Daur (达斡尔族)

Geography of Daur (达斡尔族)

Most Daur people live in the Inner Mongolian Atutonomous Region and in Heilongjiang province, though several thousand also live in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Their spoken language is related to Mongolian and their written language was Manchu during the Qing dynasty, though was replaced with Mandarin after the Revolution in 1911. The largest Daur community is to be found in the Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner which was set up in Heilongjiang province in 1958.

• Population: 121,500
• Distribution:  Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang and Xinjiang
• Language:
•  Daur and Han
• Religion: Shamanism

Culture of Daur (达斡尔族)

Sport is an integral part of Daur life, with archery and horse racing among the most popular. Their own kind of football uses an ox-hair ball. Daur women are known for their skills in needlework.

Women are accomplished musicians, playing the ‘mukulian’, especially during festivals, when folk dances are performed. Literature is based on the natural world and also has a rich tradition of folk tales and stories. The Daur people also have a deep love of poetry.

Their dead are buried with ornaments and things which will be useful in the afterlife and the graves are arranged according to family lineage.

History of Daur (达斡尔族)

The Daur minority people are believed to be descended from the Khitan nomads of the Liao dynasty. During Emperor Shun Zhi’s reign, they moved south, where they made to serve in the Qing armies all across the empire. In 1643 and 1651, they helped Tsarist Russia to repel Cossack invaders. In 1931, they helped the resistance forces oppose the Japanese until the end of the war in 1945.

Traditions and Religion of Daur (达斡尔族)

Prior to the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Daur people already had a well-developed system of agriculture, though distribution of land and animals was uneven. Marriages were arranged by the parents of the couple and the groom would go and live with his wife’s family who, nonetheless, retained their property. Closest family ties are with brothers-in-law whose presence at festivals and family gatherings is essential.

Daur people mainly practise Shamanism, with a few following Lamaist Buddhism, and they celebrate the Spring Festival with all Chinese.

Modern Times of Daur (达斡尔族)

There are over one hundred settlements in the Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner, for which Nirji Town is the seat of local government. There are also seven autonomous townships linked by road and rail. This has helped augment the development of agriculture in the area due to supplies being transported in. Almost all Daur children now attend schools and epidemics have been banished to history due to the number of medical centres the banner now has.