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Bulang Tribe's Ranchi Ritual Marks Adulthood with Blackened Teeth

1/30/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Bulang people of Yunnan province, China, perform ranchi, a rite of passage that dyes the teeth black to signal adulthood.
The dyeing uses acidic fruit, sour juice, and smoke from burning wood.
The ritual lasts several days and allows full participation in village life.
There are about 127,000 Bulang people today who face limited social rights if they do not undergo ranchi.

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Story summary

The Bulang people of Yunnan province, China, perform ranchi, a rite of passage that dyes the teeth black to signal adulthood.
The dyeing uses acidic fruit, sour juice, and smoke from burning wood.
The ritual lasts several days and allows full participation in village life.
There are about 127,000 Bulang people today who face limited social rights if they do not undergo ranchi.