The Yao people (its majority branch is also known as Mien; ; vi, người Dao) is a government classification for various minorities in China and

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

. They are one of the 55 officially recognised ethnic minorities in China and reside in the mountainous terrain of the southwest and south. They also form one of the 54

ethnic groups An ethnic group or an ethnicity is a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups. Those attributes can include common sets of traditions, ancestry, language, history, ...

officially recognised by Vietnam. In China in the last census in 2000, they numbered 2,637,421 and in Vietnam census in 2019, they numbered 891,151.

History

Early history

The origins of the Yao can be traced back 2000 years starting in

Hunan Hunan (, ; ) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the South Central China region. Located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze watershed, it borders the province-level divisions of Hubei to the north, Jiangxi ...

. The Yao and

Hmong Hmong may refer to: * Hmong people, an ethnic group living mainly in Southwest China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand * Hmong cuisine * Hmong customs and culture ** Hmong music ** Hmong textile art * Hmong language, a continuum of closely related to ...

were among the rebels during the

Miao Rebellions There have been several Miao rebellions in Chinese history: *Miao rebellions in the Ming dynasty (14th–15th centuries) *Bozhou rebellion (1589–1600) *Miao Rebellion (1735–36) *Miao Rebellion (1795–1806) *Miao Rebellion (1854–73) There hav ...

against the

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last orthodox dynasty of China ruled by the Han peo ...

. As the

Han Chinese The Han Chinese () or Han people (), are an East Asian ethnic group native to China. They constitute the world's largest ethnic group, making up about 18% of the global population and consisting of various subgroups speaking distinctiv ...

expanded into South China, the Yao retreated into the highlands between Hunan and

Guizhou Guizhou (; formerly Kweichow) is a landlocked province in the southwest region of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Guiyang, in the center of the province. Guizhou borders the autonomous region of Guangxi to the ...

to the north and

Guangdong Guangdong (, ), alternatively romanized as Canton or Kwangtung, is a coastal province in South China on the north shore of the South China Sea. The capital of the province is Guangzhou. With a population of 126.01 million (as of 2020) ...

and Guangxi to the south, and stretching into Eastern

Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the C ...

. Around 1890, the

government started taking action against Yao in Northwestern Guangdong. The first Chinese

exonym An endonym (from Greek: , 'inner' + , 'name'; also known as autonym) is a common, ''native'' name for a geographical place, group of people, individual person, language or dialect, meaning that it is used inside that particular place, group, ...

for "Yao people" was the

graphic pejorative Some historical Chinese characters for non-Chinese peoples were graphically pejorative ethnic slurs, where the racial insult derived not from the Chinese word but from the character used to write it. For instance, written Chinese first transcribed ...

''yao'' 猺 (犭"dog radical" and ''yao'' 䍃 phonetic) "jackal", with twentieth-century reforms this was changed to ''yao'': "precious jade".

Laotian Civil War

During the Laotian Civil War, the Yao tribes of Laos had a good relationship with U.S. forces and were dubbed to be an "efficient friendly force". They fought in favour of the (South Vietnamese) government against the communists. This relationship caused the new communist Laotian government to target Yao tribal groups for revenge once the war was over. This triggered further immigration into

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

, where the tribes would be put into camps along the Thailand-Laos border.

Immigration to the United States

After obtaining refugee status from the Thai government and with the help of the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...

, many Yao people were able to obtain sponsorship into the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

(although many remain in Thailand). Most of the Yao who have immigrated to the United States have settled along the Western part of the U.S., mainly in Central and Northern

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

such as Visalia, Oakland, Oroville, Redding, Richmond,

Sacramento ) , image_map = Sacramento County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sacramento Highlighted.svg , mapsize = 250x200px , map_caption = Location within Sacramento ...

, but also in parts of

Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. T ...

like Portland, Salem, and Beaverton as well as the state of

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...

and Renton. See Mien American for those identified as Mien.

Culture, society, and economy

Yao society is traditionally

patrilineal Patrilineality, also known as the male line, the spear side or agnatic kinship, is a common kinship system in which an individual's family membership derives from and is recorded through their father's lineage. It generally involves the inheritan ...

, with sons inheriting from their fathers. The Yao follow

patrilocal residence In social anthropology, patrilocal residence or patrilocality, also known as virilocal residence or virilocality, are terms referring to the social system in which a married couple resides with or near the husband's parents. The concept of locat ...

."Yao" in ''Ethnohistorical Dictionary of China'' (ed. James Stuart Olson: Greenwood Press, 1998), p. 374. The Yao people have been farmers for over a thousand years, mostly rice cultivation through plowing, although a few practice

slash-and-burn Slash-and-burn agriculture is a farming method that involves the cutting and burning of plants in a forest or woodland to create a field called a swidden. The method begins by cutting down the trees and woody plants in an area. The downed veget ...

agriculture. Where the Yao live nearby forested regions, they also engage in hunting. During the Southern Song (1127–1279), an imperial Chinese observer, Zhou Qufei, described the Yao as wearing distinctive fine blue clothing produced using

indigo Indigo is a deep color close to the color wheel blue (a primary color in the RGB color space), as well as to some variants of ultramarine, based on the ancient dye of the same name. The word "indigo" comes from the Latin word ''indicum'', m ...

