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Geography of Tujia (土家族)

In western Hubei and Hunan provinces, the Tujia people live in the Wuling Range at elevations of between 400 and 1,500 metres above sea level. They also live in the Xiangxi Tujia-Miao Autonomous Prefecture and the Exi Tujia-Miao Autonomous Prefecture, enjoying a wet, mild climate.

  • Population: Around 8 million
  • Distribution:  Hubei and Hunan
  • Language: Tujia
  • Religion: Polytheism

Language of Tujia (土家族)

The majority of Tujia people speak the Han and Miao languages due to assimilation, but between 20,000 and 30,000 people in remote areas speak Tujia, a language belonging to the Chinese-Tibetan system and similar to the Yi language. Because of this assimilation into Han and Miao culture, many of the old ways have not survived.

Traditions of Tujia (土家族)

Cash crops in the area include rice, tea and cotton; China fir, the nanmu tree and cypress provide timber. Giant salamanders live wild in the area, which is also a rich source of medicinal herbs.

History of Tujia (土家族)

No one really knows who were the true ancestors of the Tujia people; there are several different theories. What is known is that by the beginning of the Five Dynasties Period, there was a distinct ethnic group in western Hunan known as Tujias. Han peasants arrived early in the twelfth century and brought farming knowledge and modern tools. Land was sold by feudal lords to business people and Han peasants, which meant that Tujias were effectively exploited by their own people.

Officials and chiefs would have elaborate houses made of wood; the roofs were tiled and the buildings were decorated with carved columns. Houses for the ordinary people, on the other hand, were made of bamboo and had thatched roofs.

Before the feudal economy, a wizard would approve a marriage and young people were free to choose their partners. Later on, however, marriages were arranged according to economic circumstances. This was made illegal after 1949.

Since the Tujia people’s association with the Han ethnic group, they have begun to use burial more, but traditionally, they would cremate their dead.

One of the more interesting traditional taboos of the Tujia people is one of not allowing cats at worshipping ceremonies; their meows were said to be unlucky. Young girls and pregnant women were forbidden to sit on thresholds and men could not enter a house if he was carrying an empty bucket.

Traditional beliefs are starting to die out, but they included ancestor worship
and shamanistic beliefs in ghosts, demons and gods. On someone’s death, a wizard would be invited to expel evil spirits from the house.

Culture of Tujia (土家族)

Hand dancing is something the Tujia people are known for and it is popular at Spring Festival. Folk songs and epic poems tell of aspirations, love, battles, grief and work. Tujia people are good at singing and composing songs. Among the skills of Tujia people are weaving and embroidery and gunny cloth is prized because it is durable.

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