Catalogue of Yao Manuscripts

By Bent Lerbæk Pedersen

This unique work catalogues the Yao holdings of the Royal Library, Copenhagen. Originating in northern China but found today in southwestern China, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, the various Yao subgroups speak various Miao-Yao languages but continue to write their texts in the Chinese language with Chinese characters. To a large intent, they have maintained traditional Chinese social values and the Daoist religion. The catalogue describes 37 Yao texts, all written in Chinese and mainly dealing with traditional Chinese religion and social life. Dating from the 18th to early 20th centuries, the manuscripts include Chinese characters special to the Yao. Designed especially as an essential source of reference for scholars working in all aspects of manuscript and rare book studies, the catalogue includes 48 illustrations (half in colour) that help identify this material.