Young Women Embrace China's Secret Script of Sisterhood

Chen Yulu, at just 23 years old, has found pride in her home province of Hunan as she takes on the role of an ambassador for nüshu, a special script that was once confined to the lives of a limited number of women in southern China. Initially created in secrecy by women barred from traditional education, nüshu has now transcended its origins, being embraced by a younger generation eager to share this cultural treasure beyond the walls of Jiangyong, the rural county known for the dialect it pairs with.

Originating from a time when literacy was exclusively a male privilege, nüshu allowed women to communicate their thoughts and feelings during a period of societal restrictions. The script is known for its elegantly curved characters, contrasting sharply with modern Chinese writing, and it served as a private medium for women to express their emotions, document their struggles, and maintain bonds with one another. Xu Yan, a 55-year-old advocate for nüshu, emphasizes the script's role in fostering hidden connections among women, who faced oppression from family and societal norms.

Today, the ancient script is re-emerging through exhibitions, crafting workshops, tattoos, and more, thanks to ambassadors like Chen Yulu. After discovering nüshu while researching feminism for a documentary, she felt a deep sense of empowerment and recognized the need for women to connect with this historical script. Chen began teaching the script, creating online communities, and organizing writing workshops, which are primarily attended by women who are eager to explore their identities through the lens of this cultural heritage.

Participants like Lu Sirui, a 24-year-old marketer, have also connected with the script, viewing it as an act of rebellion against patriarchal structures. As Lu shared her own experiences of gender-based challenges, she found camaraderie within feminist spaces and recognized the solidarity offered by nüshu. Now, she hosts her own workshops to further the reach of this script, demonstrating that despite its obscurity to many, there is a growing interest and appreciation for the empowerment it represents for women.

Nüshu, once a hidden form of expression for the women of Jiangyong, is transforming into a powerful symbol of sisterhood and resilience, reminding modern women of the strength found in shared experiences and collective histories that transcend time and space.