Mulao

族About this people

The Mulao live primarily in Luocheng Mulao Autonomous County in northern Guangxi, in the transition zone between the Guizhou plateau and the Guangxi plain. Their language belongs to the Kam-Sui branch of the Tai-Kadai family, related to Maonan and Dong. The Mulao population is around 220,000, making them a medium-sized minority by Chinese standards.

The Mulao have traditionally been farmers of the karst valleys, cultivating rice, corn, and various dry crops on the terraced hillsides and valley floors. The region is also known for coal deposits, and mining has been part of the local economy. Mulao villages are characterised by clan-based social organisation, with clans maintaining separate ancestral halls and conducting distinct ritual cycles.

The Yifan ceremony is the most significant communal religious event in the Mulao calendar. Conducted every few years by a clan or village group, it involves several days of Daoist-style liturgy performed by specialist priests, communal feasting at long tables, theatrical performances of folk opera, and processions with paper effigies and offerings. The ceremony addresses accumulated sins, seeks blessings for the community, and honours the ancestors. Mulao embroidery uses geometric patterns, and traditional clothing incorporates dark indigo-dyed cloth with embroidered borders. The community maintains strong clan networks that extend across villages and sometimes across counties.