Yao people (Asia)


The Yao people or Dao is a classification for various ethnic minorities in China and Vietnam. Their majority branch is also known as Mien. They originated in the areas around Changsha, which today is the capital of Hunan province. They speak a branch of the Hmong-Mien family of languages and share a strong genetic connection to the Hmong peoples. They are believed to have diverged from the Hmong around 5,800 years ago.
They are one of the 56 officially recognized ethnic groups in China and reside in the mountainous southwest and south of the country. They also form one of the 54 ethnic groups officially recognized by Vietnam. They numbered 3,309,341 in the 2020 Chinese census and 891,151 in the 2019 Vietnamese census. An estimated 60,000 Yao of the Iu Mien branch reside in the United States, mostly in the Western coastal states.

History

China

Origin myth

The origins of the Yao or Iu-mienh can be traced back two millennia to Hunan around the Dongting Lake region. According to a Yao tale, the Chinese Emperor Gao Xin was saved from an enemy chieftain by his faithful dog, Pan Hu. As a reward, Pan Hu was turned into a man and given the emperor's daughter in marriage. The descendants of the two became the Yao people. This tale was used as a basis for their connection to the Mo Yao, a group of highlanders who were exempt from forced labour during the Tang dynasty. Between 200 BCE and 900 CE, the Yao migrated into mountainous areas to the south of the Yangtze River.

Historical records

As the Yao lacked their own written language until recently, much of what is known about their ancient history comes from ancient Han Chinese sources. In the Book of the Later Han Dynasty, they are described as "liking five-colored clothes", "going barefoot" and being "colorfully dressed".

Conquest

The Yao or Iu-mienh were conquered by the Han Chinese between the 10th and 13th centuries. However they were covered under a loose reign system known as the Jimi system or Tusi. The local chieftains collected tribute and taxes from their own people and paid taxes to the emperor.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, rule over the Yao was tightened. Ming and Qing authorities sent in their own bureaucrats to directly collect taxes, supplanting the role of the Yao chieftains. The Yao and Miao people were among the rebels during the Miao Rebellions against the Ming dynasty during the 1370s and 1449. Conflict drove the Yao further south into the highlands between Hunan and Guizhou to the north and Guangdong and Guangxi to the south, and stretching into Eastern Yunnan. Some left for Southeast Asia.
Around 1890, the Guangdong government started taking action against Yao in Northwestern Guangdong.
After the Mao Zedong's Communist Party won the civil war in the late 1940s, the Yao benefited greatly from the ideology of equality and were able to access education, becoming part of the regional and national elite. They were often recruited as specialists to assist with the ethnic identification program within the framework of a large unified China.

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 government against the communists. This relationship caused the new communist Laotian government to target Yao tribal groups once the war was over. This triggered further immigration into Thailand, 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, many Yao people were able to obtain sponsorship into the United States. Most of the Yao who have immigrated to the United States have settled along the Western part of the US, mainly in central and northern California such as Visalia, Oakland, Oroville, Redding, Richmond, Sacramento, but also in parts of Oregon like Portland, Salem, and Beaverton as well as the state of Washington in Seattle and Renton. See Mien American for those identified as Mien.

Culture, society, and economy

Yao society is traditionally patrilineal, with sons inheriting from their fathers. The Yao follow patrilocal residence. Polygyny was allowed until it was banned in China in the 1950s. Adoption was common among the wealthy.
The Yao people have been farmers for over a thousand years, mostly rice cultivation through plowing, although a few practice slash-and-burn 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.
The Yao celebrate their Pan Wang festival annually on the sixteenth day of the tenth lunar month. 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

The description of Yao religion is similar to the definition of Chinese folk religion as described by Arthur Wolf and Steve Sangren. Like the Han, the Yao engage in patrilineal ancestor worship, celebrate lunar new year, and recognize a set a 18 gods and goddesses, mostly of Han Chinese origin. The Yao had shaman priests as part of their community who engaged in activity such as exorcism, spiritual communication, and divination using chicken bones or bamboo sticks.
Taoism has historically been important to the Yao. Jinag Yingliang, in a 1948 study, argued that Yao religion was characterized by a process of Han Chinese-influenced Daoisation ; the endurance of pre-Daoist folk religion; and some Buddhist beliefs.
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.
In addition to China, Yao also live in northern Vietnam, northern Laos, and Myanmar. There are around 60,000 Yao in northern Thailand, where they are one of the six main hill tribes. The lowland-living Lanten of Laos, who speak 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 speak the Yao language Kim Mun; 139,000 speakers of Kim Mun live in other parts of China, 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, and 181,000 speak Chinese and the Tai–Kadai Bouyei language.

