Lub Neej Toj Siab by Maiv Thoj

 

Today I want to talk about “Lub Neej Toj Siab” by Maiv Thoj, featuring several other singers, including Sua Yaj, two newer female singers, and three male singers.

The song has that familiar, traditional Hmong music rhythm that makes it immediately catchy. The storyline is also classic Hmong romance: boy meets girl, they are attracted to each other, and the chemistry begins to develop.

What makes this music video stand out, though, is the cast.

Maiv Thoj and Sua Yaj have sung together on and off for about a decade, so it's nice to see them together again. The two newer girls also add some freshness to the group.

But let's be honest—the guys are the real eye candy of this video.

Most of them are seriously good-looking, and whoever put this cast together definitely knew what they were doing. The song may be what gets you to click on the video, but the handsome guys might be what keeps you watching!

Overall, Lub Neej Toj Siab is a fun, catchy Hmong love song with a familiar sound, an enjoyable cast, and plenty of visual appeal. Sometimes you don't need a complicated storyline—just good music, romance, and a few beautiful people to make a music video entertaining.

Love Stories of the Miao Book Trailers

I am working on a couple of short stories for my collection, Love Stories of the Miao, and decided to share the book trailers first. With time, hopefully, I will get a chance to present the actual story here.

**Disclaimer** All art/audio clip belongs to its rightful owner.

Flower Embroidery
This story is about the Hmong/Miao of Wenshen/Yunnan, China. 

Nraug Ntsuag & Ntxawm

Here is another Hmong folktale called Nraug Ntsuag and Ntxawm. There are many versions of stories about an orphan boy named Nraug Ntsuag and Ntxawm, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy village headman. This particular version tells the story of how Nraug Ntsuag loses his wife, only to use his cleverness and determination to win her back.

Nraug Ntsuag and Ntxawm have not been married for very long when the hemp harvest season arrives. Nraug Ntsuag sends Ntxawm to her parents' village to help them process hemp into thread and cloth.

Halfway through their journey, Ntxawm suddenly tells Nraug Ntsuag that she can see her parents' village in the distance. She says that she can even hear the familiar sounds of rice pounders clicking and clanking.

She tells Nraug Ntsuag that her parents must be nearby and that she can walk the remaining distance by herself. She tells him to turn around and return home.

Nraug Ntsuag, trusting his wife, does as she asks. He plays his qeej, a traditional Hmong bamboo reed instrument, as he makes his way home.

But when Ntxawm approaches the settlement she believes to be her parents' village, she discovers something horrifying.

She is surrounded by tigers.

Xyooj Mim & Xyooj Kaub

This Hmong folktale is called Xyooj Mim & Xyooj Kaub. It is very similar to the story Ntsuag thiab Niam Nkauj Zuag Paj, though the two stories differ in the details of their openings.

Xyooj Mim and Xyooj Kaub are orphaned siblings who have no parents or family left to care for them. One day, Xyooj Mim happens upon a dragon prince. The prince offers to marry her, but in return, he promises to provide for her younger brother. He gives Xyooj Kaub a magical grain of rice and a piece of meat that can replenish themselves, allowing the boy to have food for the rest of his life.

Sharing Hmong Music

In this post, instead of just sharing music from one artist, I have decided to share music from a couple of different artists. When I get a chance, I will post up the English translation for each song.

This first song is called Hlub Tam Toj Roob Hau Pes by Paj Xia Yaj and Nuj Sua Lis, Hmong Shee Yee's new pra-ek.

Sharing Hmong Music - Mim Yaj

I believe Mim Yaj released her sophomore album this past Hmong New Year. She also participated in the Hmong International New Year Beauty Pageant and came out third place.

Nraug Hmoob by Mim Yaj is a nice blend of qeej instrumental music (I can hear Yang Geli in there) with a traditional "kwv txhiaj" from the White Hmong of Paj Taug Lag, Wenshen, Yunnan.