. The Yao celebrate their ''Pan Wang'' (King Pan) festival annually on the sixteenth day of the tenth

lunar month In lunar calendars, a lunar month is the time between two successive syzygies of the same type: new moons or full moons. The precise definition varies, especially for the beginning of the month. Variations In Shona, Middle Eastern, and Eur ...

. The festival celebrates the mythical original story of the Yao people, and has evolved "into a happy holiday for the Yao to celebrate a good harvest and worship their ancestors."

Religion

Daoism Taoism (, ) or Daoism () refers to either a school of philosophical thought (道家; ''daojia'') or to a religion (道教; ''daojiao''), both of which share ideas and concepts of Chinese origin and emphasize living in harmony with the ''Tao'' ...

has historically been important to the Yao. Jinag Yingliang, in a 1948 study, argued that Yao religion was characterized by (1) a process of Han Chinese-influenced Daoisation (); (2) the endurance of pre-Daoist

folk religion In religious studies and folkloristics, folk religion, popular religion, traditional religion or vernacular religion comprises various forms and expressions of religion that are distinct from the official doctrines and practices of organized re ...

; and (3) some Buddhist beliefs. The description of Yao religion is similar to the definition of

Chinese folk religion Chinese folk religion, also known as Chinese popular religion comprehends a range of traditional religious practices of Han Chinese, including the Chinese diaspora. Vivienne Wee described it as "an empty bowl, which can variously be filled ...

as described by Arthur Wolf and Steve Sangren. Scholar Zhang Youjun takes issue with claims of "strong Buddhist influence" on the Yao, arguing that "although Yao ritual texts contain Buddhist expression, the Yao do not believe in Buddhism at all. They are resolutely Taoist."

Groups and languages

There are several distinct groups within the Yao nationality, and they speak several different languages, The Iu Mien comprise 70% of the Yao population. *

Hmong–Mien languages The Hmong–Mien languages (also known as Miao–Yao and rarely as Yangtzean) are a highly tonal language family of southern China and northern Southeast Asia. They are spoken in mountainous areas of southern China, including Guizhou, Hunan, Yunn ...

The Mien speak

Mienic languages The Mienic or Yao languages are spoken by the Yao people of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Some of the Yao peoples speak Hmongic languages (Miao); these are called '' Bunu''. A small population of Yao people in Jinxiu Yao Autonomous Cou ...

(), including: *** Mian–Jin languages **** Iu Mien, 2,172,000 speakers (1,699,750 in China, 350,000 in Vietnam, 40,000 in Thailand, 20,250 in Laos, 60,000 in the United States, 2,000 in France

**** Kim Mun language, Kim Mun (also known as Lanten), more than 300,000 Yao peopl

**** Biao Mon language, Biao Mon, 20,000 speaker

*** Dzao Min language, Dzao Min, 60,000 speaker

*** Biao Min language, Biao Min, 43,000 speaker

** Hmongic languages *** Bunu languages *** Pa-Hng *** Younuo *** Kiong Nai * Lakkja language (a Tai–Kadai language) * Chinese ** about 500,000 Yao speak Chinese dialects In addition to China, Yao also live in northern

(where they are called ''Dao''), northern Laos, and

Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...

. There are around 60,000 Yao in northern

, where they are one of the six main hill tribes. The lowland-living Lanten of Laos, who speak Kim Mun language, Kim Mun, and the highland-living Iu Mien of Laos are two different Yao groups. There are also many Iu Mien Americans, mainly refugees from the highlands of Laos. The Iu Mien do not call themselves "Yao". Not all "Yao" are Iu Mien. A group of 61,000 people on

Hainan Hainan (, ; ) is the smallest and southernmost province of the People's Republic of China (PRC), consisting of various islands in the South China Sea. , the largest and most populous island in China,The island of Taiwan, which is slightly l ...

speak the Yao language Kim Mun; 139,000 speakers of Kim Mun live in other parts of China (

and Guangxi), and 174,500 live in Laos and Vietnam. The Bunu people call themselves ''Nuox'' , ''Buod nuox'' , ''Dungb nuox'' , or their official name ''Yaof zuf'' . Only 258,000 of the 439,000 people categorised as Bunu in the 1982 census speak Bunu; 100,000 speak the Tai–Kadai

Zhuang languages The Zhuang languages (; autonym: , pre-1982: , Sawndip: 話僮, from ''vah'', 'language' and ''Cuengh'', 'Zhuang'; ) are any of more than a dozen Tai languages spoken by the Zhuang people of Southern China in the province of Guangxi and adja ...

, and 181,000 speak Chinese and the Tai–Kadai

Bouyei language The Bouyei language ( autonym: Haausqyaix, also spelled ''Buyi'', ''Buyei'' or ''Puyi''; ; vi, tiếng Bố Y or ) is a language spoken by the Bouyei ethnic group of Southern Guizhou Province, China. Classified as a member of the Northern Tai ...

