Baby carrier's historical origin and its usage in the minority regions in southwestern China. It describes Bei Shan's social customs based on some examples of Miao in Shidong, Yao in, Bunu, Hechi, Dong in Tongdao. Next, comparing Miao of Jing County with Dong of Liping, Miao of Congjiang with Dong of Sanjiang, Shui of Sandu with Bouyei of Sandu, it explores the influences on their similarities and differences. It introduces the carrying, binding ways and production crafts of T-shape Baby carrier and four-jaw Baby carrier. Then, it studies additional decoration items of southwestern ethnic minorities' Baby carrier, explores its deep cultural connotations. Finally, it explains the functions of southwestern ethnic minorities' Baby carrier in family connection, summarizes the cultural connotations and life meaning of Baby carrier.