What are the customs and culture of the Yao people?

The customs and habits of the Yao people are very characteristic of the nation, but differences in clothing, diet, and residence occur due to the different living areas of each branch. The clothing styles of the Yao people in modern times are colorful. There are two types of men's jackets: left-front and double-front. The trousers come in different lengths, and are mainly made of blue and black trousers.

Nandan Baiku Yao men wear white bloomers that reach to their knees, so they are called "Baiku Yao". Women's clothing varies from place to place. Some wear long shirts and trousers, while others wear shorts and pleated skirts. They wear black or white embroidered scarves and belts, and their tops, skirts, trousers, headscarves, and belts are all embroidered with colorful patterns. Decorated with earrings, bracelets, and silver medals.

The Yao women of Dayao Mountain love curved silver plates weighing more than a kilogram. The Yao women of Lingchuan and Rongshui wear a hat with a tall stand, a cloth scarf on top, and colorful tassels hanging down, which makes them look elegant and unique.

The Yao people are mainly engaged in agriculture, and a few are engaged in forestry. Food is mainly rice, corn, and sweet potatoes, and drinking and smoking are common. "Oleiferous tea" is popular among the Yao people in northern Guangxi. The Yao people in Dayao Mountain like to pickle "bird vinegar" and "beast meat vinegar". Some Yao people pickle and smoke dried pork and beef. These are foods with unique flavors.

The Yao people have great respect for their ancestors and are accustomed to reciting the names of their ancestors for several generations before eating, which means that the ancestors tasted the food first before their descendants can enjoy it. This is especially true for hearty meals. During every festival, pork, chicken, duck and wine are necessary to worship ancestors. The seating arrangements for meals are also particular: the elderly and distinguished guests must sit in the upper seats. When meeting guests, they should be entertained with wine and meat. In some places, cockscombs are offered to the guests. When the Yao people propose a toast to a guest, a girl usually raises the glass to her eyebrows to show respect for the guest; some also use a respected old man to toast the guest, which is considered a great gift.

In Dashan Yao people, they like to serve guests with oil tea. When guests arrive, they are accustomed to serving three large bowls. It's called "One bowl of sparseness, two bowls of intimacy, three bowls of true love". Yao elders also like to drink tea, so tea is also a drink for entertaining guests. When entertaining guests, the chicken, meat, and salt are placed in rows in the bowl. Regardless of the host or guest, they must eat in order without disorder. Every time the guests and the elderly finish a bowl of rice, women will pick up the food on their behalf.

Salt has a special status in the food customs of the Yao people. The Yao area does not produce salt, but it is indispensable. Among the Yao people, salt is a great gift to invite the Taoist priests and relatives, commonly known as "salt letter". Anyone who receives a "salt letter" must put aside important matters and attend appointments on time.

The Yao people who worshiped King Pan used to generally abstain from dog meat; the Yao people who worshiped "Miluotuo" used to abstain from sow meat and eagle meat. The Yao people in Chenxi County, southwestern Hunan, fast from cucumbers before the fifth day of the seventh lunar month. Most of the Yao people do not eat cat meat and snake meat. In some places, mothers are not allowed to eat lard in the first few days after giving birth.

Many young men and women of the Yao ethnic group take the opportunity of "playing songs" to choose the right person. Once a man and a woman are in love, the parents of both parties can arrange marriage through a matchmaker, and give pork and wine as gifts. When a wedding is held, a feast is held. According to traditional customs, the village elders must be invited to the wedding banquet, and the bride and groom drink from each other.