Mao (2004)

Mao Zongwu (2004:7-8) gives a detailed list of various Yao

endonyms An endonym (from Greek: , 'inner' + , 'name'; also known as autonym) is a common, ''native'' name for a geographical place, group of people, individual person, language or dialect, meaning that it is used inside that particular place, group, o ...

(i.e., self-designated names) and the Chinese names of various groups and clans associated with them. Endonyms are written in the

International Phonetic Alphabet The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is an alphabetic system of phonetic notation based primarily on the Latin script. It was devised by the International Phonetic Association in the late 19th century as a standardized representation ...

with numerical Chao tones. *Autonym ' 勉 or '' '' 优勉: Pangu Yao 盘古瑶, Pan Yao 盘瑶, Panhu Yao 盘瓠瑶, Trans-Mountain / Guoshan Yao 过山瑶, Large-Board / Daban Yao 大板瑶, Small-Board / Xiaoban Yao 小板瑶, Board / Ban Yao 板瑶, Top-Board / Dingban Yao 顶板瑶, Sharp-Headed / Jiantou Yao 尖头瑶, Level-Headed / Pingtou Yao 平头瑶, Red-Head / Hongtou Yao 红头瑶, Arrow-Pole / Jian'gan Yao 箭杆瑶, Cattle-Horn Yao / Niujiao 牛角瑶, Tu Yao 土瑶 (in

Hezhou Hezhou () is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. Geography and climate Hezhou is located in northeastern Guangxi. It borders Hunan to the north and Guangdong to the east. ...

, Guangxi), Native / Bendi Yao 本地瑶, Flowery / Hua Yao 花瑶 (in

Yangshuo County Yangshuo County () is a county under the jurisdiction of Guilin City, in the northeast of Guangxi, China. Its seat is located in Yangshuo Town. Surrounded by karst peaks and bordered on one side by the Li River it is easily accessible by bus or by ...

, Guangxi), Ao Yao 坳瑶, Zheng Yao 正瑶, Liang Yao 粮瑶 *Autonym '' '' 金门 or ' 甘迪门: Blue-Indigo / Landian Yao 蓝靛瑶, Shanzi Yao 山子瑶, Flowery-Headed / Huatou Yao 花头瑶, Sand / Sha Yao 沙瑶, Level-Headed / Pingtou Yao 平头瑶, Bazi Yao 坝子瑶 *Autonym ' 标曼 or ' 史门: Min Yao 民瑶, "Four Great" Min Yao 四大民瑶 *Autonym '' '' 标敏 or ' 交公勉: East Mountain / Dongshan Yao 东山瑶 (in

Quanzhou County Quanzhou County (; za, Cenzcouh Yen) is a county in the northeast of Guangxi, China, bordering Hunan province to the north and east. It is under the administration of Guilin City. Quanzhou is the biggest county in Guilin both in size and in pop ...

, Guangxi), Dog-Headed / Goutou Yao 狗头瑶 *Autonym '' '' 藻勉: Bapai Yao 八排瑶 *Autonym ' 优念, ' 炳多优, or '' '' 珊介: Red Yao 红瑶 (in

Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County Longsheng Various Nationalities (Gezu) Autonomous County ( zh, s=龙胜各族自治县, t=龍勝各族自治縣, p=Lóngshèng Gèzú Zìzhìxiàn; za, Lungzhingz Gakcuz Swciyen; usually referred to as "Longsheng County" ) is a county in the nort ...

, Guangxi), Plains / Pingdi Yao 平地瑶 *Autonym '' '' 布努: Beilou Yao 背篓瑶, Beilong Yao 背陇瑶, West Mountain / Xishan Yao 西山瑶, East Mountain Yao / Dongshan 东山瑶 (in

Bama Yao Autonomous County Bama Yao Autonomous County ( Zhuang: ,) is a county in Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Hechi City. The residents of Bama County have a reputation for longevity, and Bama has been the focus of studies from geriatricians nationwid ...

, Guangxi), Tudi Yao 土地瑶, Tu Yao 土瑶 (in

Pingguo County Pingguo (; za, Bingzgoj Si) is a city of west-central Guangxi, China. It is the easternmost county-level division of the prefecture-level city of Baise. Two thirds of the population are Zhuang. The Pingguo Industry Park hosts an important part ...

and

Mashan County Mashan County (; Standard Zhuang: ) is a county of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, it is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Nanning, the capital of Guangxi. The northernmost county-level division of Nanning City, it b ...

