China 56 Ethnic Groups 4
Qiang – China 56 Ethnic Groups
The Qiangs called themselves “Er’ma”, meaning “the local”. Developed from one tribe of the ancient Qiang people, the Qiang can be dated back to 3,000 years ago. During the Spring-and-Autumn and the Warring States periods, one branch of the ancient Qinag people moved from Gansu and Qinghai provinces to the upper reaches of Minjiang River. They merged with the local people and become the Qiang people we know today.
The Qiangs mainly live in Mao, Wenchuan, Li Heishuo, and Songpan counties of Aba Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture and Beichuang Autonomous Prefecture. According to the fifth national census in 2000, the population of Qiang was 306,072.
They speak the Qiang language, belonging to the Tibetan-Burmese branch of the Sino-Tibetan language, with north and south dialects. The Qiang do not have a written script of their own. Chinese is in common use.
Pumi – China 56 Ethnic Groups
“Pumi” means “white people”, however, in different areas this word is pronounced differently in various dialects dialects. In the historical document, the Hans call the Pumis “Xifan” or “Baju”. Originally as a nomad inhabiting the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, they were one of the major ethnic groups in the Xichang area.
The Pumi, live in communities in Lanping Bai-Pumi Autonomous County in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture and Ninglang Yi Autonomous County in Lijiang, Yunan. According to the fifth national census in 2000, the Pumi had a population of 33,600.
The Pumi have their own language, which belongs to the Tibetan-Burmese branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. In the past, it was noted that the Pumi in the Muli and Ninglang areas used the Tibetan script, although gradually the Tibetan script fell into disuse and oblivion. In modern times, the Pumi receive education in Chinese.
Oroqen – China 56 Ethnic Groups
“Oroqen”, a self-given name, has two meanings: “people living in mountains” and “people using reindeer”. The name firstly appeared in documents of the early Qing Dynasty. In historical Chinese literature, this ethnic group was also regarded as different terms, such as “E’lunchun”, “E’lechun”, “E’lunchun”, etc. Its name officially fixed after the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
People of the Oroqen mainly live in Oroqen Autonomous Banner, Zalantun, and Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner in Hulun Buir of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. According to the fifth national census in 2000, the population of Oroqen was 8,196.
The Oroqen have a spoken language belonging to the Tungus branch of the Man-Tungusic branch of the Altaic language family. With no written script of their own, most of them have learned to read and write the language of the Hans.
Nu – China 56 Ethnic Groups
The Nu, calling themselves “nusu”, “a-nu” and “a-long”, is an old ethnic group along the banks of the Nujiang and Lancang rivers. They developed from the aborigines in today’s Fugong and Gongshan in Yunnan Province and a branch of the “liuluman” in the Tang Dyansty.
In the 18th century, the area inhabited by the Nus came under the jurisdiction of the Nanzhao and Dali principalities, which were tributaries of the Tang court,. During the Yuan and Ming Dynasties it came under the rule of a Naxi headman surnamed Mu in Lijiang.
The Nus live mainly in Yunnan Province’s Gongshan, Fugong, Lushui and Lanping counties. According to the fifth national census in 2000, the Nu numbered 28,759.
The Nus have their own language, which belongs to the Tibetan-Burmese branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. Their dialects differ a lot and are mutually unintelligible. Having no written script, most of the Nus use Chinese characters.
Naxi – China 56 Ethnic Groups
The Naxi has a long history. The forefathers of the Naxi people were closely related to a tribe which was called “Maoniu Yi” in the Han Dynasty. “Mosha YI” in the Jin Dynasty and “Moxie Man” in the Tang Dynasty. In the early Ming Dynasty, leader of the Naxi was appointed as mayor of Lijiang Prefecture, which was a hereditary position in change of the Naxi and other minority groups nearby.
The Naxis manly live in communities in southwest China, such as in the upper reaches of the Jinsha River as well as the Hengduan Mountain ranges at the borderline between Yunnan, Sichuan and Tiber.
The Naxi its own language, which belongs to the Yi subbranch of the Tibetan-Burmese branch, Sino-Tibetan family. The Naxi people has already created the pictographic characters called “Dongba”. In 1957, with the assistance of he Government, the Naxi people designed an alphabetic script based on Latin script.
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