Tajiks in China
Encyclopedia
Tajiks are an ethnic group that lives in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China
. They are one of the 56 nationalities officially recognized by the government of China.
, the members of the ethnic group were referred to as "Cina-deva-gotra" (from Sanskrit
; Chinese
transcription: , , or ). The name literally means "descendant of Han
and the sun-god" ( or ).
The name originates from a story about the Persian (波利剌斯) emperor marrying a Chinese wife.
During the Qing dynasty
, the Tajiks were administered by a system of Begs
like the rest of Xinjiang
.
The Tajiks of Xinjiang practiced slavery, selling some of their own as a punishment. Submissive slaves were given wives and settled with the Tajiks. They were considered property and could be sold anytime. Their slaves came from numerous sources, enslaving Sunni captives such as Kirghiz in retaliation for Kirghiz slave raids, or from Kunjud, Gilgit, Chitral. The Tajiks also sold some slaves to Bukhara
. The Sunnis called them Rafidites and did not consider them Muslim.
The Tajiks were among the supporters in the army of Jahangir Khoja when he attacked the Qing at Kashgar in 1826. The Tajiks dressed in black clothing. During the attack the army captured several hundred Chinese, who were taken to Kokand. It was reported that many of the Chinese captives became slaves, accounts of Chinese slaves in Central Asia increased. The Tajiks bought two Han Chinese slaves
from Shaanxi
, they were held as slaves for a year before being returned by the Tajik Beg Ku-bu-te to China.
Most foreign slaves in Xinjiang were Shia Mountain Tajiks, they were referred to by Sunni turkic muslims as Ghalcha.
In the 1940s around 9,000 Tajiks lived in Xinjiang.
During the Ili Rebellion, Uyghur forces butchered the livestock of the Tajiks as they advanced south. The Soviet backed insurgents destroyed Tajik crops and acted aggressively against the Tajiks and Kirghiz of China.
's western Xinjiang
region with 60% living in Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County. Despite the name "Tajik" that is used to refer to them, the Tajiks of China do not speak the Tajik language
. Early 20th century travelers to the region referred to them as Sarikoli, "Mountain Tajiks," or Ghalcha.
, Chinese
, and Wakhi
. A small proportion speak Wakhi. Sarikoli and Wakhi belong to the Pamir language group
of the Eastern Iranian language group
.
Ismaili sect of Shia Islam. Restrictions by the Chinese government bars foreign Ismaili preachers from openly working among the Tajiks in China and the religious leader of the of Nizari sect, the Aga Khan
, is barred from offering aid to the Tajiks.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. They are one of the 56 nationalities officially recognized by the government of China.
History
During the Tang dynastyTang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, the members of the ethnic group were referred to as "Cina-deva-gotra" (from Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
; Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
transcription: , , or ). The name literally means "descendant of Han
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
and the sun-god" ( or ).
The name originates from a story about the Persian (波利剌斯) emperor marrying a Chinese wife.
During the Qing dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
, the Tajiks were administered by a system of Begs
Baig
- History & Origins:The name Baig originates from a Turkic clan called Barlas . They played a pivotal role in Turko-Persian empires in Central Asia, Middle East and South Asia....
like the rest of Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
.
The Tajiks of Xinjiang practiced slavery, selling some of their own as a punishment. Submissive slaves were given wives and settled with the Tajiks. They were considered property and could be sold anytime. Their slaves came from numerous sources, enslaving Sunni captives such as Kirghiz in retaliation for Kirghiz slave raids, or from Kunjud, Gilgit, Chitral. The Tajiks also sold some slaves to Bukhara
Bukhara
Bukhara , from the Soghdian βuxārak , is the capital of the Bukhara Province of Uzbekistan. The nation's fifth-largest city, it has a population of 263,400 . The region around Bukhara has been inhabited for at least five millennia, and the city has existed for half that time...
. The Sunnis called them Rafidites and did not consider them Muslim.
