Kirgiz (柯尔克孜族)

Geography and Language of Kirgiz (柯尔克孜族)

Most Kirgiz people live in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, though several hundred also live in Heilongjiang province since their ancestors migrated to northeastern China over 200 years ago.

Their language is Turkic and has borrowed many words from Chinese since the 1950s, when a new Roman-based alphabet was developed to replace the old Arabic script. Some Kirgiz also use the Uyghur and Kazakh languages.

• Population: 160,823
• Distribution:  Xinjiang and Heilongjiang
• Language : Kirgiz
• Religion: Islam

History of Kirgiz (柯尔克孜族)

Kirgiz land officially became part of China in the 7th century. Between then and the 10th century, the Kirgiz had frequent contact with the Han.

Before 1949, Kirgiz people depended on livestock breeding; some primitive farming was also practised, using slash-and-burn, and people also made carpets, fur hats, etc. Exploitation was rife, with ninety per cent of the Kirgiz population owning just thirty per cent of the livestock. Tribal ties were very loose, with chiefs wielding some degree of political power. Throughout various dynasties, ‘divide and rule’ became the method of controlling the Kirgiz.

Religion of Kirgiz (柯尔克孜族)

Back in the 18th century, Kirgiz in Xinjiang were Muslims, while those in Heilongjiang were Lamaist (under the influence of the Mongols) while retaining legacies from Shamanism, such as worshipping the Snake God.

Traditions of Kirgiz (柯尔克孜族)

Animal by-products make up most of the Kirgiz people’s diet, along with potatoes, onions and cabbages. Goat’s milk, yoghurt and tea are favourites, while richer herdsmen can afford cow’s milk, beef, horse and camel meats and mutton, as well as rice and wheat flour.

Square, felt tents are fenced with willow and tied down to keep them firm in strong wind and snowstorms. In summer, nomads live near rivers on the plains; in winter, they move to sunny mountain slopes. Those Kirgiz who settle in one place prefer mud houses with flat roofs.

The family unit is usually made up of three generations and married sons remain with their parents; marriages used to be arranged by the parents and the groom would take his new bride back to his parents’ home to live with him. Labour at home is divided between men and women; men do the heavy chores, such as cutting grass and wood and herding cattle and horses; women tend the sheep, deliver lambs, take care of the household tasks and make animal products.

Before 1949, inheritances were the responsibility of the men; a married son was entitled to some of the youngest son’s inheritance of the family property; women could not inherit and, if a son was childless, his property went to close relatives.

Culture of Kirgiz (柯尔克孜族)

The Kirgiz calendar is similar to that of the Han Chinese; they celebrate a similar festival to the Spring Festival as well as some Islamic festivals. Singing, dancing and story-telling are highlights of the festival celebrations. Stories, fables, legends and proverbs have been handed down through the generations over several hundred years. Their art is always brightly coloured as they love blue, red and white.