the heartbreaking customs of minorities tattooing women's faces
Oct 30, 2025
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According to Hong Kong media South China Morning Post, the Durong people living near the Durong River in Communist County, Yunnan Province, China, have a population of about 7000, the fewest among the 56 officially recognized ethnic groups by the Chinese government.
They are known for their courageous fighting power since the Yuan Dynasty, and their population has plummeted in the struggle to protect the tribe for a long time.
Tattoos on the faces of Durung women are one of the most unique and painful traditions of this people.
Usually, when they are 12 to 13 years old, they use thorns, ash, and fern juice to engrave turquoise patterns on their faces.
Tattoos take all day, followed by extreme pain, swelling and flushing over the next few days. The patterns are spiders, butterflies, flowers, etc., and are concentrated on the entire face or jaw area depending on the region.
The origin of this custom is not clear, but the most widely known reason is the theory that it is intended to make the appearance look 'less attractive' to prevent women from being kidnapped. Another theory is that it means an coming-of-age ceremony and comes from the cultural norm that marriage is possible only if you get a tattoo. Since the 1950s, it has gradually disappeared due to the government's ban policy, and now only less than 20 women over the age of 75 are known to maintain facial tattoos.
Another cultural characteristic of the Durung people is their deep attachment to alcohol.
They spend half of their annual yields on alcohol production, and it is common to drink alcohol instead of water.
On the day of the wedding, the bride shares drinks with all the guests, and most of them return home drunk with the groom. The alcohol, which is fermented in a bamboo barrel, is low in alcohol content, fragrant, and sweet, so even children enjoy drinking it.
Alcohol is considered to be something that refreshes and boosts the body beyond just drinks. When visiting festivals or guests, drinking alcohol facing each other symbolizes loyalty and friendship. In particular, the meat-based alcohol called 'Xiala' is made by roasting chicken, bee larvae, and rat meat and boiling it with alcohol.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
