Geography and Language of Zhuang (壮族)
The largest minority group in China, the Zhuang ethnic group has a population almost equalling that of Australia. Most live in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with others in Hunan, Guangdong, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. Their language belongs to the Chinese-Tibetan family; the Zhuang script, characters which appeared in the Southern Song dynasty, were never popularised, so the Han script was used until 1955, when a new written system was created, based on the Latin alphabet.
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Population: 16,178,811
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Distribution: Guangxi, Yunnan, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hunan
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Language: Zhuang
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Religion: Polytheism
Climate of Zhuang (壮族)
The Zhuang area is crisscrossed with rivers, making navigation, irrigation and hydropower easy. The south Guangxi coast is the source of valuable marine products and China’s best pearls are found here. The climate is mild and crops such as lychees, mangoes and sugarcane grow well. The area is rich in natural resources, such as zinc, aluminium, gold and copper.
History of Zhuang (壮族)
The term ‘Zhuang’ was first recorded during the Song dynasty around a thousand years ago and was the name used by the people themselves, along with a dozen or so other names. Two thousand years ago, the Zhuang areas first came under central administration and three prefectures were established there by the First Emperor of Qin during his unification of the country. This was when the Lingqu Canal was built to ease irrigation and other people were encouraged to move into the area to strengthen political, cultural and economic ties. In the Tang and Song dynasties, economic and social development spread, though the rest of China was still ahead in terms of economy. Uprisings took place where the Zhuang people would rebel against local headmen who exploited them.
Modern Times of Zhuang (壮族)
The Taiping rebellion erupted in the Zhuang area in 1851 and many Zhuang people joined the Taiping Army. The Black Banner Army was formed by Zhuang and Han people to stop the invading French in 1873 near Hanoi and they did it again in 1882. Many Zhuangs also joined the cause of Dr Sun Yat-sen in the Revolution which overthrew the Qing dynasty in 1911.
Culture of Zhuang (壮族)
Zhuang art and culture are rich and unique. Frescoes dating back 2,000 years have been found on the precipices overhanging Guangxi’s Zuojiang River. The Zhuang bronze drums are varied in size and designs; the largest yet found is over a metre in diameter. Use of these drums is subject to debate: religious, military and folk music have all been suggested, as have religious rites and the use of drums to symbolise wealth and power.
Zhuang brocade originated in the Tang dynasty and became famous nationwide during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Singing is a large part of Zhuang life and folk ballads, legends, stories and fairytales make up much of the Zhuangs’ traditional literature. At regular songfests, young people would gather at certain venues and meet lovers through songs. Dancing is just as important and Zhuang dances reflect their lives and character.
Tang dynasty religious rites gave rise to Zhuang Opera, which combines all of these factors.
Traditionally, houses were two-storey buildings, with the lower level used as store rooms and stables and the living area above. Most Zhuangs now live in Han-style single-storey houses, however. The staple foods are corn and rice.
Marriages are monogamous; a traditional custom means the bride will not go to her husband’s home. A dozen same-generation girls will escort her to her husband’s home after the wedding but she will continue living with her parents, visiting her husband during festivals and times of busy farming, until around two or three years later.
There are three Zhuang festival days: the Devil Festival, second in importance only to Spring Festival; the Cattle Soul Festival and Feasting Festival. Rocks, trees, mountains and ancestors are worshipped by the polytheistic Zhuangs. Taoism is also popular but, though missionaries came in the 19th and 20th centuries, their influence did not penetrate the rural areas.
After 1949, there were land reforms; the new enlarged autonomous region, originally established in 1952, was formally set up in 1958 and named the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Several others were set up afterwards. Modern industry has been helped by water conservancy projects, agriculture and forestry have grown and transport links have now been established.
All school-age children are now educated and several universities have been built in the area. Medical services have also been improved.
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