Yao folk custom

Yao population is 2134,000, and Yunnan173,000, which are distributed in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture and Simao area. The main settlements are Hekou Yao Autonomous County and Jinping Miao Yao Dai Autonomous County. Yao nationality is a mountainous nationality, living in the mid-levels with beautiful scenery and natural environment. Historically, Yao and Miao have a close blood relationship, which originated from the "Wuling Man" tribe in the Qin and Han Dynasties. Around the Sui Dynasty, the Yao and Miao nationalities living in the present areas of Hunan and Hubei have split into two ethnic groups. Yao nationality in Yunnan moved to Wenshan from Guangdong, Guangxi and Guizhou after the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Later, it moved to the red river basin and Mojiang, Mengla and other places. Many Yao people in Yunnan can speak not only their own language, but also Chinese, Zhuang language and Miao language, which has historical reasons.

Yao has its own language, which belongs to the Yao branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family, but the situation is more complicated. More than half of the people speak Burmese, which belongs to the Yao branch of Miao language family. Two fifths of the people speak Bunu, which belongs to the branch of Miao language; Some people in Guangxi speak "Lajia" language, which belongs to Zhuang and Dong language family. He is proficient in Chinese and Zhuang language and has no mother tongue. Generally speaking, Chinese is widely used. Oral literature is extremely rich. The religions of various branches of Yao nationality are different, but the religions of Yao language family and Chashan Yao nationality were deeply influenced by Taoism in the Han Dynasty and developed into Yao Taoism around the Yuan Dynasty.

In the past, Yao people used to call themselves Guo Shanyao, Hongtou Yao, Daban Yao, Pingtou Yao, Indigo Yao, Shayao and Baitou Yao because of their different characteristics in residence and dress. In terms of customs and habits, it has always maintained the traditional characteristics of this nation, especially in men's and women's clothing. Yao women are good at embroidery, embroidering exquisite patterns on the front, cuffs and hem of trousers. Hair is braided around the top of the head, surrounded by colorful beads, and the neck of the skirt is embroidered with colorful patterns all the way to the chest. Men, on the other hand, like to tie their hair in a bun, wrap it in red cloth or green cloth, and wear a long-sleeved dress with no collar and double-breasted buttons, with a white cloth "vest" slung diagonally over it, and trousers with large underpants.

When Yao men and women reach the age of 15 or 16, they have to change their flower caps into baotoupa, which shows that their bodies have matured. Boys will experience "abstinence" at the age of sixteen or seventeen, which has the nature of bar mitzvah. In order to publicize the "Ten Commandments", some Yaozhai also specially invited old artists to rap, educating young people not to commit adultery, steal, rape or be lazy, to learn, to respect the old and love the young, and to be diligent in keeping the family. Yao people are free to marry, and the wedding is frugal. Landianyao has the custom of being adopted by his wife.

Yao people have many festivals, including Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, Duanyang Festival, Ganba Festival, Xinmi Festival and Mulian Festival. Wang Pan Festival (also called Danu Festival or Yao Year) is the biggest festival. Yao people love to sing, and they should sing loud and moving songs every festival or festival.