Shong Lue Yang

Who was Shong Lue Yang?

Shong Lue Yang was a Hmong spiritual leader and inventor of the Pahawh script, an semi-syllabary for writing dialects of the Hmong language, as well as the Khmu language. He is honored as the "Mother of Writing" among the Hmong people.

Born in the village of Fi Tong, Vietnam, near the city of Nong Het, Laos, Yang grew up without learning to read or write, although he likely observed various writing systems. For much of his life, he subsisted as a farmer and basket maker. From 1959 onwards, he experienced a series of reported divine revelations during which he was taught the Pahawh script by a set of male twins. In his visions, he was instructed to teach the script to the Hmong and Khmu people. He believed that the groups who accepted the writing system would flourish and escape the hardships of time leading up to the Laotian Civil War. Afterwards, he assumed the title of "Savior of the Common People" and began teaching the script and his message of redemption across Laos.

Following initial successes, including the building of a school in the village of Fi Kha, Yang was targeted by communist forces for his association with General Vang Pao and his troops.