Mao (2004)

Mao Zongwu gives a detailed list of various Yao endonyms and the Chinese names of various groups and clans associated with them. Endonyms are written in the International Phonetic Alphabet with numerical Chao tones.
  • Autonym 勉 or [Iu Mien language|] 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, Native / Bendi Yao 本地瑶, Flowery / Hua Yao 花瑶, Ao Yao 坳瑶, Zheng Yao 正瑶, Liang Yao 粮瑶
  • Autonym [Kim Mun language|] 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 [Biao Min language|] 标敏 or 交公勉: East Mountain / Dongshan Yao 东山瑶, Dog-Headed / Goutou Yao 狗头瑶
  • Autonym [Dzao Min language|] 藻勉: Bapai Yao 八排瑶
  • Autonym 优念, 炳多优, or [San Chay people|] 珊介: Red Yao 红瑶, Plains / Pingdi Yao 平地瑶
  • Autonym [Bu-Nao language|] 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, Tudi Yao 土地瑶, Tu Yao 土瑶, 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 [Bu-Nao language|] 瑙格劳 or [Bu-Nao language|] 包诺: Siting Yao 四亭瑶, Situan Yao 四团瑶
  • Autonym [Kiong Nai language|] 炯奈: Hualan Yao 花蓝瑶
  • Autonym [Pa-Hng language|] 巴哼: Dog Yao 狗瑶, Eight-Surname / Baxing Yao 八姓瑶, Red Yao 红瑶, Wood Yao 木瑶
  • Autonym [Hm Nai language|] 唔奈: Flowery Yao 花瑶
  • Autonym [Younuo language|] 优诺: Red Yao 红瑶
  • Autonym [Lakkja language|] 拉珈: Tea Mountain / Chashan Yao 茶山瑶

Plains Yao

Groups considered to be "Plains Yao" include:
  • Autonym Bingduoyou 炳多尤 : in Jianghua Yao Autonomous County 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 : in Jianghua Yao Autonomous County 江华, Hunan. 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 : in Longsheng 龙胜 and Guanyang 灌阳 counties of Guangxi. According to Chen Qiguang, 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.
  • Autonym Shanjie 珊介 : in Fangcheng 防城, Guangxi
  • Autonym Youjia 优嘉 : in Guanyang County 灌阳, Guangxi
  • Jingdong Yao 景东县瑶族' : Jingdong County 景东彝族自治县, Yunnan. According to the Jingdong County Gazetteer'', 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 lists the following Yao subgroups in northern Vietnam.
  • 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 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
  • *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
  • *Kim Meun: Dao Quần Trắng 白裤瑶 and Dao Thanh Y 青衣瑶
According to Doling, only Kim Mun, Kim Mien, and Lô Gang may be found outside Vietnam.
Nguyen lists Đại Bản, Tiểu Bản, Khố Bạch, and Làn Tiẻn as the 4 primary subdivisions of ethnic Yao in Vietnam.
  • Đại Bản
  • *Dao Đỏ : located in Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen
  • *Dao Quần Chẹt : located in Hoa Binh, Ha Tay, Phu Tho, Vinh Yen, Son La, Yen Bai
  • *Dao Thanh Phán : located in Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Bac Giang
  • Tiểu Bản
  • *Dao 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
  • Làn Tiẻn
  • *Dao Thanh Y: located in Tuyen Quang, Bac Giang, Quang Ninh
  • *Dao Áo Dài : located in Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Bac Kan

Distribution

Yao peoples are distributed primarily in the provinces Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan of China. Ethnic Yao are also found in Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

In China

The Census of 2020 recorded 3,309,341 Yao in China.
;Provincial Distribution of the Yao, from the 2020 census:
ProvinceYao Population% of China's Zhuang Population
Guangxi1,683,03850.86%
Hunan749,87222.66%
Guangdong514,44715.55%
Yunnan218,8256.61%
Guizhou46,7591.41%
Zhejiang19,5410.59%
Fujian10,7820.33%
Hainan10,0000.30%
Other56,0771.69%

