Nushu is the world’s only known secret language and script created, used, and passed down exclusively by women. Originating in Jiangyong County, Hunan Province, this mysterious language’s origins remain an enigma. Some scholars trace its roots back 3,000 years to the era of oracle bone inscriptions, while others believe it began over 500 years ago during the late Ming Dynasty. At that time, women were denied formal education, so the resourceful women of Jiangyong developed Nushu as a way to communicate privately. Today, however, Nushu faces extinction, with fewer than 50 people worldwide proficient in its script.