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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Chinese Cultural Groups}}
=Chinese Minorities={{Chinese-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
{{Chinese-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[Chinese Genealogy|Chinese Genealogy]]
| link1=[[Chinese Genealogy|Chinese Genealogy]]
| link2=
| link2=
| link3=
| link3=
| link4=
| link4=
| link5=[[Chinese Cultural Groups|Cultural Groups]]
| link5=[[Chinese Minorities|Minorities]]
}} <Br>
}}  
[[Image:Geographylogo.png|20px|Geographylogo.png]] '''In other languages:''' [[Chinese:華人少數民族|中文]] | [[Chinese Cultural Groups|English]] <br><br>
 
<br>
From the hinterlands of the north, to the lush jungles in the south, from the mountains of Taiwan in the east, to the top of the world in the west, China serves as home to 56 official ethnic groups. The largest group, the Han, make up over 92 percent of China's vast population. It is the elements of Han civilization that the world considers "Chinese culture." Yet, the 55 ethnic minorities, on China's vast frontiers maintain their own rich traditions and customs, and all are part of Chinese culture.  
__TOC__
 
From the hinterlands of the north, to the lush jungles in the south, from the mountains of Taiwan in the east, to the top of the world in the west, China serves as home to 56 official ethnic groups. The largest group, the Han, make up over 92 percent of China's vast population. It is the elements of Han civilization that the world considers "Chinese culture." Yet, the 55 ethnic groups, on China's vast frontiers maintain their own rich traditions and customs, and all are part of Chinese culture.  
===Online Resources===
*{{FSC|724724|item|disp=Japanese in Hong Kong card file}} at FamilySearch Catalog, includes Chinese in Macau. Images.
*{{FSC|724740|item|disp=Chinese Christians, San Lazaro, Macau card file}} at FamilySearch Catalog, images.
*{{FSC|566524|item|disp=Card file of Parsee residents of the China coast}} at FamilySearch Catalog, images.
*{{FSC|724738|item|disp=Chinese businesses in Macao card file}} at FamilySearch Catalog, images.
=== General History  ===
=== General History  ===


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At the same time, the Han were also following migratory patterns. Seeking to avoid the invasions, or simply moving as burgeoning populations strained resources, the Chinese moved southward. In the south they met with an enormous diversity of cultures. Some would be pushed further south, others would stay and assimilate. No matter what the story, one enduring theme of Chinese history remains the stability of Han Chinese culture.  
At the same time, the Han were also following migratory patterns. Seeking to avoid the invasions, or simply moving as burgeoning populations strained resources, the Chinese moved southward. In the south they met with an enormous diversity of cultures. Some would be pushed further south, others would stay and assimilate. No matter what the story, one enduring theme of Chinese history remains the stability of Han Chinese culture.  


In 1911, the last Imperial Dynasty (established 300 years before by the Manchu group) was unseated by the Nationalist Party of Sun Yat-sen. Dr. Sun himself saw China as a "Republic of Five Nationalities" (which are represented by the five stars on the national flag of the People's Republic of China). After his death, the Nationalists denied the existence of different ethnic groups.  
In 1911, the last Imperial Dynasty (established 300 years before by the Manchu minority) was unseated by the Nationalist Party of Sun Yat-sen. Dr. Sun himself saw China as a "Republic of Five Nationalities" (which are represented by the five stars on the national flag of the People's Republic of China). After his death, the Nationalists denied the existence of different ethnic groups.  


After the Communist Party came to power in 1949, an earnest effort to investigate and categorize ethnic groups began. Although over 400 groups answered a call to register, studies found that there was a lot of overlapping, and a significant number of groups that claimed to be separate were actually the same only with different names. After four years of detailed research and field work, 54 ethnic groups were officially recognized as independent nationalities. A 55th was added in 1979.  
After the Communist Party came to power in 1949, an earnest effort to investigate and categorize minorities began. Although over 400 minority groups answered a call to register, studies found that there was a lot of overlapping, and a significant number of groups that claimed to be separate were actually the same only with different names. After four years of detailed research and field work, 54 ethnic groups were officially recognized as independent nationalities. A 55th was added in 1979.  