By county

;County-level distribution of the Yao, 2000 Chinese Census
County/CityYao %YaoTotal
Hunan Province1.11704,56463,274,173
Dongkou County1.5511,639752,581
Xinning County2.5914,438557,120
Chenzhou City1.6370,5134,324,812
Beihu District1.253,921314,477
Rucheng County15.4552,955342,861
Zixing City1.224,284351,581
Yongzhou City9.57513,8315,367,106
Shuangpai County4.907,916161,510
Dao County5.9236,938624,199
Jiangyong County62.39147,164235,893
Ningyuan County2.1615,943738,259
Lanshan County5.2917,608332,937
Xintian County1.826,541358,831
Jianghua Yao Autonomous County61.87270,889437,835
Huaihua City1.5571,9524,639,738
Zhongfang County1.333,147236,675
Chenxi County6.7732,405478,708
Xupu County3.1825,398798,983
Hongjiang City1.477,137485,061
Guangdong Province0.24202,66785,225,007
Shaoguan City1.1331,0422,735,433
Shixing County2.004,115205,684
Ruyuan Yao Autonomous County10.7519,121177,894
Longmen County2.516,726267,949
Qingyuan City3.0596,0433,146,713
Lianshan Zhuang and Yao Autonomous County14.3314,19599,070
Liannan Yao Autonomous County52.2969,968133,814
Lianzhou City1.315,366409,360
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region3.361,471,94643,854,538
Xincheng District1.305,560426,346
Chengbei District1.505,901392,726
Shijiao District1.152,949256,730
Guilin City8.15375,9024,614,670
Xiufeng District1.632,050125,924
Diecai District1.722,312134,401
Xiangshan District1.423,527249,135
Qixing District1.764,003227,278
Lingui County3.5314,957424,182
Lingchuan County3.2010,169318,036
Quanzhou County4.2927,984652,963
Xing'an County2.358,317353,920
Yongfu County3.488,202235,368
Guanyang County7.7717,971231,288
Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County17.5628,237160,796
Ziyuan County3.195,014156,946
Pingle County14.0855,553394,575
Lipu County7.4825,893346,169
Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County58.60158,937271,216
Wuzhou City1.1532,0212,796,087
Mengshan County12.0222,587187,918
Fangchenggang City4.6334,074735,952
Gangkou District1.371,462106,403
Fangcheng District6.5920,840316,111
Shangsi County4.228,666205,307
Dongxing City2.873,106108,131
Guigang City1.8671,0633,827,945
Pingnan County6.2966,3911,055,782
Nanning City1.4368,9754,839,536
Shanglin County6.5024,697379,986
Mashan County8.4833,873399,439
Liuzhou City3.57125,8393,522,322
Heshan City1.872,452131,249
Luzhai County2.018,424418,665
Laibin County1.2510,475839,790
Rong'an County1.885,313283,029
Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County3.8811,798304,149
Rongshui Miao Autonomous County6.4827,560425,608
Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County37.4550,532134,934
Xincheng County2.057,051343,556
Hezhou Prefecture12.49241,8221,936,849
Hezhou City4.8441,130850,023
Zhaoping County4.4615,746353,298
Zhongshan County8.7540241460021
Fuchuan Yao Autonomous County52.91144,705273,507
Baise Prefecture3.82127,3513,332,096
Baise City3.2911,211340,483
Tiandong County4.6316,674360,123
Pingguo County4.1616,344392,800
Debao County1.845,085276,335
Napo County2.744,661170,158
Lingyun County21.0536,954175,573
Leye County1.972,857144,816
Tianlin County11.6427,559236,799
Xilin County3.544,934139,282
Hechi Prefecture9.93349,8193,523,693
Hechi City2.317,355318,348
Yizhou City5.5430,436549,434
Luocheng Mulao Autonomous County1.213,903322,116
Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County5.3617,807332,067
Nandan County9.1829,284318,844
Tian'e County2.443,461141,649
Fengshan County7.7112,714164,807
Donglan County4.2910,581246,715
Bama Yao Autonomous County17.2437,706218,724
Du'an Yao Autonomous County21.66117,609543,019
Dahua Yao Autonomous County21.4678,963367,970
Guizhou Province0.1344,39235,247,695
Liping County1.105,046458,533
Rongjiang County1.705,101300,369
Congjiang County2.046,158301,513
Majiang County3.356,807203,481
Libo County3.455,915171,366
Yunnan Province0.45190,61042,360,089
Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture1.8676,9474,130,463
Yuanyang County2.187,922362,950
Jinping Miao, Yao, and Dai Autonomous County12.0037,937316,171
Lüchun County3.466,968201,256
Hekou Yao Autonomous County22.1021,09795,451
Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture2.5081,7743,268,553
Malipo County7.0618,926267,986
Guangnan County2.1615,781730,376
Funing County10.3539,646382,913
Jingdong Yi Autonomous County1.154,063352,089
Jiangcheng Hani and Yi Autonomous County3.943,946100,243
Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture1.8818,679993,397
Mengla County6.7715,944235,657

