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- The Yao (also Yawo) are a Bantu tribe who originated in Mozambique and today can be found in Mozambique, Malawi, and Tanzania. Historically, the tribe became one of power and influence as they grew rich through coastal trade with the Arabs who arrived at Africa ‘s Southeastern coast.
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The Yao people (or WaYao) are a major Bantu ethnic and linguistic group living at the southern end of Lake Malawi. They played an important role in the history of Southeast Africa, notably in the 19th century.
Jinag Yingliang, in a 1948 study, argued that Yao religion was characterized by (1) a process of Han Chinese-influenced Daoisation (Chinese : 道教化; pinyin : Dàojiào huà); (2) the endurance of pre-Daoist folk religion; and (3) some Buddhist beliefs.
Linguistic analysis of these four dialects provides clues to origin, history and migrations of the Yao people, including that they originated more than 2,000 years ago. Studies of the Yao in Dayaoshan (Big mountain of the Yao), in Guangxi province, where the group has lived in compact communities for a long time, shows surprising diversity.
- Introduction
- Location and Homeland
- Language
- Folklore
- Religion
- Major Holidays
- Rites of Passage
- Interpersonal Relations
- Living Conditions
- Family Life
The Yao are historically linked with the ancient "Jingman" and "Changsha Wulingman." Their ancestors were called Muoyao in ancient books of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589) and Yaoren during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Actually, it seems the Yao and the Miao had common ancestors. From the Tang onward, the name of Yao appeared separatel...
Yao population amounted to 2.6 million in 2000. They are mainly scattered in Guangxi, Hunan, Yunnan, Guangdong, and Guizhou provinces. The feature of their inhabitation is "wide distributionand tiny colonies." They dwell in mountainous areas, most of which are forested and picturesque.
Yao language is classified as belonging to the Sino-Tibetan family, Miao-Yao group, Yao branch. In fact, only about half of the population use the Yao language, while about 40% of the Yao speak Miao. Some use another language, classified as Dong-Shui branch. There is no Yao writing. Most of the Yao use Chinese characters. On account of their disper...
The Yao have a rich mythology. One of their origin myths relates that a long, long time ago, King Ping received a dragon-dog called Panhu. It was about 3 ft in length. Its hair was multicolored. At that time, King Ping's kingdom was frequently invaded by King Gao, and nobody was able to stop him. The dragon-dog told King Ping that he could kill Kin...
The Yao are polytheistic. They worship their ancestors, especially their first ancestor, Panhu. Taoist priests and shamans are in charge of religious activities and play the role of intermediary between man and the world of ghosts and gods. Yao beliefs were deeply influenced by the Chinese religious traditions, in particular Taoism. Those who live ...
The Yao celebrate a large number of festivals, almost one each month. The festivals often differ from district to district. On lunar New Year's Eve (Western calendar, between January 21 and February 20), the whole family reunites around the dinner table. Firecrackers are kindled. Spring Festival pictures are pasted on the walls of their houses. The...
An adulthood ceremony is held for Yao young men from 16 to 22. The rite is organized by five or seven Taoist priests. The young man has to live at the priest's house. He is not allowed to go outdoors, neither to have a view of the sky, nor to talk with anybody except the priests. In the evening, he is instructed in various religious rites. On the d...
When calling on a family, the guest should offer greetings to the lady of the house first; otherwise, the host may deem the guest arrogant. In traditional Yao homes, the guest is offered salted meat and oil tea. Yao youngsters are free to date. Antiphonal singing is the usual way to get acquainted and to fall in love. Around Libo in Guizhou, there ...
Yao houses come in different styles, often depending on the physical environment: thatched cottages, bamboo and wooden houses, and, less frequent, tile-roofed adobe houses. Most houses have three rooms. The main room is the central one; one of the side rooms is for sleeping, the other for the firepool and kitchen. The livestock pen is in the rear. ...
The Yao live in small patrilineal families. After marriage the son moves out. Parents live with their youngest son. Most of the villagers are of the same clan and same surname. The position of women in families is equal to that of their husbands. The Yao pay much attention to the power of the maternal uncle, who not only is respected, but also take...
Apr 25, 2018 · Though the name Yao has come to identify over two million people in China, it is not the name of an ethnic minority. The original character for Yao was a pejorative term roughly translating to ‘jackal’ and was used by the Chinese government to describe the southern hill tribes of the Mien ethnicity. 20th-century language reforms changed the ...
- Rachel Deason
The Yao have a rich mythology and some of their most colorful stories are their origin myths. As they themselves tell it, the origins of the Iu Mien (Yao) involved a hero or god named Panhu (Pan Hu, Bienh Hungh King Pan) and an epic “crossing of the sea” far in the distant Past.
The Yao (also Yawo) are a Bantu tribe who originated in Mozambique and today can be found in Mozambique, Malawi, and Tanzania. Historically, the tribe became one of power and influence as they grew rich through coastal trade with the Arabs who arrived at Africa ‘s Southeastern coast.