=== Ethnic Group Determination ===
=== Ethnic Group Determination ===


*Distinct Language: While hundreds of Chinese dialects are spoken across China, a language specific to a cultural group is not simply a dialect. Rather, it is a language with distinct grammatical and phonological differences from Chinese. Language families include Sino-Tibetan, Altaic, Indo-European, Austro-Asiatic, and Austronesian. Twenty-one ethnic groups have unique writing systems.  
*Distinct Language: While hundreds of Chinese dialects are spoken across China, a minority language is not simply a dialect. Rather, it is a language with distinct grammatical and phonological differences from Chinese. Language families include Sino-Tibetan, Altaic, Indo-European, Austro-Asiatic, and Austronesian. Twenty-one ethnic minority groups have unique writing systems.  
*A Recognized indigenous Homeland: A territory within the national boundaries of China, from which the group originated. Native history and mythologies are interwoven into this native land.  
*A Recognized indigenous Homeland: A territory within the national boundaries of China, from which the group originated. Native history and mythologies are interwoven into this native land.  
*Distinctive Customs: Ranging from dress, marriage rituals, cuisine, religion, and so forth.  
*Distinctive Customs: Ranging from dress, marriage rituals, cuisine, religion, and so forth.  
*A strong Sense of Identity: Feeling of relation with other members of the group, along with historically perceived friends and enemies among other groups.
*A strong Sense of Identity: Feeling of relation with other members of the group, along with historically perceived friends and enemies among other groups.


=== Names of Cultural Groups ===
=== Minority Names ===


Many of the original Chinese names for cultural groups come from a long history of contempt. In 1951, the use of derogatory names was abolished. However, the new, currently used names were set by Han Chinese. As the Communist Party has relaxed its iron grip in recent years, ethnic groups have been given flexibility in choosing their own official names.  
Many of the original Chinese names for minorities come from a long history of contempt. In 1951, the use of derogatory names was abolished. However, the new, currently used names were set by Han Chinese. As the Communist Party has relaxed its iron grip in recent years, minorities have been given flexibility in choosing their own official names.  


=== Ethnic Groups ===
=== Ethnic Minority Groups ===


The following is a distribution of Ethnic Groups in China, based on the Census of 1 July 1990.  
The following is a distribution of Ethnic Minority Groups in China, based on the Census of 1 July 1990.  


