The Yao Nationality Branches

One article i read says that there are more than 96 Yao nationality branches. They’re devided into three major language groups—The Yao, the Bu Nu and the Han language group. Each branch or group has atleast two names—one is the self-called name and one is the called-by-the-other name. For example,the Iu-Mien of Laos or Thailand are called Guo Shan Yao or Pan Yao by other groups; while the name of self-call is Iu Mien or simply Mien. Guo Shan means to cross the mountains because they move accross the mountain often that's why they got this name. For being called the Pan Yao is because they’re King Pan believers.

The name called by others is based on their custumes, way of life, etc. For example, Bai Ku Yao because their trousers are white and while the Cha Shan Yao is the Tea Hill Yao--meaning Yao who grow tea.

The following is to show you how each group was categorized. I don't know how the experts who studied them spell their names in English. I only use Chinese Pinyin to spell these name out and have no idea how close these Chinese pronunciation are to their own language pronunciation.

The Yao Language Group
瑶语集团

I the Mien and the Kim Mun Dialect Group
一、勉金方言集团

(1) the Iu-Mien Local Dialect Group—the Mien or the Guo Shan Yao or the Pan Yao
(1)优勉土语集团——勉瑶或过山瑶或盘瑶

1. called by others[Han] Guo Shan Yao, or Pan Gu Yao; self-call: Mien or Iu-Mien
1. 山瑶、盘古瑶：自称勉或优勉

2. called by others the Hong Tou Yao; self-call: Mien or Iu-Mien.
2. 瑶：自称勉或优勉

3. call by the others: the Ding Ban Yao[dingx benv Iu]; self-call: Mien or Iu-Mien
3. 板瑶：自称勉或优勉

4. called by others the Da Ban Yao or Ban Yao: call themselves:Mien, Iu-Mien or Domh Benv Iu
4. 大板瑶、板瑶:自称勉或优勉或董本尤

5. called by others: Tu Yao; call oneself: Mien or Tou Iu[See Prof. Li’s post]
5. 土瑶：自称勉或土尤

6. called by others: Ben Di Yao; by self: Mien or Gu Gang Iu
6. 本地瑶：自称勉或谷岗尤

7. by others: the Au Yao; by oneself: Mien or Au Biao
My question: Is it this one in Iu-Mien sipv meinv language as “Mbiauh Youx” zeiv
fun?
7. 坳瑶自称勉或坳标

8. by other Xiao Ban Yao; by oneself: Zu Dui Iu-Mien
8. 小板瑶：自称祝敦优勉

(2) the Kim Mun[Jin Men] Local Dialect Group
(2) 金门土语集团

1. the Lanten Yao[Lan Dian Yao or Dian Yao]; self-call: Mun[Moon], Kim Mun[Jin Men], Kim Ti Mun[Jin Di Men], Hei Long Men or Iu Mun
1. 蓝靛瑶：蓝靛瑶或靛瑶，自称门、金门、金底门、黑尤门或尤门
2. called by others: Shan Zi Yao, call oneself: Gan Di Men or Kim Ti
2. 山子瑶：自称甘迪门

3. called by others: Ping Tou Yao
3. 平头瑶：分布于云南金平

4. Sha Yao
4. 沙瑶：分布于云南金平、河口

5. Ba Zi Yao
5. 坝子瑶：分布于老挝

6. He Yao
6. 贺瑶：分布于越南安沛、老街

7. Hei Yao[Black Yao]
7. 黑瑶：分布于越南安沛

8. Bai Ku Yao[White Trouser Yao]
8. 白裤瑶：分布于越南宣光、河江

9. Qing Yi Yao[Green Shirt Yao]
9. 青衣瑶：分布于越南宣光、广宁、河北

10. Chang Yi Yao[Long Shirt Yao]
10. 长衣瑶：分布于 越南安沛、宣光、河江

(3) The Biao Man Local Dialect Group
(3) 标曼土语集团

1. Min Yao, self call Biao Man or Min Yiu
1. 民瑶：自称标曼或敏尤，分布于广西蒙山、荔浦、平乐、昭平

2. Si Da Min Yao: self call Shi Men
2. 四大民瑶：自称史门、分布于广西恭城

II Zao Min Language Group—Pai Yao or Ba Pai Yao, self call Zao Min
二、藻敏方言集团——排瑶或八排瑶，自称藻敏

III The Biao Jiao Language Group
三、标交方言集团

(1) the Biao Min local dialect group—the Dong Shan Yao: self call Biao Min
(1) 标敏土语集团——东山瑶：自称标敏

(2) The Jiao Gong Mien local dialect group: self call Jiao Gong Mien
(2) 交公勉土语集团：自称交公勉

The Bu Nu Language Group
布努语集团

一、布瑙方言集团——布努瑶

(1) the Dong Nu local dialect group
(1)东努土语集团

1. Bei Lou Yao[the Back Basket Yao]self call the Dong Nu or Bu Nu
1. 背篓瑶：自称东努、布努

2. Shan Yao: self call Bu Za
2. 山瑶：自称布咋

(2) the Bu Nuo local dialect group—the Bei Lou Yao; self-call the Bu Nuo
(2) 布诺土语集团——背篓瑶，自称布诺，分布于广西都安

(5) the Nu Mao local dialect group
(5) 努茂土语集团

1. the Hei Ku Yao[black trouser Yao] self-call Nu Mao
1. 黑裤瑶，自称努茂

2. the Chang Shan Yao[long dress Yao] self-call the Bei Dong Nuo
2. 长衫瑶，自称杯冬诺

II the Jiong Nai dialect group—the Hua Lan Yao; self call Jiong Nai
二、炯奈方言集团——花篮瑶，自称炯奈，分布于广西金秀

VI the La Jia language group—Cha Shan Yao[Tea Hill Yao]; self-call: the La Jia
拉珈语集团——茶山瑶，自称拉珈

The Han Language Group
汉语集团

I. the Bing Duo Yiu language group—the Ping Di Yao; self-call: Bing Duo Yiu, Dai Nai Jiang
一、炳多尤话集团——平地瑶，自称炳多尤、代奈江
II. the Yiu Nian language group—the Ping Hua Hong Yao; self-call the Yiu Nian
二、优念话集团——平话红瑶，自称优念
III. the Shan Jie language group—the Shan Zi Yao; self-call: the Shan Jie
三、珊介话集团——山仔瑶，自称珊介
IV. the Yiu Jia language group—the Yao Jia; self-call: Yiu Jia
四、优嘉话集团——瑶家，，自称优嘉
V. the Jin Dong Xian Yao Ethnicity; self-call: Le Wu people
五、景东县瑶族——自称乐舞人

the oreginal authors: 毛宗武、蒙超吉、郑宗泽1982

Note: i would love to share with you what i have read.Yet, it's not from studying so i do not have any good details--just to show you how many branches are there of our Yao nationality.