Language of Dongxiang (东乡族)
This group’s name derives from the people’s place of origin – Dongxiang – though they were not formally recognised as an ethnic minority before 1949. Previously, they were known as Dongxiang or Mongolian Huis. Their language, as might be expected, is similar to Mongolian, with several words borrowed from Han. The common written language is Chinese, and some members of this group use the Arabic alphabet. Their society is based on agriculture.
- Population: 373,700
- Distribution: Gansu and Xinjiang
- Language: Dongxiang and Han Chinese
- Religion: Islam
History of Dongxiang (东乡族)
Dongxiang people probably originated from Mongolians and during the early Ming dynasty, they were offered amnesty by the rulers and settled permanently in the area.
Religion of Dongxiang (东乡族)
The religion of the Dongxiang people is Islam and they are divided into Old, New and Emerging sects. They were once subject to a divide and rule policy by the ruling class, casing dissent and armed clashes. Since the early 1950s, however, unity has been restored among the Muslim population.
Culture of Dongxiang (东乡族)
Folk songs were called ‘flowers’, but these were suppressed in the old days. More recently, they have been allowed to bloom again as the Dongxiang people have been emancipated. Folk tales and poems abound in this area, with epic poems telling stories of heroic and courageous deeds.
Modern Times of Dongxiang (东乡族)
The Dongxiang Autonomous County was established in 1950; grass and trees have since been planted so stop erosion and hillside farmland has been transformed into terraced plots.
There is a power station manufacturing farm implements, tiles, bricks, flour and cement, and transport has been made easier with the use of buses and lorries. The Dongxiang area is linked to Lanzhou, the provincial capital, by a motorway network.
Improved health care and education has gone some way towards eliminating diseases in the area.
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