Red Yao people

Red Yao people
红瑶
Red Yao women in Longji, Guangxi
Total population
About 15,000
Languages
Younuo language, Pa-Hng, Younian dialect, Mandarin Chinese, Southwestern Mandarin
Related ethnic groups
Yao people
Red Yao people
Chinese红瑶
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHóngyáo
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpinghung4 jiu4

The Red Yao people (simplified Chinese: 红瑶; traditional Chinese: 紅瑤; pinyin: Hóngyáo) are a branch of the Yao people in China. They mostly live in Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County and Lingui District in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Terminology

This branch of the Yao people is named Red Yao (Chinese: 红瑶; pinyin: Hóngyáo) due to their preference for red clothing.[1] Their self-designation is "Younuo" (Chinese: 优诺; pinyin: Yōunuò) or "Younian" (Chinese: 优念; pinyin: Yōuniàn), in reference to the Younuo language they speak.[2]

Ethnic history and language

The language of the Red Yao is complex and diverse. Based on differences in their native language and geographic distribution, the Red Yao can be divided into two main branches. Those primarily residing in mountainous townships such as Longji, Sishui Township and Madi Township, who speak the Younuo language, are known as Mountain Dialect Red Yao (Chinese: 山话红瑶; pinyin: Shānhuà hóngyáo), with a population of approximately 4,600.[3][2]

Those mainly living in the plains, speaking a Chinese dialect called Younian Dialect, are referred to as Plain Dialect Red Yao (Chinese: 平话红瑶; pinyin: Pínghuà hóngyáo), with a population exceeding 10,000. Despite significant linguistic differences between the two branches, their lifestyles, customs, religious beliefs, and clothing are similar. Although mutual communication in their native languages is challenging, both Mountain Dialect and Plain Dialect Red Yao consider each other as part of the same ethnic group, sharing a common ethnic identity. Most Red Yao are bilingual and proficient in languages such as Guilin-Liuzhou dialect and Standard Mandarin.[4][5][6][2]

Similar to other Pinghua ethnic groups, the Red Yao believe their ancestors originated from Qingzhou in Shandong. According to their legend, due to oppression, they left Qingzhou and split into several groups, wandering for centuries. After six or seven hundred years of separation, two groups reunited in places like Yining County and Longsheng in Guangxi. Linguist Mao Zongwu suggests that the highly similar customs, legends, and numerous shared cognates in the linguistic substratum of both the Red Yao branches indicate a common origin. The linguistic differences, he argues, resulted from prolonged migrations and the integration of Han Chinese populations.[7]

Some sources also classify the Eight Surnames Yao (Chinese: 八姓瑶; pinyin: Bāxìng Yáo) as a branch of the Red Yao. The Eight Surnames Yao primarily speak languages from the Miao branch, such as Pa-Hng and Hm Nai, and are recognized as a distinct ethnic group, the Pà Thẻn people, in Vietnam.[8]

Folklore and culture

In terms of clothing, the Red Yao revere the color red, which they consider a symbol of prosperity and joy. Women often wear vibrant tops dominated by red hues, a practice that has given the Red Yao their name. The most cherished garment in Red Yao attire is the "flower dress", a piece of intricate craftsmanship that takes approximately a year to complete. Red Yao women also have a tradition of wearing earrings, with silver earrings customarily worn by girls starting from the age of seven or eight.[1]

The Lunar New Year is the most significant festival for the Red Yao. In Ximen Village in Longsheng, the Red Yao slaughter pigs on the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month. Unlike other regions, they perform this ritual under the ancestral tablets in the main hall as a gesture of filial piety and to seek blessings from their ancestors. On Lunar New Year's eve, the Red Yao practice a custom called "carrying the dog to pay New Year's respects", where a village places a puppy in a basket and visits neighboring villages to bring good fortune. During the Lunar New Year, the Red Yao of Huangluo Village also host banquets for their elders, who recite ancient songs and narrate ethnic stories. However, with economic development, many of these traditions are gradually fading.[9][10]

