Bulletin Number Three 1986

In te rna tiona l Colloquium on Yao Studies 'The Yao are one o f the major m inority nationalities in China. With a population o f 1.4 million, they rank only twelfth among the most populous minority groups in the country, but they are widely distributed in the provinces o f Guangxi, Hunan, Yunnan, Guang dong, Guizhou and Jiangxi. Yao people are also found in Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, France and the United States o f America. The Yao people have been the focus o f studies f o r both Chinese and overseas ethnol ogists, linguists and historians on account o f their cultural uniqueness and numerous ethnic subdivisions.' The first International Colloquium on Yao Studies commenced on 26th May, 1986 in the Univer sity's Cho Yiu Hall. Briefing the guests on the theme o f the colloquium in these words, the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Ma Lin , also pointed out in his opening speech that the colloquium, w ith thirty-one Yao specialists and scholars from China and overseas participating, was really a great event in the study o f the Yao, as there had not previously been any international aca demic organization for the promotion o f Yao studies and cooperation among Yao scholars. Mr. Tang Hui, Chairman o f the Commission for M inority National ities Affairs o f Guangdong Province, also delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, giving a detailed introduction on the distribution o f the Yao people in China, the characteristics o f the subdivisions in cos tumes, language, economic life and the changes after 1949. Finally, Dr. Chiao Chien, Chairman o f the Department o f Anthropology, made areport on behalf o f the Organizing Committee o f the Colloquium. The four-day colloquium was jo in tly organized by the Department o f Anthropology, the Research Centre on the Anthropology o f South China and ， Indo-Chinese Peninsula o f the French National Centre o f Scientific Research, and the Hong Kong Institute for Promotion o f Chinese Culture. Apart from local scholars, participants included fourteen scholars from China and eight from France, England, Sweden, Australia and the United States. Among them, seven were Yao people themselves. There was also a Yao delegation o f three representing the Yao people who have migrated to the United States from Southeast Asia. The colloquium was held in thirteen sessions: First Session: Chairman Jao Tsung-i Discussant Joel Thoraval Speakers Fei Xiao-tong: ‘F if ty Years'Investi gation in the Yao Mountains.' Liu Yao-quan; Hu Qi-wang: ‘A Summary o f the Yao Studies in China from 1949 to 1984. ’ Second Session: Chairman Liu Yao-quan Discussant Zee Yun-yang Speakers Georges Condominas: The First French Publications on the Yao.' Gordon B. Downer: 'Divisions between Yao and M iao .' Third Session: Chairman Hsieh Jiann Discussant Gordon B. Downer Speakers Pan Cheng-qian: 'YaoDialectology.' Zee Yun-yang: 'A Comparison between Pai Yao and Guoshan Yao Dialects.' Fourth Session: Chairman Tang Hui Discussant Hsieh Jiann Speakers Li Xiao-wen: ‘Study o f the Pai Yao Dresses and Ornaments.' Xu Wen-qing: 'Myths and Legends o f the Liannan Ba Pai Yao.' F ifth Session: Chairman Pan Cai-wan Discussant Peter Kandre Speakers Liao Bao-yun: ‘Social Change in the Liannan Autonomous County in NEWS 3