The Yao, by and large,are not as involved with their various religious customs as are the Meo. but have similar rituals concerning departing souls, and exorcistic practices which are designed to remove bad spirits from the dying as well as the living . There are family altars at which routine offerings are made to guardian spirits and joss-sticks arc burned there. Sacrifices of pigs and chickens are made to the spirits of ancestors once a year as well as at the time of a death or sickness. There are no images or temples.
Villages: The Yao live at lower elevations than the Meo or Lisu. Their villages are often located along stream heads at elevations of 3000 to 3500 feet and average about 15 houses. They have become
more permanent in recent Fears and have been known to remain in one general area for 10-15 years. The smaller villages and hamlets move more frequently.