The Red Yao have a longstanding tradition of keeping long hair, which they regard as a symbol of beauty.[9][11] In their legends, hair is considered "a transformation of blood and vitality" and must not be cut carelessly. Traditionally, Red Yao women cut their hair only at the ages of three and eighteen, and the cut hair is preserved. As adults, Red Yao women's hair reaches an average length of 1.7 meters (5 ft 7 in). In 2002, Huangluo Village in the Longji, Longsheng County was certified by the Shanghai Guinness Records as having the "longest collective hair".[1][12] In 2023, the village broke the record again when 250 Red Yao women came together to create the longest hair combing chain.[13] Long hair has also become a tourist attraction in Longsheng's Red Yao communities.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c Zhang, Jin (2011). "民族旅游语境中的地方性知识与红瑶妇女生计变迁——以广西龙胜县黄洛瑶寨为例" [Local Knowledge and the Transformation of Red Yao Women's Livelihoods in the Context of Ethnic Tourism: A Case Study of Huangluo Yao Village, Longsheng County, Guangxi]. Tourism Tribune (in Chinese). 26 (8). Beijing International Studies University: 72–79. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-500 (inactive 11 November 2025).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2025 (link)
  2. ^ a b c Mao, Zongwu; Li, Yunbing (2007). 优诺语研究 优诺语研究 [Study of the Yuno Language] (in Chinese) (1 ed.). Nationalities Publishing House. ISBN 9787105089918. OCLC 230975778.
  3. ^ Li, Yunbing (2011). "20世纪以来的苗瑶语调查" [Survey of Miao-Yao Languages Since the 20th Century] (PDF). National Translation (in Chinese) (1). China International Publishing Group: 74–82. doi:10.13742/j.cnki.cn11-5684/h.2011.01.014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  4. ^ Fan, Honggui; Chen, Weigang (1991). "红瑶历史、语言及其他" [Red Yao History, Language, and Other Aspects]. Journal of Central University for Nationalities (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition) (in Chinese) (1). Central University for Nationalities: 58–61. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  5. ^ Yang, Jun (2012). "瑶族语言文字使用情况研究——以广西龙胜瑶族为例" [A Study on the Usage of Yao Language and Script: A Case Study of the Yao in Longsheng, Guangxi]. Journal of Guangxi Normal College for Nationalities (in Chinese). 29 (5). Guangxi Normal College for Nationalities: 90–94. doi:10.19488/j.cnki.45-1378/g4.2012.05.021. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  6. ^ Wang, Liu; Gu, Zhihua (2007). "多民族环境下的语言变迁与基础教育发展——以广西龙胜各族自治县泗水乡为例" [Language Change and Basic Education Development in a Multi-Ethnic Environment: A Case Study of Sisui Township, Longsheng Autonomous County, Guangxi]. Journal of Northwest Normal University (Social Sciences Edition) (in Chinese). 44 (5). Northwest Normal University: 61–67. doi:10.16783/j.cnki.nwnus.2007.05.012. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  7. ^ Mao, Zongwu; Li, Yunbing (1997). 巴哼语研究 巴哼语研究 [Study of the Baheng Language] (in Chinese). Shanghai Far East Publishers. ISBN 7-80613-371-2.
  8. ^ Sun, Hongkai; Hu, Zengyi; Huang, Xing (2007). 中国的语言 中国的语言 [The Languages of China] (in Chinese) (1 ed.). The Commercial Press. ISBN 9787100043632. OCLC 184066928.
  9. ^ a b Xu, Ganli (2009). "族群意识与生存环境——广西龙胜黄洛红瑶族群考察调查" [Ethnic Consciousness and Living Environment: A Field Study of the Hongyao Ethnic Group in Huangluo, Longsheng, Guangxi]. Journal of Baise University (in Chinese) (4). Baise University: 7–11. doi:10.3969/j.issn.1673-8233.2009.04.003.
  10. ^ Huang, Fudong (2004). "当代社会的文化变迁的突然加速与调适浅析——以龙胜各族自治县细门寨红瑶群众的春节活动为例" [A Brief Analysis of the Sudden Acceleration and Adaptation of Cultural Change in Contemporary Society: A Case Study of the Spring Festival Activities of the Hongyao People in Ximen Village, Longsheng Autonomous County]. Guangxi Youth Academic Conference (in Chinese). Guangxi Youth Academic Conference Organizing Committee: 391–394.
  11. ^ "Longji Huangluo Yao Village: Red Yao Ethnic & Long Hair Custom". China Odyssey Tours. 2025-08-13. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  12. ^ "廣西瑤寨慶首屆「長髮節」 200紅瑤女河邊齊梳髮" [Guangxi Yao Village Celebrates First "Long Hair Festival" with 200 Red Yao Women Combing Their Hair Together by the River]. ETtoday (in Chinese). April 11, 2016. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  13. ^ Zhan, Echo (2023-05-23). "Long Hair Festival: 250 Chinese women land record with beautiful combing ceremony". Guinness Word Records. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  14. ^ Yan, Alice (2025-10-07). "Explainer: Why China Red Yao ethnic minority women grow hair long, only cut it twice in their lives". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2025-11-04.


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