Duab Toj Siab New! -

For txiv neeb (shaman-priests), Duab Toj Siab represented the journey to the upper world. During trance, the shaman’s soul ascended a mountain to negotiate with the gods. The pattern was often embroidered on the shaman’s roj kab mob (belt) or dawb (white head cloth). The false paths in the design remind the shaman which way not to go, serving as a mnemonic device for the perilous journey between realms.

A Visual Homeland: The Symbolism of "Toj Siab" in Modern Hmong Media 2. Introduction duab toj siab

Nplooj realized then that the true definition of a "Duab" wasn't the image itself, but the bridge it built. A bridge For txiv neeb (shaman-priests), Duab Toj Siab represented

The shadow doesn’t weigh you down. It grounds you. For txiv neeb (shaman-priests)