Source:Travelling in Yuxi

　　Tattooing and dying black teeth are the regional and symbolic customs of Huayaodai Nationality, which is a brand embodying the close relationship between human and nature.
　　Tattooing usually uses iron pin or other sharp tools to mark some designs, marks and names. Tattooing is a pain which need indomitable will to bear. There is a legend about tattooing. Once upon a time, Huayaodai Nationality, lived by the two sides of the Red River, spent their days on fishing and catching shrimp. At that time, there was a ferocious flood dragon that bit people as soon as it saw them in the water, so that many people lost their lives under the nose of the dragon. Later, people had a good idea, which drew a dragon on their bodies before going into the water to defend themselves. Therefore, the dragon did not bite people for the dragon might mistake them as his descendants. However, the indigo juice used to draw dragon would fade being staying in the water for a long time. Then the dragon would do harm to people. In order to avoid the indigo juice fading, people bore the pain to tattoo with iron pin. Finally, people escaped the harm of the dragon.
　　Later, tattooing became a symbol of beauty, which prevailed among Huayaodai Nationality. Some like to tattoo into the chest, legs, and wrists with shape like tiger, leopard, lion, dragon, snake and other animals. While some like to tattoo on the fingers and the back of the hands. Besides, it is also a decoration for beauty. At present, tattooing is not as prevalent as before.
　　There is also a legend about dying black teeth. It is said that the ancestors of Huayaodai Nationality were defeated by their enemies, with their houses burned and the women pillaged. Later, the Huayaodai Nationality drove off their enemies and rescued the women. However, the men could not distinguish who were the women of Huayaodai Nationality. From then on, the women of Huayaodai Nationality began to dye teeth in order to distinguish.
　　It is said that the reason for the reservation of the custom is that tooth-dying brings such benefits as insect-resistant, anti-decaying and desquamating.