, Guangxi), Mountain / Shan Yao 山瑶, Man Yao 蛮瑶, East Valley / Dongnong Yao 东弄瑶, West Valley / Xinong Yao 西弄瑶, Fan Yao 反瑶, Anding Yao 安定瑶, White Yao 白瑶, Black Yao 黑瑶, Black-Trouser / Heiku Yao 黑裤瑶, Long-Shirt / Changshan Yao 长衫瑶 *Autonym '' '' 瑙格劳 or '' '' 包诺: Siting Yao 四亭瑶, Situan Yao 四团瑶 *Autonym '' '' 炯奈: Hualan Yao 花蓝瑶 *Autonym '' '' 巴哼: Dog Yao 狗瑶, Eight-Surname / Baxing Yao 八姓瑶, Red Yao 红瑶 (in Liping and Congjiang Counties of Guizhou;

Rongshui Miao Autonomous County Rongshui Miao Autonomous County (; Standard Zhuang: ) is under the administration of Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. The seat of Rongshui County is Rongshui Town. It borders the prefecture-level divisions of Qiandongnan (Guizh ...

and Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County of Guangxi), Wood Yao 木瑶 *Autonym '' '' 唔奈: Flowery Yao 花瑶 (in

Longhui Longhui County () is a county and the 6th most populous county-level division in the Province of Hunan, China; it is under the administration of Shaoyang City. Located in the mid-eastern Hunan, the county is bordered to the north by Xinhua and ...

Dongkou Dongkou County () is a county in the Province of Hunan, China, it is under the administration of Shaoyang City. Located in west-central Hunan, the county is bordered to the northeast by Longhui County, to the northwest by Xupu County and Hongjia ...

, Chenxi, and

Xupu County Xupu County () is a county of Hunan Province, China, it is under the administration of Huaihua Prefecturel-level City. Located on the west central Hunan, the county is bordered to the north by Yuanling County, to the northeast by Anhua County, ...

and the

Tongdao Dong Autonomous County Tongdao (the full name: "''Tongdao Dong Autonomous County''", ; usually referred to as "''Tongdao County''", ) is an autonomous county of Dong people in Hunan, Hunan Province, China, it is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of ...

of Hunan) *Autonym '' '' 优诺: Red Yao 红瑶 *Autonym '' '' 拉珈: Tea Mountain / Chashan Yao 茶山瑶

Plains Yao

Groups considered to be "Plains Yao" (Pingdi Yao 平地瑶) include: *Autonym Bingduoyou 炳多尤 (Pingdi Yao 平地瑶, Dainaijiang 代奈江): in

Jianghua Yao Autonomous County Jianghua ( "''Jianghua Yao Autonomous County''", ; usually referred to as "''Jianghua County''", ) is an autonomous county of Yao people in the Province of Hunan, China, it is under the administration of Yongzhou Prefecture-level City. Located ...

江华 of Hunan; Gongcheng 恭城, Fuchuan 富川, Zhongshan 钟山, and Lingui 临桂 counties of Guangxi *Autonym Yeheni 爷贺尼 (Pingdi Yao 平地瑶): in

江华, Hunan (''Jianghua County Gazetteer''). The Yeheni speak a divergent Chinese dialect. It is spoken in Taoxu Town 涛圩镇 and Helukou Town 河路口镇 in Jianghua County, Hunan. *Autonym Younian 优念 (Pinghua-speaking Red Yao 平话红瑶; '): in Longsheng 龙胜 and Guanyang 灌阳 counties of Guangxi. According to Chen Qiguang (2013:30), the ' number about 10,000 speakers in Sishui 泗水, Madi 马堤, Mengshan 孟山, Jiangliu 江柳, and other locations of

Longsheng County Longsheng Various Nationalities (Gezu) Autonomous County ( zh, s=龙胜各族自治县, t=龍勝各族自治縣, p=Lóngshèng Gèzú Zìzhìxiàn; za, Lungzhingz Gakcuz Swciyen; usually referred to as "Longsheng County" ) is a county in the nort ...

. *Autonym Shanjie 珊介 (Shanzi Yao 山仔瑶): in Fangcheng 防城, Guangxi *Autonym Youjia 优嘉 (Yaojia 瑶家): in

Guanyang County Guanyang County (; Zhuang language: ) is a county in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, bordering Hunan Hunan (, ; ) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the South Central China re ...

灌阳, Guangxi *Jingdong Yao 景东县瑶族 (autonym: Lewu people 乐舞人):

Jingdong County Jingdong Yi Autonomous County () is an autonomous county in the west-central part of Yunnan Province, China. It is the northernmost county-level division of the prefecture-level city of Pu'er. Administrative divisions In the present, Jingdong Yi ...

景东彝族自治县, Yunnan. According to the ''Jingdong County Gazetteer'' (1994:519), ethnic Yao numbered 3,889 individuals in 1990, and lived mainly in Chaqing 岔箐 and Dasongshu 大松树 of Taizhong 太忠乡.

Vietnam

Tim Doling (2010:82-83) lists the following Yao (spelled ''Dao'' in the

Vietnamese alphabet The Vietnamese alphabet ( vi, chữ Quốc ngữ, lit=script of the National language) is the modern Latin writing script or writing system for Vietnamese. It uses the Latin script based on Romance languages originally developed by Portuguese m ...

