I have heard about this book for a long time but I had not seen the
book until few years ago, when I was in ST Paul and Yuepheng showed me
his precious collections... among that is Savina's book... I picked up
the book... look thru the 290+ pages but did not have the time to read
any part. Just like an ordinary book - nothing look different but the
book certainlywas placed in a special spot among Yuepheng collections.
I then wanted to have a copy for my collection. I start to look for a
copy everywhere but I could not find anywhere.. Search thru Amazon...
there are two ads' that there are 2 used book for sale but cost more
than $240+... I hesitate.. if I would spend that much money for a
book! Over $240 for Savina book???
So... no Savina book.
But every now and then, that book come to my mind again.
And now, I am researching for my Shaman book and Savina book come to
mind again. ?what is in that book that cost over $240?? I asked many
people around but no one had ever seen that book. I really want to
read that book to see if there is anything that I can used in my
book... and more importantly, all book about the Hmong history always
have some reference to Savina book. So... I keep looking...
Then few days ago, a friend came to see me and he handed me a
photocopy of Savina book!!! Vow.. even chapter 1 is missing.!!!
I started to read...and it is certainly a book worthwhile searching
for. It is certainly an interesting book - no wonder everyone who
write about the Hmong has to make some reference to that book even
they have never sighted the book.
The most interesting of the book is Savina traced the history of the
Miao race over the past 5000 years and WHAT he considered HOW the Miao
have survived that long history but remained intact as a proud race.
But a new factor had entered the Miao's life in 1907 when the first
Miao was baptised and by 1920's, there were 2000 Christiansin Asia!
How this new factors would affect the Hmong's future?
What is even more interesting is the last part of Savina's book when
he added the Appendice - "The Future of the Miao Race". Savina posed
the simple question: Where would the Miao race be in 500, 1000 years
into the future???,
IN this post, I like to POSE ONE QUESTION (in this part 1) - [ the
FUTURE of the Hmong will be covered in part 2 (later)] ;
WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MIAO (Hmong race) THAT CONTRIBUTE
TO THE SURVIVAL OF OUR PEOPLE OVER THE LAST 5000 YEARS?
du
Savina is the priest that had fooled our uneducated Hmong back in the
20's (in Laos) to make Hmong believed that he is the savior at that
time (Hmoob tus Cawm Seej ntuj tso los pab Hmoob). He was a Catholic
missionary in China who lived with Hmong for a long time and know a
lot about Hmong. When he heard that the French had rounded up Hmong
men to be executed in Laos (because of the Czazy War or Rog Pajcai),
he trekked to Laos to save Hmong from execution. Then, all Hmong at
that time, think he is really Hmong God mandated from heaven to save
Hmong lives because he had stopped the killing. But, to me, he had
just staged a show, to make our ignorants Hmong to revered him as
Hmong God, by talking to the French Commander at that region not to
publicly execute (10 men a day) Hmong. Anyhow, I applause him for he
did save many Hmong lives because, that time, no one dared to say any
thing let alone intervene the killings.
He had also documented that particular Hmong atrocity in French's
archive, too.
I am not aware that it is available any where..
May be someone can scan the book & post to the net?
Perhaps one day....
du
YAWGNOMDUB,
Tej koj hais txog no, kuv tsis tau hnov los dua.. tejzaum yog vim
tias kuv vtsis yog neeg Xtian nyob Nplog teb.
Tejno yog Hmoob hais xwb los yoh yeej muaj ntaub ntawv sau cia lwm
qhov hais txog tejno li ntawv??
Nyob hau Savina phau ntawv yawg hais txog tias thaum yawg los txog
Nplog teb mas Hmoob twb tuaj toms tau nbtau hnub txog Hmoob tus
fuabtaiv..
Thaum yawg los txog ces Hmoob yeej nq waib nq ntau yam tuaj tos
yawg...
du