Yao people facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Yao people

瑶族
A Yao woman, Tiantouzhai, Longji Terraces, China, November 2010
Total population
3,500,000+
Regions with significant populations
China: 2,637,421 (2000)  Vietnam: 891,151 (2019)
Languages
Mienic languages, Bunu, Pa-Hng, Lakkja, Mandarin Chinese, Shaozhou Tuhua, Vietnamese, English
Religion
Predominantly Yao folk religion, minority Buddhism

The Yao people are a group of different ethnic minorities. They live mostly in the mountains of China and Vietnam. The Chinese government officially recognizes them as one of its 55 ethnic groups. Vietnam also recognizes them as one of its 54 ethnic groups. In 2000, about 2.6 million Yao people lived in China. In 2019, about 891,000 lived in Vietnam.

History of the Yao People

Where did the Yao people come from?

The Yao people's story began over 2,000 years ago in Hunan, China. As the Han Chinese people moved more into southern China, the Yao moved into the high mountains. These mountains are found between Hunan and Guizhou in the north, and Guangdong and Guangxi in the south. They also spread into eastern Yunnan.

The first Chinese name for the Yao people was yao (猺). This word had a part that meant "dog" and was not respectful. Later, in the 20th century, the name was changed to yao (瑶), which means "precious jade." This new name shows more respect.

Yao people in the Laotian Civil War

During the Laotian Civil War, the Yao groups in Laos worked with the U.S. forces. They were seen as helpful allies. They fought against the communists. Because of this, when the war ended, the new communist government in Laos targeted Yao groups. This caused many Yao people to move to Thailand. There, they lived in camps near the border.

Moving to the United States

After getting help from the United Nations, many Yao people became refugees. They were able to move to the United States. Most of them settled in the western U.S. This includes places like California (Oakland, Sacramento) and Oregon (Portland, Salem). Some also moved to Washington state.

Yao Culture and Daily Life

A Yao child wearing traditional clothes in Guangxi.

A Red Yao woman in Vietnam.

Family life and farming

Yao society traditionally follows the father's side of the family. Sons usually inherit things from their fathers. When a couple marries, they often live with the husband's family.

For over a thousand years, the Yao people have been farmers. They mostly grow rice using plows. Some groups also practice slash-and-burn farming. If they live near forests, they also hunt for food.

Long ago, during the Song dynasty, a Chinese observer wrote about the Yao. He said they wore special blue clothes. These clothes were made using a plant called indigo.

Pan Wang Festival

The Yao people celebrate their Pan Wang (King Pan) festival every year. It happens on the sixteenth day of the tenth lunar month. This festival celebrates the old stories about how the Yao people began. It has become a happy holiday. During this time, the Yao celebrate a good harvest. They also honor their ancestors.

Yao Religion

Daoism has been very important to the Yao people for a long time. Experts say that Yao religion mixes different beliefs. It includes ideas from Daoism and older folk religions. Some people also see some Buddhist ideas. However, many scholars believe that while Buddhist ideas might appear in their rituals, the Yao people are mainly Taoist in their beliefs.

Yao Groups and Languages

A Yao stilt house in Vietnam.

There are many different groups within the Yao nationality. They speak several different languages. The Iu Mien group makes up about 70% of all Yao people.

Main language families

• Hmong–Mien languages:
  • Mienic languages: These include Iu Mien, Kim Mun, Biao Mon, Dzao Min, and Biao Min.
  • Hmongic languages: These include Bunu languages, Pa-Hng, Younuo, and Kiong Nai.
• Lakkja language: This is a Tai–Kadai language.
• Chinese: About 500,000 Yao people speak different Chinese dialects.

Where do Yao groups live?

Besides China, Yao people also live in northern Vietnam (where they are called Dao). They also live in northern Laos and Myanmar. About 60,000 Yao live in northern Thailand. They are one of the six main hill tribes there.

The Iu Mien people do not call themselves "Yao." Not all groups classified as "Yao" are Iu Mien. For example, the Lanten of Laos speak Kim Mun. The Iu Mien of Laos speak Iu Mien. These are two different Yao groups.

Written Languages

In the 1980s, experts created a new writing system for the Yao language. This system uses the Latin alphabet. It was made to work for many different Yao dialects. It helps distinguish different sounds and tones.

There is also a separate written standard for the Bunu language. This is because Bunu comes from the Hmong side of the language family.

Some people think that a type of Yao language was written using Nüshu. This is a special script from southern Hunan Province in China. However, this idea is debated. Nüshu more likely recorded a local Chinese dialect. Yao people in Hunan might have also known this dialect.

Even with new writing systems, many Yao people in China still had trouble reading and writing in 2002. About 40.6% were illiterate or semi-literate.

Where are Yao people found?

In China, most Yao people live in the provinces of Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan. Yao groups from China can also be found in Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

Yao in Guizhou Province

The Yao people in Guizhou province live in many different places. For example, in Libo County, they live in areas like Yaoshan and Yaolu. In Wangmo County, they live in villages like Shangyoumai. In Majiang County, there are 23 Yao villages in Longshan Township.

Yao autonomous prefectures and counties in China.

Yao in Hunan Province

Some Yao groups in Hunan province include:

• Pan Yao (Mien): They speak a Mienic language. They live in many counties like Jianghua and Chenxian.
• Guoshan Yao: They also speak a Mienic language. They live in Jianghua, Lanshan, and Ningyuan.
• Huajiao Yao (Wunai): They speak a Hmongic language. They are found in Longhui, Tongdao, Xupu, and Chenxi.
• Badong Yao: They speak a Chinese language that is becoming rare. They live in Xinning.
• Pingdi Yao: They speak a Chinese dialect. They live in Jianghua and Jiangyong.

Yao Population by County (2000 Chinese Census)

The table below shows where Yao people lived in China in 2000. It lists counties where more than 0.1% of the population was Yao.

See also

In Spanish: Yao para niños

• Dance of the Yao people
• Panhu