Uyghurs (维吾尔族)

Geography and Language of Uyghurs (维吾尔族)

Most Uyghurs live in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwestern China and they make up the largest ethnic group in the region, which is also home to several other ethnic groups, including Manchus, Daurs and Tajiks. They speak several languages, related to Chinese-Tibetan, Turkic, Mongolian and Indo-Germanic.

The Tianshan Mountains divide Xinjiang into north and south; at the eastern end, the Turpan Basin is the lowest and hottest point in China.

• Population: 7.2 million
• Distribution: Xinjiang
• Language: Uyghur
• Religion: Islam

Climate of Uyghurs (维吾尔族)

The climate in the south is warm and dry; in the north, cold with rain and snow. The Tarim Basin and Gobi Desert are used by the Uyghurs for farming.

History of Uyghurs (维吾尔族)

Previously known as ‘Western Region,’ Xinjiang holds many ancient relics from the Western and Eastern Han dynasties, illustrating the development of China with the help of Xinjiang’s many ethnic groups. As early as the second century BC, ties between China and Central Asia were strengthened by the Silk Road.

Early in the thirteenth century, a senior official in the region was appointed by Genghis Khan and, in 1884, Xinjiang was finally established as a province in the tenth year of Emperor Guang Xu’s reign.

The name ‘Uyghur’ literally means ‘alliance’ or ‘unity’ and the group’s origins can be traced back as far as the Dingling nomads in the third century BC and the ancient Uyghurs were conquered by the Kirgiz in the middle of the ninth century. Most moved to the Western Region; those who did mixed with Turkic nomads and intermarried with people in Mongol, Tibetan and Qidan tribes and people in Xinjiang. These people were the ancestors of the ethnic Uyghur group.

Between the ninth and twelfth centuries, roaming was replaced by settled farming; commercial links with China began to thrive; jade, horses, tea and silk were exchanged. Islam was introduced to Kaxgar in the late tenth century and from there extended its influence. As Hans were sent to open up areas of wasteland, many Uyghurs moved and became the ancestors of Uyghurs and Hui people in today’s Changde and Taoyuan counties in Hunan province.

The old feudal system was weakened to some extent by the imperial court appointing and removing officials instead of their positions being passed on to their children. Feudal rule caused the Wushi Uprising in 1765; this was the Uyghurs’ first armed rebellion against the feudal system.

Another armed uprising took place in 1864, shortly after the Opium War began.There were several other uprisings against the Qing court, though these gave rise to self-styled rulers who brought their own troubles.

The former Western Region became the province of Xinjiang during the Qing dynasty, which strengthened the northwest border.Closer ties were forged between Xinjiang and central China. In the struggle against feudalism and imperialism, unity between Uyghurs and other ethnic groups increased.

Modern Times of Uyghurs (维吾尔族)

In 1933, the East Turkistan Islamic Republic was established, encouraged by Great Britain. Revolutionary activities began taking place in Xinjiang that year and the province came under the rule of the KMT in 1944. In 1955, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region was officially established.

Paluo (sweet rice) is an important food served to guests at festivals and is made from mutton, sheep fat, carrots, raisins, onions and rice. The Uyghurs have a long tradition of growing cotton and spinning thread.

Religion of Uyghurs (维吾尔族)

Religion has dominated Uyghur society for several hundred years and rich men would exploit religion to have more than one wife and could choose to divorce at any time. Ordinary Uyghur marriages were mainly arranged by parents. More religious freedoms have been accepted in recent times, however, and things such as whether women should wear veils in public and how many services there are per day are a matter of individual choice. The Chinese Islamic Association was established in 1953.

Culture of Uyghurs (维吾尔族)

Uyghur literature has a long history; many written works have survived since the eleventh century. Dancing is important to Uyghurs and is often accompanied by the ‘dap,’ a kind of tambourine.