JIANGYONG: At a studio in central China’s Hunan province, a teacher grips an ink brush, gently writing characters of a secret script created by women centuries ago and now being embraced by a new generation.

Nushu, meaning “women’s script”, emerged around 400 years ago. Barred from attending school, the women secretly learned Chinese characters and adapted them into Nushu, using the script to communicate with each other through letters, song and embroidery.

Passed down through generations of women in the remote and idyllic county of Jiangyong, it is now gaining popularity nationwide among Chinese women who view it as a symbol of strength. Student Pan Shengwen said Nushu offered a safe way for women to communicate with each other. “It essentially creates a sanctuary for us,” the 21-year-old said.

“We can express our thoughts, confide in our sisters and talk about anything.” Compared to Chinese characters, Nushu words are less boxy, more slender and shaped like willow leaves. “When writing... your breathing must be calm, and only then can your brush be steady,” Pan said.

On Instagram-like Xiaohongshu, the hashtag “Nushu” has been viewed over 73.5 million times — mostly featuring young women sharing tattoos and other modern work incorporating the old script.

Student He Jingying said she had been enrolled in a Nushu class by her mother and that writing it brought her “a deep sense of calm”. “It feels like when the brush touches the paper, a kind of strength flows into you.”

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2025