Xiaoxu
Han
Han
TheNew Historia
https://thenewhistoria.org/pattern/nushu/
Research Project
Is there a culture in this world created by women, for women, and belongs solely to them? As we pondered this question, Nüshu(女书) emerged in our research—a script unlike any other, the only known writing system in history designed and used exclusively by women. Yet, it stands on the brink of extinction. For centuries, women in Jiangyong County, Hunan Province, were excluded from formal education and denied literacy in the dominant Chinese script. In response, they created Nüshu—a secret language of solidarity, resilience, and self-expression. Written in delicate, rhomboidal characters on paper, textiles, and embroidery, Nüshu allowed women to document their stories, communicate in private, and carve out a space of intellectual and emotional freedom in a world that often silenced them. It was a quiet defiance against the prevailing power structures. When we asked those around us if they had ever heard of Nüshu, the answer was almost always no. This realization made our mission clear: to make Nüshu visible once more. In this project, we created personalized name cards inscribed in Nüshu for our classmates and professors in the Becoming Visible course. A name is one’s second face—a symbol of identity. Offering a name card, introducing oneself, and writing one’s name are all acts of becoming visible. Through this process, we hope to bring Nüshu back into the light, to give voice to a culture crafted by women, and to ensure that it is seen, remembered, and celebrated.