Climbing for Tradition and Necessity
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Luo’s impressive climbing abilities allow her to ascend vertical rock faces reaching heights of 108 meters (354 feet). This remarkable skill is rooted in the traditional Miao burial practices, where the deceased are interred on cliffs, allowing them to “look towards their ancestral homeland” in central China. This practice not only preserves farmland but also protects the remains from wild animals.
For generations, Miao men and now Luo have honed their barehanded climbing skills, which were originally developed for practical purposes. Luo began her training at age 15, guided by her father. Motivated to compete with her male counterparts and support her family, she would climb to collect medicinal plants and birds’ droppings from swallows’ nests, which were once considered valuable fertilizer.
Breaking Gender Norms
In a 2017 interview with the BBC, Luo shared her resolve to defy gender norms. “They said this was only for boys, but I believe men and women are equal, so I learned. That is how my journey as a spider woman began,” she stated. Throughout her childhood, Luo climbed daily, gradually toughening her hands against the sharp rocks. “Foreigners were often frightened by our bare-handed climbing, but I grew accustomed to it,” she explained in an interview on Shandong TV.
Mastering this ancient skill requires not only physical strength but also finesse. According to SCMP, it often takes Luo four to five hours of trekking to reach sites where she gathers herbs. While this method of climbing was once vital to the community’s livelihood, modern farming practices have rendered the collection of bird droppings obsolete.
A New Era of Tourism
Luo’s climbing skills have evolved into a tourist attraction, drawing curious visitors who watch her gather herbs from a distance. “Many visitors wanted to see how we gathered the herbs and paid us to demonstrate,” Luo remarked. “My income isn’t high, but I take pride in being a spider woman,” she added, reflecting her deep connection to her cultural roots.
After spending some time away from her hometown, Luo returned in 2000 to start a family and preserve the traditions of her people. Today, she stands as the last known woman of the ‘spider people’ in the region, carrying on an art form that has fascinated audiences for generations.
