China: A women-only secret script returns as symbol of strength

In a studio in the village of Goulan Yao in the central Chinese province of Hunan, teacher He Yuejuan uses a brush to carefully write characters in a secret script that was created centuries ago by women and is now being rediscovered by a new generation.

Nushu, which means "women's script," originated about 400 years ago. Since women were denied access to education, they secretly learned Chinese characters and adapted them to Nushu in order to communicate with each other through letters, songs and embroidery. The script was passed down through generations of women in the remote and picturesque county of Jiangyong in southern China.

The village of Goulan Yao in Jiangyong County is closely linked to Nushu, as it is considered the origin and one of the few remaining centers of this unique women's script. The region is characterized by mountainous terrain, rural communities and a relatively low population density.

Around a hundred Nushu learners participate in a workshop at a hotel near the village of Goulan Yao. The script, with its 600 to 700 syllabic characters, is now regarded nationwide as a symbol of female strength and identity. "Nushu offered a safe way for women to communicate with each other. It essentially creates a sanctuary for us," student Pan Shengwen told the AFP news agency.

Compared to other characters, Nushu ones are modeled on a woman's body — less angular, slimmer and shaped like willow leaves. "When writing, your breathing must be calm and only then can your brush be steady," said another participant in the workshop, which was set up by the local authorities to promote the script.

Nushu is more than just a writing system — it represents the life experiences of women from rural areas of the county. According to teacher He Yuejuan, the script is gaining increasing attention due to its elegance and rarity. After rigorous examinations, she became one of 12 officially recognized "heiresses" of Nushu, and is now authorized to teach it.

The week-long workshop attracted great interest from women from all over China. One of them was Zou Kexin, who became aware of Nushu through an online post and wanted to "experience it for herself." "It's a unique writing system belonging to women, which makes it really special," said the 22-year-old participant. Today, Nushu is considered part of China's cultural heritage.