The ongoing exhibition Attachment to the Hometown presents around 150 baby carriers of different ethnic groups. (Photo provided to China Daily)
Some baby carriers also sport butterfly designs. A Miao legend has it that of the 12 eggs laid by a butterfly, one hatched into Jiangyang, the ancestor of the Miao people.
The Shui believe there were nine suns in the ancient times, and one day as a mother with her infant searched for water and was about to faint because of the fierce sun, a giant butterfly appeared spreading its wings to provide them with shade.
Women from the city of Gejiu, Yunnan, use abstract designs representing the sun, moon and stars on their carriers to show their respect for nature. They hope these symbols can give energy to their babies.
As many ethnic tribes do not have a written language, they often use Han characters in their designs. As a result, some baby carriers feature Han characters that convey auspicious and encouraging messages.
Mothers also attach tassels, perfumed medicine bags and shiny materials to their baby carriers to scare away evil spirits and demons.
The carriers at the exhibition are from a donation of 1,770 baby carriers made to NAMOC.