) subgroups in

northern Vietnam Northern Vietnam ( vi, Bắc Bộ) is one of three geographical regions within Vietnam. It consists of three administrative regions: the Northwest (Vùng Tây Bắc), the Northeast (Vùng Đông Bắc), and the Red River Delta (Đồng Bằng S ...

.Doling, Tim. 2010. Mountains and Ethnic Minorities: North West Việt Nam. Thế Giới Publishers. *Mienic groups ** Iu Mien: Black Dao of Dien Bien and Lai Chau; Red Dao of southern Lao Cai, Yen Bai, and Son La ** Kim Mien: Dao Tà Pán 大板瑶 (Dao Đại Bản, Dao Coóc Ngáng, Dao SừngNguyễn Mạnh Hùng. 2013. ''Lễ cưới người Dao Nga Hoàng''. Hà Nội: Nhà xuất bản văn hóa thông tin.) of Ha Giang, Cao Bang, and Yen Bai; Red Dao of northern and eastern Lao Cai; Hongtou Red Dao 红头瑶 in northern Lai Chau ** Kiem Mien: Red Dao of Sa Pa ** Kam Mien: Coin Dao of Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, and Bac Can ** Kem Mien: Coin Dao of Hoa Binh and Son La ** Quần Chẹt Mien: Hoa Binh, Son La, Tuyen Quang, Bac Can (also called the Dao Nga Hoàng, Dao Sơn Đầu) ** Lô Gang Mien: Dao Lô Gang and Dao Đầu Trọc of Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Mong Cai *'' Kim Mun'' groups **Kim Mun: Dao Làn Tiển 蓝靛瑶 (including the Dao Tuyển, Dao Áo Dài, and Dao Đầu Bằng) **Kim Meun: Dao Quần Trắng 白裤瑶 and Dao Thanh Y 青衣瑶 According to Doling (2010), only Kim Mun, Kim Mien, and Lô Gang may be found outside Vietnam. Nguyen (2004:14-15, 128) lists Đại Bản, Tiểu Bản, Khố Bạch, and Làn Tiẻn as the 4 primary subdivisions of ethnic Yao in Vietnam. * Đại Bản **Dao Đỏ (''Hùng Thầu Dào, Dao Coóc Ngáng, Dao Quý Lâm''): located in Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen **Dao Quần Chẹt (''Dao Sơn Đầu, Dao Tam Đảo, Dao Nga Hoàng''): located in Hoa Binh, Ha Tay, Phu Tho, Vinh Yen, Son La, Yen Bai **Dao Thanh Phán (''Dao Coóc Mùn, Dao Đội Ván, Dao Lô Gang, Dao Dụ Kiùn, Dao Thêu''): located in Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Bac Giang * Tiểu Bản **Dao Tiền (''Dao Đeo Tiền''): located in Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Son La, Tuyen Quang, Cao Bang, Bac Kan * Khố Bạch **Dao Quần Trắng: located in Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang (known as ''Dao Họ'' in Yen Bai, Lao Cai) * Làn Tiẻn **Dao Thanh Y: located in Tuyen Quang, Bac Giang, Quang Ninh **Dao Áo Dài (''Dao Tuyển, Dao Chàm, Dao Slán Chỉ''): located in Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Bac Kan

Distribution

In China, Yao peoples are distributed primarily in the provinces

, Guangxi,

, and

. Ethnic groups derived from the Yao of China are found in Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

Guizhou

The Yao of

are found in the following locations (''Guizhou Province Gazetteer'' 贵州志 2002).Guizhou Province Gazetteer: Ethnic Gazetteer ��州省志. 民族志(2002). Guiyang: Guizhou Ethnic Publishing House ��州民族出版社 *

Libo County Libo County () is a county of southern Guizhou province, China, bordering Guangxi to the south. It is under the administration of the Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. Geography The county is located in the remote southeastern corner ...

: townships of Yaoshan 瑶山, Yaolu 瑶麓, and Yao'ai 瑶埃 * Shiqian County (2,522 people): 9 Yao villages including Leijiatun 雷家屯 and Wurongguan 乌荣关 of Beita Township 北塔乡, and Shuiwei Village of Huaqiao Township 花桥乡水尾村 *

Wangmo County Wangmo County () is a county in the southwest of Guizhou province, China, bordering Guangxi to the southeast. It is under the administration of the Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. Climate Wangmo recorded of rainfall in one hour, o ...

: the 4 villages of Shangyoumai 上油迈, Xiaoyoumai 下油迈, Xinzhai 新寨, and Jiaxian 加现 in Youmai Township 油迈瑶族乡 * Majiang County: 23 Yao villages in Longshan Township 龙山乡, including Heba 河坝 (with 6,474 people) *

Liping County Liping County () is a county in the southeast of Guizhou province, China, bordering Hunan to the east and Guangxi to the southeast. It is part of the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture. History The county was affected by the Miao r ...

