Yi Minority Group

        The Yi minority group tends to live in the mountainous regions of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi. With approximately 8 million people the Yi is one of the biggest minority groups in China. Their economy is based mostly off of farming, herding and work as nomadic hunters.

Language

        Since the Yi people are so spread out, there are actually 6 different languages under the Yi Minority category; all of which belong to the Tibetan-Burman language group. It is not uncommon for different Yi groups to not be able to effectively communicate with each other.

Religion

        The Yi people generally practicing animists, but also incorporate ancestor worship, elements of Daoism, shamanism and fetishism. Magic is deeply rooted into their religious beliefs and that dragons protect the villages from evil spirits.

Qiang Minority Group

        Unlike many other minority groups, the Qiang only reside in Sichuan province. The Qiang have approximately a population of 300,000 and live mainly in the north western part of Sichuan; where they live in fortress villages. Each 'fortress village' generally consists of 30 – 100 households, where each household lives in a two to three story granite house. The first floor is meant for keeping live stock; the second is general living quarters; the third is for grain storage.

Religion

        Most Qiang follow the Rujiao religion, which is a polytheist religion that centers on the worship of white stones that are representative of the sun. Each village and locality also has a special local deity that is worshiped, along with the main gods in the Rujiao religion. Besides the Rujiao religion, some communities are practicing Muslims or Taoisms. Some scholars believe that there is a link between the Qiang's religious beliefs and ancient Judaism as well.

Customs

        The Qiang tend to be more of a matrilineal society that is mostly monogamous, but polyandry is also accepted. Wives tend to be older than their husbands and are usually the head of the household. Many women also take more leading roles in society and agriculture. For the Qiang people love is a very important part of marriage and therefore arranged marriages are no longer prevalent. Even in more ancient times, arranged marriages had to also be approved by the persons who were to get married.

        Besides a more open view on marriage, the Qiang had strict taboos for both birth and death. Pregnant women are not allowed to go near riversides or wells, and are not allowed to attend wedding ceremonies. After birth, the mother is not allowed to enter the kitchen for a month and is also not allowed to leave the house for 40 days. After the baby is born a flail is hung on the gatepost as a signal to the rest and a bamboo basket is hung for girls.

Tibetan Minority Group

        Of the approximately 5 million Tibetans living in China, most live in the Tibet Autonomous Region. However there are still large communities of Tibetans in Qinghai, Gansu, Yunnan, and Sichuan. Tibetan’s are experts in husbandry and have deep roots in agriculture as well. Tibetan’s mostly grow barley and rear yaks, sheep, goats, and cattle.

Culture

        Tibetan culture is a male-centric one, where monogamous families are common and marriage is strictly intra-class. This intra-class marriage system is the modern remnant of an old serf system. Tibetans also have a unique death ritual that is commonly called sky burials. After death the body is cut up and fed to the local birds of prey.

Customs

        Tibetan culture is a male-centric one, where monogamous families are common and marriage is strictly intra-class. This intra-class marriage system is the modern remnant of an old serf system that used to be in place. Upon death it is common to have sky burials, which is when the body is cut up and fed to birds of prey.

Religion

        Tibetans are most known for being Lamaist Buddhists, which established itself in the Tibetan Autonomous Region around 620AD; after missionaries came from India. Prior to being Lamaist Buddhists, many Tibetans followed the Bon religion. The Bon religion is a shamanistic religion that believes that nature is full of both good and evil spirits. As Buddhism took a stronger hold in Tibet, many of the aspects of Bon were incorporated. In modern times, Buddhism is such an important part of Tibetan culture that many boys will enter the monasteries as early as 5 years old.