The waist decorations of Yi women are very unique. The style is not beautiful and soft, but rather rugged. Yi women traditionally wear big black waist rings usually made of elm tree skin. There is a legend about its origin. When Yi people in ancient times encountered their enemies, women ran for battlefield together with men. They were brave and good at fighting and they often used waist rings with iron cover to protect themselves in battle. Later, Yi women were no longer involved in battle, but still kept the tradition of using black waist rings for decoration. They consider waist rings as a kind of protective talisman and lucky sign.
Va minority girls also like to wear waist hoops, which were made mainly by bamboo or rattan in the past. Only women from rich family would use strings of beads or black lacquer bamboo rings to make the hoop. Some girls from richer families even used silver waist rings decorated with patterns. Yi women decorate their upper arms and wrist with silver bracelets and some bamboo or rattan hoops on their thigh and shank.
The silver belt of Dai girls is considered to be very precious. Some are handed down from mother to daughter for many generations. But in daily life, a silver waist belt is considered to be the love sigh. If a girl gives the silver belt to a young guy, it means that she falls in love with him.
Dai Ethnic Group
Yi Ethnic Group
Va Ethnic Group
