Since the beginning of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Miaojiang region has been driven out and recovered numerous times. Now, the Three Miao live secluded in the ravines and high mountains, their paths extremely difficult to traverse. Some Miao people have even moved deep into the heart of the mountains to live in seclusion, avoiding contact with the Central Plains.
The Miaojiang is divided into the Three Miao, with seven clans and seven branches. The Miao people living in the Wu Luo area are later referred to as Xiang Miao. The Three Miao further divide into White Miao, Flower Miao, Qing Miao, Black Miao, Red Miao, and others.
The Xiang Miao, also known as the Red Miao, are skilled in witchcraft. Because the Red Miao reside around the edges of Miaojiang, an area contested by both Miao and Han, they have the most opportunities for confrontation and war with the Han people. They are considered the most knowledgeable and courageous among the Miao people.
