Yao Ethnic Minority Image Library

Author: Editorial Committee of "Yunnan Ethnic Minority Album"
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: This book is one of the series "Yunnan Ethnic Minority Album," which consists of twelve volumes. Each volume is a square 48-page hardcover book with full-color printing, priced at 24 yuan per volume, and the set is priced at 144 yuan. It provides detailed introductions to the ethnic landscapes, historical sites, religions, festivals, clothing, arts, lifestyles, labor, customs, and more of over ten ethnic minorities, including the Lisu, (Bulang), Dai, Wa, Lahu, Miao, Naxi, Yao, Jingpo, and others. The beautiful images will satisfy your visual appetite!
The Yao ethnic group is one of the ethnic minorities in southern China. The total population of the Yao in China is 2.13 million, distributed across Guangxi, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces. In Yunnan, more than half of the Yao population resides in the Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, with higher concentrations in Funing, Malipo, Maguan, and Guangnan counties. Additionally, they are found in Pingbian, Jinping, and Hekou counties of the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, as well as in Mengla County of the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture and in Jindong, Jiangcheng, and Mojiang counties of the Simao Prefecture. According to the 2000 population statistics of Yunnan, the Yao population was 290,000.
The Yao are descendants of the ancient You people, tracing their lineage back to the Jiuli and Sanmiao tribes. To this day, some Yao groups still identify themselves as You. The term "Yao" is a direct Chinese translation of "You." The Yao ethnic group has numerous subgroups, including the Lanlan Yao, Shan Yao, Ban Yao, and Hongtou Yao in Yunnan. The Yao language belongs to the Hani-Tibetan language family, Miao-Yao branch, Yao branch, and is divided into four major dialect groups: Yao, Bunu, Laja, and Chinese. Due to their long-term proximity to the Han, Zhuang, Miao, and other ethnic groups, most Yao people are bilingual, speaking both Chinese, while some also speak Zhuang or Miao. Historically, the Yao had no written language but valued literacy. Over time, they adopted Chinese characters to represent the pronunciation of their language, gradually developing a writing system with strokes resembling Chinese calligraphy.