Yunnan 18 Oddities: Girls carry tobacco bags

The oddity “Girls carry tobacco bags” (女孩背烟袋) from the Yunnan 18 Oddities highlights a cultural practice where young girls in Yunnan, especially among certain ethnic groups, traditionally carry small tobacco pouches or bags. These pouches are often intricately decorated and serve both practical and symbolic purposes. Historically, tobacco has been an important part of Yunnan’s culture, with various ethnic communities cultivating and using it for ceremonial, social, and personal reasons. Carrying tobacco bags by girls could symbolize cultural identity, community affiliation, and sometimes readiness for social interactions where tobacco might be shared or exchanged.