BEIJING: China’s Bulang people have an unusual rite of passage known as ranchi in which they dye their teeth black to mark adulthood and social rights.
The ethnic group, with a history spanning more than a thousand years, is mainly found in Yunnan province, southwestern China.
According to the China Statistical Yearbook 2021, there are around 127,000 Bulang people today.
Living in the mountains and forests, they view the colour black as a symbol of beauty and power, believing it protects against evil and disaster.
At the age of 14 or 15, boys and girls undergo ranchi, dyeing each other’s teeth, usually between the opposite sexes.
The process involves eating acidic fruit or applying sour juice to their teeth, then using smoke from burning wood or pine resin to stain them. Some also chew betel nuts mixed with tobacco and lime.
This ritual, which can last several days, is a crucial rite of passage, marking their readiness to fully engage in village life. Those who do not blacken their teeth face restricted social rights.
The tradition, using all-natural materials, is also believed to strengthen teeth and aid digestion.
On reaching adulthood, boys are given items such as a long knife, a bag and a blanket, while girls receive new clothes, a stool and a bamboo basket.
In some areas of Yunnan, elderly people can still be seen with blackened teeth, a living reminder of this vanishing custom.
Tooth blackening is not unique to the Bulang people.
In Japan, ancient nobles used vinegar and iron filings to dye their teeth, associating black teeth with beauty and nobility. Among the samurai, black teeth were also seen as a symbol of loyalty.
In Vietnam, the practice dates back thousands of years, where people used betel, charcoal and beeswax to blacken their teeth, believing white teeth symbolised animals and demons.
The Bulang people also have other customs that reflect their strong social values and sense of identity.
Women wear large earrings, with bigger ear holes symbolising wealth and higher status.
Men take pride in tattoos, and those without them are seen as cowards, unable to win the admiration of women.
When boys reach their teenage years, they also tattoo their bodies with designs like fish scales, fierce animals and symbols of witchcraft.
Their wedding traditions are equally unique, with couples celebrating three ceremonies.
The first happens after engagement, when a red or white thread is tied around their wrists as a blessing and they live apart.
The second ceremony allows them to move in together and the third is typically held after the birth of their first child. - South China Morning Post
