China Manchu ethnic group childbirth tradition hangs bow and arrow for boys, red strip for girls

China’s Manchu people have quirky child-rearing traditions known as Luocao and Caisheng which include hanging a wooden bow outside the front door when a boy is born, or a red cloth strip for a girl.The Manchu ethnic group, historically known for founding the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), now lives across various regions of China.According to the China Statistical Yearbook 2021, their population exceeds 10 million.In Manchu tradition, the birth of a baby is referred to as luocao, which literally means “falling onto the straw”.Manchu women pose for the camera while wearing the traditional clothes of their ethnic group. Photo: SinaThe term reflects their rustic, hunting-based heritage.