Yugur (裕固族)

Geography and Language of Yugur (裕固族)

Most Yugur people live in the Sunan Yugur Autonomous County; the remaining ten per cent are in western Gansu province. They have three languages: Raohul, a Turkic language; Engle, a Mongolian language (both Altaic); and Chinese. They speak different languages depending on where they live. The Yugur people communicate using Chinese.

• Population: 15,000
• Distribution:  Gabsu
• Language: Western Yugur, Eastern Yugur
• Religion: Tibetan Buddhism, Shamanism

History of Yugur (裕固族)

The Yugurs’ history can be traced back to the Tang dynasty and the ancient Ouigurs, who had to move west to escape feuding and attacks by the Kirgiz. One of these groups moved to the Hexi Corridor and became known as Hexi Ouigurs. They maintained close ties with the empire, especially during the Northern Song dynasty. In return for the Khan of the Ganzhou Ouigurs sending special envoys to the imperial capital, they gave the Ouigur Khan gifts.

The Western Xia Kingdom conquered Ganzhou and the Ouigur regime fell, so the Hexi Ouigurs came under the rule of the Western Xia, though they kept their links with the Song court. In 1227, the Western Xia Kingdom was conquered by the Mongols and the Hexi Ouigurs came under their rule.

Between the eleventh and sixteenth century, some of the Hexi Ouigurs were assimilated with other ethic groups and became today’s Yugur people. Many of them were moved east by the Ming rulers when the border became unstable.

After their move, their economic production changed, with some taking on farming having been influenced by the Hans, others continuing to hunt and breed livestock. Iron tools helped their farming methods improve.

The Qing government divided the Yugurs into seven ‘tribes’ and appointed headmen, in an attempt to strengthen the Qing rule. Later, the Yugurs were exploited by the Qing government.

Religion and Traditions of Yugur (裕固族)

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Lamaism became popular and each tribe had a monastery. Feudalism and oppression were still practised by the Lamaist monasteries, however, making life very hard. By the middle of the 20th century, the Yugur population was below 3,000.

Culture and Modern Times of Yugur (裕固族)

The Sunan Yugur Autonomous County and the Jiuquan Huangnibao Yugur Autonomous Township were established in 1954.

Ballads, legends and proverbs feature in the Yugurs’ rich oral literary history; plastics are decorated with vivid patterns and hair decorations are made with beads, chips and silk threads.

Recently, the Yugurs have seen the mechanisation of sheep shearing; irrigation projects have been set up in the form of ponds and reservoirs. Most Yugurs now have electricity and now there is a developed motorway network.

Education facilities have been improved, with many schools having been set up in recent decades. Medical facilities have also been improved.