Iu Mien people

The Iu Mien people are a Southeast Asian subset of the Yao people, a minority group originally from China. Displaced by the Vietnam War, many settled in the United States from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. From China, the Iu Mien migrated to Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.

The Iu Mien people were the first civilization in China according to the chanting song story, Iu Mien Elders verbally story, a shaman’s worship book written by Iu Mien elders in ancient Chinese characters. The Iu Mien nation was located in the southern part of China today known as Guangdong, Guangxi and Hunan provinces and was ruled by the king of the Iu Mien people. The last Iu Mien King was King Pan, as know by today’s last names: Saephanh, Saephan, Phanh, Pharn, Pan, Pham, etc. King Pan and the Chinese emperor declared war against each other 800 years ago over disputed territory. Iu Mien, led by King Pan, were fighting to protect their people and their territory. King Pan and Iu Mien lost tremendously. King Pan had lost countless soldiers and civilian casualties as well as territory to the Chinese emperor. The Chinese emperor had captured most of the Iu Mien’s territory. Iu Mien and King Pan were unable to fight due to outnumbered soldiers and weapons, which forced King Pan to negotiate with the Chinese emperor. The Chinese emperor had given two options to King Pan and Iu Mien people: 1) Surrender to the Chinese emperor and sign a treaty to give all territorial land to the Chinese emperor, or 2) King Pan can continue to fight, but the Chinese determine that they can genocide and wipe out Iu Mien society in a short period. King Pan and his government chose to give up all territories to China and signed the treaty called “Passport to travel in the hill” or “Passport to cross the mountain.” This document pertained relevant information. The Chinese emperor had written this document in Chinese character, as the following stated “Iu Mien people have rights to maintain their identity, language, culture, and worship system and live on the hill side or in the mountain to cultivate land for farming and crops and raise their family. The Iu Mien would not be allowed to form their own government and have no rights to pursue their own nation. Iu Mien, who possesses this document, has the legal rights to cross any territories/ borders to settle and to build their village in the hill/mountain to make a living by farming without delaying by any regional governments. The governments of that country are responsible for their wellbeing and educating them to follow the rules of laws of the country that Iu Mien are living in.”

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