Traditional Sports

The Yao traditional sports are a part of their culture that developed along with the production and living practices of the Yao people. Its continuity and development are linked to Yao language, customs, festivals, lifestyles, religious beliefs and value. The Yao traditional sports serves as an outlet of ethnic sentiments, moreover an important part of Chinese traditional sports culture.

Sword Dance

Sword dance is a popular folk dance among the Yao people, with the technical and combative characteristics of martial arts. It has a long history. It is said that King Pan^[22]innovated this dance to help more effectively train their troops so as to resist foreign invasions. It was enriched and perfected in the process oftransmission.

There are two kinds of swords —longsword and broadsword. The basic movements of the two kinds of swords are the same -- testing sword, sharpening sword,stabbing door, cutting sword, dragging sword, etc. The sword dance is usually a duel performance of moving, jumping, attacking, and dodging, sometimes in the setting of cutting wood or constructing roads. The movements are rough and primitive, with traces of martial arts.