The Tajiks were among the supporters in the army of Jahangir Khoja when he attacked the Qing at Kashgar in 1826. The Tajiks dressed in black clothing. During the attack the army captured several hundred Chinese, who were taken to Kokand. It was reported that many of the Chinese captives became slaves, accounts of Chinese slaves in Central Asia increased. The Tajiks bought two Han Chinese slaves
Slavery in China
Slavery in China has taken various forms throughout history. Never as absolute as its Muslim or European models, Chinese slavery still often viewed its objects as "half-man, half-thing"...
from Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
, they were held as slaves for a year before being returned by the Tajik Beg Ku-bu-te to China.
Most foreign slaves in Xinjiang were Shia Mountain Tajiks, they were referred to by Sunni turkic muslims as Ghalcha.
In the 1940s around 9,000 Tajiks lived in Xinjiang.
During the Ili Rebellion, Uyghur forces butchered the livestock of the Tajiks as they advanced south. The Soviet backed insurgents destroyed Tajik crops and acted aggressively against the Tajiks and Kirghiz of China.
Distribution
The population of Tajiks in China numbers 41,028 (2000). They are located in ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
's western Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
region with 60% living in Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County. Despite the name "Tajik" that is used to refer to them, the Tajiks of China do not speak the Tajik language
Tajik language
Tajik, Tajik Persian, or Tajiki, is a variety of modern Persian spoken in Central Asia. Historically Tajiks called their language zabani farsī , meaning Persian language in English; the term zabani tajikī, or Tajik language, was introduced in the 20th century by the Soviets...
. Early 20th century travelers to the region referred to them as Sarikoli, "Mountain Tajiks," or Ghalcha.
Language
In China, the languages of the Tajik people have no official written form. The great majority speak the Sarikoli language, which has been heavily influenced by UyghurUyghur language
Uyghur , formerly known as Eastern Turk, is a Turkic language with 8 to 11 million speakers, spoken primarily by the Uyghur people in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of Western China. Significant communities of Uyghur-speakers are located in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and various other...
, Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
, and Wakhi
Wakhi language
Wakhi is an Indo-European language in the branch of Eastern Iranian language family and is intimately related to other Southeastern Iranian languages in the Pamir languages group.-Classification and Distribution:...
. A small proportion speak Wakhi. Sarikoli and Wakhi belong to the Pamir language group
Pamir languages
The Pamir languages are a group of the Eastern Iranian languages, spoken by numerous people in the Pamir Mountains, primarily along the Panj River and its tributaries. This includes the Badakhshan Province of northeastern Afghanistan and the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province of eastern Tajikistan...
of the Eastern Iranian language group
Eastern Iranian languages
The Eastern Iranian languages are a subgroup of the Iranian languages emerging in Middle Iranian times .The Avestan language is often classified as early Eastern Iranian. The largest living Eastern Iranian language is Pashto, with some 50 million speakers between the Hindu Kush mountains in...
.
Religion
The Tajiks in China are adherents of the NizariNizari
'The Shī‘a Imami Ismā‘īlī Tariqah also referred to as the Ismā‘īlī or Nizārī , is a path of Shī‘a Islām, emphasizing social justice, pluralism, and human reason within the framework of the mystical tradition of Islam. The Nizari are the second largest branch of Shia Islam and form the majority...
Ismaili sect of Shia Islam. Restrictions by the Chinese government bars foreign Ismaili preachers from openly working among the Tajiks in China and the religious leader of the of Nizari sect, the Aga Khan
Aga Khan
Aga Khan is the hereditary title of the Imam of the largest branch of the Ismā'īlī followers of the Shī‘a faith. They affirm the Imamat of the descendants of Ismail ibn Jafar, eldest son of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, while the larger Twelver branch of Shi`ism follows Ismail's younger brother Musa...
, is barred from offering aid to the Tajiks.
External links
- The Tajik ethnic minority (China) (government website, in English)