Ethnic Wa (Va) Chinese 佤族

Cow plays an important role in the Wa culture. Ethnic Wa people have a tradition of "Sacrificing Cows to the God". The cow head represents treasure and luck. It is often used as a decorating figure on Wa buildings. The wood drum is a typical Wa musical instrument, which is believed to be able to communicate with ghosts and deities. The Wa people beat wood drum to gather tribal folks or during Wa sacrifice ceremony. The dwelling place of the Wa people was known as "The Land of Gourd King" in ancient time. This emblem consists a cow head, a wood drum and gourd paintings. It represents simple heart, purity, strength, and affluence.

牛在佤族文化中占有重要位置，佤族有“剽牛祭天”的习俗。牛头象征财富、吉祥，常见用牛头或牛头图案作为建筑物的装饰。木鼓是佤族乐器，相传是通神之物，祭祀、召集族人都敲木鼓。佤族居住地古代有“葫芦王地”之称。由牛头、木鼓和葫芦图纹组成的图案，象征纯朴、纯洁、刚劲、丰衣足食。

LUO Yongjuan (罗永娟), a well-known ethnic Wa Chinese singer

An ethnic Wa Chinese man on "Sacrificing Cows to the God" ceremony

An ethnic Wa Chinese girl in Wa traditional constume

Three ethninc Wa Chinese girls perform Hair Swaying Dance, a traditional Wa dance.

Ethnic Wa Chinese and tourists celebrate the revel of Mo Ni Hei (摸你黑 literally Touch You Black), a traditional Wa festival. The black materials are not mud but Wa people's traditional herbal medicine with good scent.

A small Wa village in Yunnan Province of China

A cartoon image of Wa

A postcard of Wa