**Shunhua Township 顺化瑶族乡 (1,316 people in 1992): Gongcun 贡村, Gaoka 高卡, Yibuwan 已补晚, Yishu 已树; Gaozizhai of Gaoshu Village 高抒村高仔寨 **Leidong Township 雷洞瑶族水族乡 (1,576 people in 1992): Jinchengzhai 金城寨 and Yibizhai 已毕寨 of Jincheng Village 金城村, Sanshanzhai of Xilao Village 戏劳村三山寨; Cenpangzhai 岑胖寨, Nongbozhai 弄播寨, Yunnanzhai 云南寨 *

Congjiang County Congjiang County () is a county in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou, China. It is divided by the Duliu River (), the upper reaches of the Liu River, and borders Guangxi to the south. It is an important transit point a ...

: 2 subgroups of Red Yao 红瑶 and Pan Yao 盘瑶 **''Red Yao'' 红瑶 ***Cuili Township 翠里瑶族壮族乡: Gaomang 高忙, Xinzhai 新寨, Shujiawan 舒家湾, Wucai 乌菜, Jiage 架格, Baiyanchong 白岩冲, Raojia 饶家 ***Jiabang Township 加榜乡: Dazhou 达州村 **''Pan Yao'' 盘瑶 ***Xishan Township 西山镇: Cengang 岑杠, Gaojiao 高脚, Qiuka 秋卡 ***Douli Township 斗里乡: Dengmian 登面, Changka 长卡, Gaoliu 高柳, Beitong 碑痛 ***Xiutang Township 秀塘壮族乡: Dage 打格, Yusha 雨沙, Jiujia 九甲, Baidao 摆倒, Wubu 乌布, Xilin 细林 ***Zaibian Township 宰便镇: Zezhui 怎追 ***Xiajiang Township 下江镇: Huanglang 黄郎 ***Yongli Township 拥里乡: Dashan 大山, Laozhai 老寨, Gangbian 刚边, Huangnijing 黄泥井 ***Donglang Township 东郎乡: Baidui 摆堆 *

Rongjiang County Rongjiang County () is a county in southeastern Guizhou province, China. It is under the administration of the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture. Administration Rongjiang County is divided into 9 towns and 4 townships and 6 Ethnic ...

**Tashi Township 塔石瑶族水族乡 (2,979 people): Zedong 怎东村, Zaiyong 宰勇村, Dangxiang 党相村, Tashi 塔石村, Dangdiao 党调村, Zeba 怎贝村, Qiaoyang 乔央村. **Pingjiang Township 平江乡: Jijiaoba 鸡脚坝, Balu 巴鲁 **Pingyong Township 平永镇: Sanbuqiao 三步桥, Qiaohai 乔亥 **Sanjiang Township 三江乡: Wuhong 乌洪 **Liangwang Township 两汪乡: Cen'ao 岑熬 **Pingyou Township 平尤乡: Shuangxikou 双溪口, Bakai 八开 *

Leishan County Leishan (, Hmu language:''Zangx Xongx'') is a county in the east of Guizhou province, China. It is under the administration of the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture (; Hmu language: '' ...

**Dadi Township 达地镇: Longtanggou 龙塘沟, Paisong 排松, Pingzhai 平寨, Laozhai 老寨, Beilue 背略, Pangjia 庞家, Jieli 皆力, Gaolue 高略, Tongwu 同乌, Yeliao 也辽, Xiaowu 小巫, Baimizhai 白米寨, Hebian 河边 **Liuwu Township 柳乌乡: Liuwu 柳乌 **Qiaosang Township 乔桑乡: Xiagaojian 下高枧 **Gulu Township 固鲁乡: Nanping 南屏 * Danzhai County: Pailu 排路, Yangwu 杨武, Jiapei 加配 *

Jianhe County Jianhe County () is in the southeast of Guizhou Province, China. Under the administration of Qiandongnan Prefecture, it is from the provincial capital of Guiyang, and from Kaili City, the prefectural seat. Administration Jianhe County admini ...

: Zhandi Village, Taiyong Township 太拥乡展迪村 * Sandu County: Wuxia 巫不, Pu'an 普安, Jiaxiong 甲雄, Shangjiang 上江, Niuchang 牛场 *

Luodian County Luodian County () is a county under the administration of Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in the south of Guizhou province, China, bordering Guangxi to the south. The climate in the area is humid subtropical, with strong monsoon inf ...

: Ankang 安抗 of Luotuo 罗妥; Naji 纳吉, Nakao 纳考, Nanao 纳闹, Luoyang 罗羊, Longping 龙坪, Bianyang 边阳 of Fengting 风亭 *

Ziyun County Ziyun Miao and Buyei Autonomous County (; Bouyei: ) is a county in the southwest of Guizhou province, China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Anshun Anshun () is a prefecture-level city located in southwestern ...

(297 people): Tangguan Village, Maoping Township 茅坪塘贯村 *

Guanling County Guanling Buyei and Miao Autonomous County (; Bouyei: ) is an autonomous county in Anshun City, in the southwest of Guizhou Province, China. Area: Population: 334,900 in 2008. Postal Code: 561300. Telephone Area Code: 0853 The county govern ...

