Hunan college girl design cheongsam inspired by women's secret language (6)

（People's Daily Online）  10:01, November 16, 2012

Edited and translated by Huang Beibei, People's Daily Online

Designer Zhou Jingjin drew inspiration from Nushu.

Nushu (or women's writing),a rare form of women's writing, is a century-old intangible cultural heritage from remote Jiangyong county, in southern Hunan province.

Nushu developed in the 19th century as a way for women in Jiangyong county, who were often discouraged from learning Chinese characters, to express themselves in a male-dominated society.

Local women wrote on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs and composed stories.

Approval by the State Intellectual Property Office, the five cheongsam designs have got patent certificate.