Hlub Hauv Npaus Suav Summary

Hlub Hauv Npaus Suav Summary 

**Spoiler Alert **

Muaj Tsim (Nuj Sua Lis) repeatedly dreams of a beautiful young woman. In each dream, he remembers her name—Laim Txias. Though he has never met her in real life, he slowly falls in love with the girl who appears in his dreams. One day, he sketches her face onto a poster board, hoping to preserve the memory of someone he cannot explain but feels he already knows.

Later, Muaj Tsim moves to a remote highland village, where he serves as a doctor for the local villagers. One day, while taking a break from his duties, he notices a young woman swimming in a nearby lake.

He is stunned.

She looks exactly like the girl from his dreams.

Believing that he has finally found Laim Txias, Muaj Tsim calls out to her and runs after her. But before he can reach her, she disappears from sight, leaving him wondering whether the woman he has dreamed about for so long was ever real—or whether fate has simply given him a glimpse of someone he was never meant to find.

Nkauj Hmoob Noj Neeg

Nkauj Hmoob Noj Neeg Summary 

**Spoiler Alert**

Koob (Koob Xyooj) is a student at Siam University. As Thailand prepares to become part of the ASEAN Integration, Koob and his classmates are assigned to research the diverse cultures and religions found throughout Thailand, including those of the country's ethnic minorities.

Koob becomes frustrated when he struggles to find information about the Hmong. His Thai friend, Da, suggests that he focus his research on Hmong religion instead. By doing so, Koob can gather firsthand information by interviewing Hmong elders.

Koob and Da eventually locate an elderly Hmong man who agrees to share a story with them. The old man tells them a haunting tale about a group of Hmong people who once practiced cannibalism.

Tub Feej (Koob Xyooj) and his friend are traveling on a business trip when they become lost and unexpectedly arrive at a strange Hmong village.

Hoping to sell his “ntiv qeej,” Tub Feej borrows a qeej, the traditional Hmong reed pipe, from the village headman and begins to play.

The beautiful and moving sound of the qeej quickly draws a crowd. Villagers gather around to listen, captivated by the music.

Among those drawn to the sound is a beautiful, mute young woman named Nag Yuam (Dej Ntxhee Muas).

The moment she sees Tub Feej, she falls deeply in love with him.

Tuag Hlub Summary

Tuag Hlub Summary

**Spoiler Alert**

Yis Hawj (Leem Lis) was betrothed to her sickly maternal cousin, Kim Lis (Xeeb Lis), when she was only three years old. From that time onward, she lived with her fiancé's family, though she occasionally returned to visit her biological mother.

Yis, however, had no love for her fiancé. She was also constantly irritated by Kim's older brother, Teem Lis (Vej Lis), whose persistent teasing and pestering often got on her nerves.

One day, while Yis was on her way to visit her mother, she tripped and fell near a bamboo-pipe water system. A young man named Kuab Yaj (Ceeb Hawj), who happened to be nearby, immediately rushed over to help her.

Seeing that Yis had twisted her ankle, Kuab worried that it might swell badly. He quickly searched for a medicinal herb, chewed it in his mouth, and carefully placed the crushed herb around her injured ankle. He then tore a piece of cloth from the sleeve of his hemp shirt and used it to wrap the herb securely around her ankle.

Before Kuab left, Yis asked him to give her some drinking water.

As they spoke, the two found themselves drawn to one another. Although their encounter was brief, there was an unmistakable warmth between them, and both seemed reluctant to part.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year readers!

I apologize for being inactive in the last six months. I've been thinking about the blog a lot but I was and still am very busy applying for professional school and I just don't have the time to post anything. The good news is that hopefully my busy schedule will dampen a little and I will be able to find bits of time here and there to put up new posts.

Hope everyone has accomplished a lot in the past year. If not, set new goals this year and strive for them!

Below, I'm sharing a picture of the newly reconstructed General Vang Pao statue at the Fresno Fairgrounds. I was there for the unveiling ceremony. It looks good, much more improved in quality and size than the old one.