(189 people) The Yao of Guizhou have various autonyms, such as: *' (董蒙), in Yaoshan 瑶山, Libo County. The

Buyi people The Bouyei (also spelled ''Puyi'', ''Buyei'' and ''Buyi''; self called: Buxqyaix, or "Puzhong", "Burao", "Puman"; ; vi, người Bố Y), otherwise known as the Zhongjia, are an ethnic group living in Southern Mainland China. Numbering 2.5 mi ...

call them '. *' (努侯), in Yaolu 瑶麓, Libo County. The Shui people call them '. *' (东蒙), in Yao'ai 瑶埃, Libo County. The Buyi people call them '. *' (满), in Youmai 油迈, Wangmo County. *' (容棉), in Rongjiang, Leishan, Danzhai, Jianhe, Congjiang, and Sandu Counties.

Hunan

Some subgroups of ethnic Yao in Hunan include: * Pan Yao 盘瑶 (Mian 勉): in Jianghua, Chenxian, Lanshan, Ningyuan, Daoxian, Guiyang, Lingling, Chengbu, Chenxi, Xinning; speak a Mienic language. * Guoshan Yao 过山瑶: in Jianghua, Lanshan, Ningyuan; speak a Mienic language. * Huajiao Yao 花脚瑶 (Wunai 唔奈): in Longhui, Tongdao, Xupu, Chenxi; speak a Hmongic language. * Badong Yao 八峒瑶 (Batong Yao 八垌瑶): in Xinning. The Badong Yao speak an endangered Sinitic language. It is spoken in the villages of Huangyandong 黄岩峒, Malindong 麻林峒, and Dazhendong 大圳峒 in Huangjin Ethnic Yao Township 黄金瑶族乡, Xinning County. * Pingdi Yao 平地瑶 (Bingduoyou 炳多尤): in Jianghua, Jiangyong, and speak a Chinese dialect. * Qixing Yao 七姓瑶: in Chenxi, and speak a Chinese dialect. The ''Hunan Province Gazetteer'' (1997) gives the following autonyms for various peoples classified by the Chinese government as Yao. *' 尤棉: in much of Xiangxi Prefecture *' 董本尤: in Xintian County, Yizhang County, Changning County *' 谷岗尤: in Lanshan County, Jianghua County *' 土尤 *' 藻敏: in Shuangpai County, Dao County, Ningyuan County *Donglixiao 洞里销: in Xinning County; also called Bunu 布努, Donglixiao 峒里俏, or Dong Yao 峒瑶 (''Xinning County Gazetteer'' 2009). Their language is called Donghua 峒话. *' 唔奈: in Longhui County, Xupu County *' 炳多尤 (also called Dainaijiang 代奈江): in Jianghua County, Jiangyong County Tan Xiaoping (2012) also gives the following autonyms for Yao subgroups of Jiangyong County. *' 勉 *' 优勉 *' 壹勉 *' 优尼 *' 炳多优 The Yao of

Shaoyang Shaoyang (), formerly named Baoqing (Paoking) (), is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Hunan province, China, bordering Guangxi to the south. It has a history of 2500 years and remains an important commercial and transportation city in Huna ...

Prefecture are found in the following locations (''Shaoyang Prefecture Gazetteer'' 1997). Population statistics are from 1990. *

Xinning County Xinning County () is a Counties of the People's Republic of China, county in the Provinces of China, Province of Hunan, China, it is under the administration of Shaoyang, Shaoyang City. Located on the south western margin of Hunan, the county is ...

(12,756 Yao persons): Malin 麻林乡, Huangjin 黄金乡, Jingwei 靖位乡 (in Yuanshui 源水瑶族村) *

Dongkou County Dongkou County () is a county in the Province of Hunan, China, it is under the administration of Shaoyang City. Located in west-central Hunan, the county is bordered to the northeast by Longhui County, to the northwest by Xupu County and Hongji ...

(8,473 Yao persons): Naxi 𦰡溪乡 (那溪乡), Changtang 长塘乡, Dawu 大屋乡; Yuexi 月溪, Zhaping 渣坪, Tongshan 桐山 *

Longhui County Longhui County () is a county and the 6th most populous county-level division in the Province of Hunan, China; it is under the administration of Shaoyang City. Located in the mid-eastern Hunan, the county is bordered to the north by Xinhua and ...

(6,151 Yao persons): Huxingshan 虎形山乡, Mao'ao 茅坳乡, Xiaoshajiang 小沙江镇, Qingshan 青山, Matangshan 麻塘山 *

Chengbu County Chengbu Miao Autonomous County (; usually referred to as "Chengbu County", commonly abbreviated as "Chengbu", ) is an autonomous county of Miao people in the Province of Hunan, China, it is under the administration of Shaoyang City. Located on ...

