The Yao ethnic minority, with a population of 2.13 million (by 1990), is mainly scattered in the mountain areas in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hunan, Yunnan, Guangdong, Guizhou and Jiangxi provinces.
The ethnic minority has its own language which belongs to the Yao Austronesian of Chinese-Tibetan Phylum. There are three local dialects that show considerable variations. As a result of close contacts with the Han and Zhuang people, many Yaos are also familiar with the Han and Zhuang languages. The Yao people have no written language of their own, so they mainly use written Chinese.
The Yao's ancestry can be traced back to the Wuling tribe near Changsha (Hunan Province) as well as the ancient Moyao tribe during the Qin and Han periods (221BC-220AD). It was during the Ming and Qing periods (1368-1911) that they gradually migrated to Hunan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangxi and other provinces. The Yaos call themselves Mian, Jinmen, Bunu, Lajia and Bingduoyou, etc. It is estimated that are about 300 Yao subgroups living in China, with differing traditional costumes and dialects. Therefore, the Yao ethnic minority has many names including Panyao, Shanziyao, Guoshanyao, Pindiyao and Baikuyao, etc., all of which has the same syllable Yao. After the founding of the PRC in 1949, the name Yao ethnic minority was officially adopted.
Most Yao people are engaged in agriculture, and others are involved in forestry. They are especially skilled in embroidery, weaving and dyeing. The Yaos worshipped a plethora of gods, and their ancestors. Their belief in "Panhu", the dog spirit, revealed a vestige of totemism. During festivals, Yao communities hold lavish rites to offer sacrifices to their ancestors. Many Yaos think it taboo to eat meat of dog, glede, sow, cat and snake.
Festivals take place one after another in the Yao communities, at a rate of about once a month. They share some festivals with the Han people, such as the Spring Festival, the Qingming Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-autumn Festival. In addition, the Yaos have their own festivals, which alter from place to place in the Yao region, for instance, the Land God Festival, the Danu Festival and the Shuagetang Festival. The "Danu" Festival, celebrated in the Yao Autonomous County of Duan in Guangxi, is said to commemorate ancient battles.
A daily necessity of the Yaos is "oil tea". The tealeaves are fried in oil, then boiled into a thick, salty soup and mixed with puffed rice or soybeans. The oil tea serves to entertain the visitors on some occasions.
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