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…