Guizhou

The Yao of Guizhou are found in the following locations.
  • Libo County: townships of Yaoshan 瑶山, Yaolu 瑶麓, and Yao'ai 瑶埃
  • Shiqian County : 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: 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
  • Liping County
  • *Shunhua Township 顺化瑶族乡 : 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 : 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: 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
  • *Tashi Township 塔石瑶族水族乡 : 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
  • *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: 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: 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 : Tangguan Village, Maoping Township 茅坪塘贯村
  • Guanling County
The Yao of Guizhou have various autonyms, such as:
  • ', in Yaoshan 瑶山, Libo County. The Buyi people call them '.
  • ', in Yaolu 瑶麓, Libo County. The Shui people call them '.
  • ', in Yao'ai 瑶埃, Libo County. The Buyi people call them '.
  • ', in Youmai 油迈, Wangmo County.
  • ', in Rongjiang, Leishan, Danzhai, Jianhe, Congjiang, and Sandu Counties.

Hunan

The Jianghua Yao Autonomous County is the only Yao-designated autonomous county in Hunan.
Some subgroups of ethnic Yao in Hunan include:
  • Pan Yao 盘瑶 : 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 : in Longhui, Tongdao, Xupu, Chenxi; speak a Hmongic language.
  • Badong Yao 八峒瑶 : 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 : in Jianghua, Jiangyong, and speak a Chinese dialect.
  • Qixing Yao 七姓瑶: in Chenxi, and speak a Chinese dialect.
The Hunan Province Gazetteer 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. Their language is called Donghua 峒话.
  • 唔奈: in Longhui County, Xupu County
  • 炳多尤 : in Jianghua County, Jiangyong County
Tan Xiaoping 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 Prefecture are found in the following locations. Population statistics are from 1990.
  • Xinning County : Malin 麻林乡, Huangjin 黄金乡, Jingwei 靖位乡
  • Dongkou County : Naxi ?溪乡, Changtang 长塘乡, Dawu 大屋乡; Yuexi 月溪, Zhaping 渣坪, Tongshan 桐山
  • Longhui County : Huxingshan 虎形山乡, Mao'ao 茅坳乡, Xiaoshajiang 小沙江镇, Qingshan 青山, Matangshan 麻塘山
  • Chengbu County : Lanrong 兰蓉, Qingyuan 清源, Dayang 大阳, Tingping 汀坪, Pengdong 蓬洞, Yangmei 杨梅
  • Suining County : Jinta 金趿, Shuikou 水口
The Shaoyang Prefecture Gazetteer reports that the Yao of Shaoyang Prefecture, Hunan speak the following languages.
The following population statistics of ethnic Yao in Hunan are from the 1990 Chinese census, as given in the Hunan Province Gazetteer.
CountyPopulation
Jianghua210,944
Jiangyong62,647
Dao26,771
Ningyuan16,361
Lanshan16,123
Shuangpai7,206
Xintian6,295
Qiyang3,209
Chenxi26,132
Xupu13,989
Qianyang3,264
Huaihua2,066
Tongdao1,657
Xinning12,756
Dongkou8,473
Longhui6,151
Chenzhou5,872
Yizhang4,145
Zixing3,999
Guiyang2,323
Changning1,085
Total460,667

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. The writing system was finalized in 1984 in Ruyuan County, Guangdong, which included Chinese professors Pan Chengqian, Deng Fanggui, Liu Baoyuan, Su Defu and Yauz Mengh Borngh; Chinese government officials; Mien Americans Sengfo Chao, Kao Chiem Chao, 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 Thailand. 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 leaders.
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.
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, an indigenous script in Southern part of Hunan Province in China. But this connection between Yao language and Nüshu is disputed, because Nüshu more likely recorded local Chinese dialect which might be also known by Yao people in Hunan.
Officially, illiteracy and semi-literacy among the Yao in China still stood at 40.6% in 2002.

Notable people

Films

  • 2003 – . Directed by Richard Hall; produced by Fahm Fong Saeyang.
  • 1989 – . Directed and produced by Elaine Velazquez