Mulam

The Mulao, who call themselves Mulam, are a Kam–Sui people of the Tai–Kadai family, settled in northern Guangxi. Jin records counted their forebears among the Ling and Liao tribes, and the Mulao were anciently known as the Liao; their autonym is partly cognate with that of the Dong, their closest kin.

Under the Yuan dynasty of 1271 to 1368 they were organized as tribute-bearing villages, sending presents to the emperor twice a year. Under the Qing after 1644 their lands were split into dongs, ten-household units under local headmen and usually settled by single-surname clans.

They spoke the Mulam language, writing when needed with Chinese characters. Traditionally animists, they served local spirits through shamans, above all at the Yifan festival with its animal sacrifices, while dragon boat festival rites were meant to secure the harvest and drive off insect pests.