The spiral pattern has its origin in folk tales and has become a traditional design. It is called wuotuo in the Miao dialect of eastern Guizhou and is widely used by the Miao people everywhere. Women in Danzhai county, commonly called the "white-collared Miaos", like to adorn the shoulders and sleeves of their coats with this design. Why do they use the spiral design? One legend says that in the past the Miao people had the custom to slaughter oxen to offer sacrifices to their ancesters. Woment began to weave or print the spiral design on their coats in imitation of those on the ox head. This custom has been handed down to the present from generation to generation to show their respect for and reminiscences of their ancesters. Another legend goes that once upon a time a clever and skillful girl was infected with a disease. Whatever medicine she had taken could not cure her illness. Her mother once plucked a tender plant called "cock grass" and boil it gently in a pot as a herb medicine for her. Soon after taking the herbal medicine, she was fully recovered. She drew a design after the model of the tender plant and printed her coat with such designs as a memorial of her recovery.