When unrolled, this painting transforms an ordinary room into a temporary temple. They believe that the power of the paintings lies in the spirit. Those that are below are malevolent. The deities are from the Taoist tradition. Family ancestors link the deities with the living and the ancestors, along with the deities, are invoked on special occasions.
Shamans cater to the spirit world on man's behalf.
Many Yao in northern Thailand converted to Christ in the early 1980s. Ten thousand have turned to Christ in China, but these belong to Yao sub-groups and may have to learn other dialects to reach their fellow Yao.