Craftsmen: The Dong People

Most of the Dong minority group is located within the Southeastern Guizhou (pronounced “Gwee-shoe”), Southwestern Hunan (pronounced “Who-non”), and Northeastern Guangxi (pronounced “Gwong-she”) provinces. Their population throughout Southwestern China is reported to be close to 3.1 million. The Dong come from the Tai language family and it is believed that their ancestors migrated out of present day Thailand more than 3,000 years ago.

The men of the village are agriculturists, and spend most their time harvesting rice and cotton. They also breed fish, work in forestry and produce oil that is used in paints and varnishes. Gross annual income for a Dong man averages $360.

The Dong are also a very community oriented people who take pride in their culture and their heritage. One cultural aspect that Dong are well known for is their unique and efficient style of building structures without the use of any nails, screws or pegs. The Dong also take pride in celebrating many festivals throughout the year. One of the most famous is known as the “Dragon Boat Festival.”

It is our goal to provide this special group of people the opportunity to showcase their fine embroidery to the world. We hope you enjoy the products we have to offer from the Dong people.