Nüshu is the only known writing system in the world created, used, and transmitted exclusively by women. Originating in Jiangyong County, Hunan Province, China, it emerged as a response to traditional patriarchal feudal society, where women were denied the right to formal education (the learning of Hanzi/Chinese characters). In defiance of these restrictions, Jiangyong women developed this distinct, elongated, and diamond-shaped script—resembling willow leaves—to facilitate self-expression within informal spaces.
Historical & Social Phenomenon:
Gendered Spaces: Nüshu served as both a language and a social medium. It was typically inscribed on fans, fabrics, handkerchiefs, or paper, and sometimes even temporarily traced on the ground. This "informality" allowed the script to evade the official (male-dominated) gaze, providing a private channel for women to share intimate emotions and shared experiences.
"Laotong" and Spiritual Sisterhood: A core function of Nüshu was maintaining the bonds between "Laotong" (sworn sisters). By exchanging fans or letters inscribed with the script, women established a parallel spiritual support network within an oppressive social structure, demonstrating remarkable collective resilience.
Material Transience: According to traditional custom, when a woman passed away, her Nüshu works were often cremated with her (funerary burning). This symbolized the return of individual experiences and their linguistic vessels to nothingness, leading to an extreme scarcity of extant original manuscripts today.
Application in The Epic on Palm: This work redefines the materiality of Nüshu through the medium of Ceramics.
From Ashes to Eternity: While traditional Nüshu was consumed by fire and scattered as ash, this project utilizes the transformative power of high-temperature firing. By firing Nüshu characters onto ceramic shards, the work symbolizes the transition of female experience from "hidden transience" to "resilient permanence"—a literal "rebirth through fire."
Traces of Labor: The installation uses the sculptural form of the "Hand" as its narrative starting point. This refers not only to the physical act of creation (writing and weaving Nüshu) but also pays homage to the multifaceted social roles of women as nurturers and laborers. The text on the ceramic shards narrates the tenacity, optimism, wisdom, and mutual aid practiced by women even under conditions of systemic injustice.
Sources:
Zhao, L. (2005). Nüshu: A Unique System of Women's Writing in China.