The Separation of the Hmong Clans
According to Hmong oral tradition, in the earliest times all Hmong people belonged to a single clan and lived together in harmony. But as the population grew, disputes arose, and it became impossible for everyone to live under one roof. The ancestors sought divine guidance and were told in a vision that the people must separate into different clans (xeem), each with its own name, taboos, and responsibilities. The myth recounts the founding of the original 18 Hmong clans, including the most prominent ones: Vang, Yang, Her, Lee, Xiong, Moua, Thao, Vue, Chang, Kue, Kong, Fang, Hang, Cheng, Cha, C