Villages will be selected in hilly valleys, and most of them live in high mountains and dense forests, so that they are close to water sources, building materials can be easily found in the work area, and there are few wild animals. This is one of their living habits and a regional culture.
Yao is one of the "Jiuli" in the ancient East, the most widely distributed ethnic group in southern China and one of the oldest ethnic groups in China. Legend has it that Yao is the daughter of Pan Hu and the descendant of Yincui gorge.
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Yao people's names are complicated, some claim to be 28 species, and he claims to be near 100 species.
Some call themselves Mian (meaning "people"), while others call themselves Bunu, Kinmen, Naugrau, Laga, Bingduoyou, Wunai and Zaomin. In the past, there were more than 30 different names such as Pan Yao, Guoshanyao, Chashanyao, Hongtou Yao, Huayao, Hualanyao, Indigo, Baiku Yao and Pingdi Yao, due to the characteristics of origin, mode of production, residence and clothing.
According to different languages, customs and beliefs, Yao people can be divided into four branches: Pan Yao branch, which speaks Burmese, is also called Yao branch; Bunuyao (including Bunuyao, Bai Yao, Hua, Huayao and some) is also called Miao language branch; The branches of Chashan Yao and Naxi Yao, which speak Dong Shui branch of Zhuang Dong language family, are also called Dong Shui branch. Branches of Chinese dialects.