Explainer | Why China Miao ethnic group shows love by biting each other and gentle bites mean unloving
Couple then hold engagement ceremony called ‘eating chicken’ to symbolise approval of marriage
A bizarre ancient courtship ritual practised by some of China’s ethnic groups involved a test of love where only a deep and painful bite was seen as a true expression of affection.
This practice, known as yao shou ding qing, or “biting the hand to seal the love,” is a traditional courtship ritual of the Miao ethnic group in Hainan province, located at the nation’s southernmost point.
Officially recognised as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage since 2017, it reflects the Miao philosophy that “everything leaves a trace.”
The ritual typically takes place under evergreen trees, such as betel palm trees, which symbolise enduring love.
During festivals like the third day of the third lunar month, a traditional Miao holiday for ancestral worship, young men and women gather under betel trees or on grassy hillsides to sing folk songs that express their emotions and hopes of finding a soulmate.
When a young man falls in love, he may serenade a girl at night using a nose flute or tree leaves to produce soft, flowing melodies.