The Yao nationality has a long history and is famous for its industriousness and wisdom. Compared with other nationalities, it has two unique features: it is so broadly scatted; and it has so many names.

The Yao nationality, with a population of more than 2,100,000, now ranks the 12th among the 55 ethnic groups. They are distributed across a large area, including Hunan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong and Yunnan provinces or prefectures. The majority of Yao people live in Guangxi Autonomous Region. Specifically, they are scatted over 60 counties in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, over 30 counties in Hunan province, 15 counties in Yunnan province, 11 counties in Guangdong province, over 20 counties in Guizhou province and parts of Jiangxi province. They usually live together with many other nationalities, including Han, Zhuang, Miao, Dong etc. The distributing feature of "small communities scatter across big areas" is very prominent. Except for some small parts that live in the hills and river valleys, most of them are scattered in high mountains, such as Wuling Mountain, Shiwan Mountain, Duyang Mountain, Xuefeng Mountain, Luoxiao Mountain, Liuxiao Mountain and Ailou Mountain. Hence the saying goes "there is no mountains in Nanling Mountains that Yao do not inhabit."

Originated from the "savage Changsha and Wuling tribes", the Yao ancestors lived around Changsha and Wuling counties, which are today's river valley areas along Xiangjiang River, Zijiang River, Yuan River and the Dongting Lake. They later moved southward to such areas as Guangxi, Guangdong, Guizhou and Yunan and thus the inhabiting feature of "small communities scatter across big areas" came into being. As a result, their life styles, cultural activities and even names began to diverge. Historically, Yao has so many names, which was rather rare for other nationalities in China. They have many self-names like "Mian", "Youmian", "Men", "Jinmen", "Shimen", "Min", "Biaomin", "Bunu", "Bunuo" etc. As for the names that are used by others, the number is more than 390: some of them were originated from totem and ancestor worshipping, like "Panyao", "Panwang Yao", "Pangu Yao","Bunu Yao", "Tangwang Yao", "Shangong Yao" and "Monkey Yao"; some from the color of their costumes and adornments, like "Red Yao", "White Yao", "Flowery Clothes Yao", "White Trouser Yao", "Black Yao", "Cyan Yao" and "Cyan Trousers Yao"; Some from the features of their topknots, like "Ban Yao", "Dingban Yao", "Jian Yao", "Horn Yao" and "Bamboo Hat Yao"; some from their hairdos, like "Beifa Yao", "Bun Hair Yao", "Comb Yao" and "Painted Hair Yao"; some from the terrains they live in, like "High Mountain Yao", "Remote Mountain Yao", "Halfway Hill Yao", "Cave Yao", "Level Land Yao"; some from the places where they live, like "Daozhou Yao", "Changning Yao", "Jinxiu Yao", "Qidu Yao", "Lianshan Yao" and "Shuangping Yao"; some from the way they make a living, like "Slashing Yao", "Hillside-Opening Yao", "Mountain-Crossing Yao", "Leek Yao", "Tea Plantation Yao" etc. These names, though without scientific evidence, provide us with some hints in conducting research concerning the Yao's historical and cultural features.