(2,276 Yao persons): Lanrong 兰蓉, Qingyuan 清源, Dayang 大阳, Tingping 汀坪, Pengdong 蓬洞, Yangmei 杨梅 * Suining County (1,641 Yao persons): Jinta 金趿, Shuikou 水口 The ''Shaoyang Prefecture Gazetteer'' (1997) reports that the Yao of

Prefecture, Hunan speak the following languages. *''

'' **

隆回: Huxingshan 虎形山, Mao'ao 茅坳, Xiaoshajiang 小沙江 **

洞口: Dawu 大屋, Changtang 长塘 **

城步: Qingyuan 清源, Lanrong 兰蓉 *'' Hmongic languages''?: Huangjin 黄金 and Malin 麻林 of

*'' Southern Dong dialect'': Naxi 𦰡溪 (那溪),

and Lianmin 联民, Suining County The following population statistics of ethnic Yao in Hunan are from the 1990 Chinese census, as given in the ''Hunan Province Gazetteer'' (1997).

By county

;County-level distribution of the Yao 2000 census (Only counties or county equivalents with more than.1% of county population are shown.)

Written languages

After 1982, the Guangxi Nationality Institute and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences together created a new Yao writing system which was unified with the research results of the Yao-American scholar Yuēsè Hòu (

Traditional Chinese A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays ...

: 約瑟·候/

Simplified Chinese Simplification, Simplify, or Simplified may refer to: Mathematics Simplification is the process of replacing a mathematical expression by an equivalent one, that is simpler (usually shorter), for example * Simplification of algebraic expressions, ...

: 约瑟·候). The writing system was finalized in 1984 in Ruyuan County( Chinese characters: 乳源瑤族自治縣）,

, which included Chinese professors Pan Chengqian (盤承乾/盘承乾), Deng Fanggui (鄧方貴/邓方贵), Liu Baoyuan (劉保元/刘保元), Su Defu (蘇德富/苏德富) and Yauz Mengh Borngh; Chinese government officials; Mien Americans Sengfo Chao (Zhao Fuming), Kao Chiem Chao (Zhao Youcai), and Chua Meng Chao; David T. Lee. American linguist Herbert C. Purnell developed a curriculum and workshop presentations on language learning in East and Southeast Asia, as well as Yao Seng Deng from

. The US delegation took the new writing system to the Iu Mien community in the United States where it was adopted with a vote of 78 to 7 by a conference of Mien American community leader

This writing system based on the Latin alphabet was designed to be pan-dialectal; it distinguishes 30 syllable initials, 121 syllable finals and eight tones. For an example of how the unified alphabet is used to write Iu Mien, a common Yao language, see

Iu Mien language The Iu Mien language ( ium, Iu Mienh, ; zh, 勉語 or ; th, ภาษาอิวเมี่ยน) is the language spoken by the Iu Mien people in China (where they are considered a constituent group of the Yao peoples), Laos, Vietnam, Thai ...

. There is a separate written standard for Bunu, since it is from the Hmong/Miao side, rather than the Mien/Yao side, of the Miao–Yao language family. Some people think that a variety of Yao is, or was, written in

Nüshu Nüshu () is a syllabic script derived from Chinese characters that was used exclusively among women in Jiangyong County in Hunan province of southern China.ProposatextDance of the Yao people * Panhu

References

Sources

AsiaHarvest.org: Ethnic group profiles of China
* Forbes, Andrew, and Henley, David, 'Chiang Mai's Hill Peoples' in: ''Ancient Chiang Mai'' Volume 3. Chiang Mai, Cognoscenti Books, 2012. ASIN: B006IN1RNW * Máo Zōngwǔ 毛宗武: Yáozú Miǎnyǔ fāngyán yánjiū 瑶族勉语方言研究 (''Studies in Mien dialects of the Miao nationality''; Běijīng 北京, Mínzú chūbǎnshè 民族出版社 2004), . * Méng Cháojí 蒙朝吉: Hàn-Yáo cídiǎn - Bùnǔyǔ 汉瑶词典——布努语 (''Chinese-Yao Dictionary - Bunu''; Chéngdū 成都, Sìchuān mínzú chūbǎnshè 四川民族出版社 1996), . *Barker, Judith C., and Saechao, Kaochoy. "A Household Survey of Older Iu-Mien Refugees in Rural California." Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 12.2 (1997): 121-143. *Barker, Judith C. & Saechao, Kaochoy. (2000). A demographic survey of Iu-Mien in West Coast States of the U.S., 1993. Journal of Immigrant Health, 2:1, 31-42. * Phan Ngọc Khuê. 2003. ''Lễ cấp sắc của người Dao Lô Gang ở Lạng Sơn''. Hà Nội: Nhà xuất bản văn hóa thông tin.

Films

*2003

Directed by Richard Hall; produced by Fahm Fong Saeyang. *1989
"Moving Mountains: The Story of the Yiu Mien"
Directed and produced by Elaine Velazquez

External links

The Virtual Hilltribe Museum
(on a Chinese government website)

- bibliography by Barend ter Haar
Yao People On-line
- in Chinese
LearnMien.com
{{Authority control Ethnic groups officially recognized by China Ethnic groups in Vietnam