For the Yao, ancient Taoist rituals are practised together with spirit worship. Priests conduct elaborate ceremonies, such as the introduction of Yao men to the Taoist deities, and ancestors, which are depicted in paintings. Yao shamans assist in times of sickness and other crises, by communicating with the spirits. Various tools such as the rattle and divination horns, aid the shaman to communicate with the spirits.The Mien or Yao as they are often called is an ethnic minority group who migrated from Laos during the mid 19th century into Northern Thailand.