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" width="100%"
! Ethnic Group !! Population<br>(1,000s) !! Major Areas of Distribution
|-
| '''Ethnic Group'''
| '''Population<br>(1,000s)'''
| <br>'''Major Areas of Distribution'''
|-
|-
| Achang || 27.7 || Yunnan
| '''Achang'''
| 27.7  
| Yunnan
|-
|-
| Bai || 1,598.10 || Yunnan, Guizhou
| '''Bai'''
| 1,598.1
| Yunnan, Guizhou
|-
|-
| Bao'an || 11.7 || Gansu
| '''Bao'an'''
| 11.7  
| Gansu
|-
|-
| Bouyei || 2,548.30 || Guizhou
| '''Bouyei'''
| 2,548.3
| Guizhou
|-
|-
| Bulang || 82.4 || Yunnan
| '''Bulang'''
| 82.4  
| Yunnan
|-
|-
| Dai || 1,025.40 || Yunnan
| '''Dai'''
| 1,025.4
| Yunnan
|-
|-
| Daur || 121.5 || Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Xinjiang
| '''Daur'''
| 121.5  
| Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Xinjiang
|-
|-
| De'ang || 15.5 || Yunnan
| '''De'ang'''
| 15.5  
| Yunnan
|-
|-
| Dong || 2,506.80 || Guizhou, Hunan, Guangxi
| '''Dong'''
| 2,506.8
| Guizhou, Hunan, Guangxi
|-
|-
| Dongxiang || 373.7 || Gansu, Xinjiang
| '''Dongxiang'''
| 373.7  
| Gansu, Xinjiang
|-
|-
| Drung || 5.8 || Yunnan
| '''Drung'''
| 5.8  
| Yunnan
|-
|-
| Ewenki || 26.4 || Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang
| '''Ewenki'''
| 26.4  
| Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang
|-
|-
| Hani || 1,254.80 || Yunnan
| '''Hani'''
| 1,254.8
| Yunnan
|-
|-
| Hezhen || 4.3 || Heilongjiang
| '''Hezhen'''
| 4.3  
| Heilongjiang
|-
|-
| Hui || 8,612.00 || Ningxia, Gansu, Henan, Hebei, Qinghai,<Br>Shandong, Yunnan, Xinjiang, Anhui, Liaoning,<br>Heilongjiang, Jilin, Shaanxi, Beijing, Tianjin
| '''Hui'''
| 8,612.0
| Ningxia, Gansu, Henan, Hebei, Qinghai, Shandong, Yunnan, Xinjiang, Anhui, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Shaanxi, Beijing, Tianjin
|-
|-
| Gaoshan || 2.9 || Taiwan (population not counted), Fujian
| '''Gaoshan'''
| 2.9  
| Taiwan (population not counted), Fujian
|-
|-
| Gelo || 438.2 || Guizhou, Guangxi
| '''Gelo'''
| 438.2  
| Guizhou, Guangxi
|-
|-
| Jing || 18.7 || Guangxi
| '''Jing'''
| 18.7  
| Guangxi
|-
|-
| Jingpo || 119.3 || Yunnan
| '''Jingpo'''
| 119.3  
| Yunnan
|-
|-
| Jino || 18 || Yunnan
| '''Jino'''
| 18.0
| Yunnan
|-
|-
| Kazak || 1,110.80 || Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai
| '''Kazak'''
| 1,110.8
| Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai
|-
|-
| Kirgiz || 143.5 || Xinjiang, Heilongjiang
| '''Kirgiz'''
| 143.5  
| Xinjiang, Heilongjiang
|-
|-
| Korean || 1,923.40 || Jilin, Liaoning, Heilongjiang
| '''Korean'''
| 1,923.4
| Jilin, Liaoning, Heilongjiang
|-
|-
| Lahu || 411.5 || Yunnan
| '''Lahu'''
| 411.5  
| Yunnan
|-
|-
| Li || 1,112.50 || Hainan
| '''Li'''
| 1,112.5
| Hainan
|-
|-
| Lisu || 574.6 || Yunnan, Sichuan
| '''Lisu'''
| 574.6  
| Yunnan, Sichuan
|-
|-
| Loba || 2.3 || Tibet
| '''Loba'''
| 2.3  
| Tibet
|-
|-
| Manchu || 8,846.80 || Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Hebei,<br>Beijing, Inner Mongolia
| <span>Manchu</span><br>
| 8,846.8
| Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Hebei, Beijing, Inner Mongolia
|-
|-
| Maonan || 72.4 || Guangxi
| '''Maonan'''
| 72.4  
| Guangxi
|-
|-
| Miao || 7,383.60 || Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan, Guangxi,<br>Sichuan, Hainan, Hubei
| <span>Miao</span><br>
| 7,383.6
| Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hainan, Hubei
|-
|-
| Mongba || 7.5 || Tibet
| '''Mongba'''
| 7.5  
| Tibet
|-
|-
| Mongolian || 4,802.40 || Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Liaoning, Jilin,<br>Heilongjiang, Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Qinghai
| <span>Mongolian</span><br>
| 4,802.4
| Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Qinghai
|-
|-
| Mulam || 160.6 || Guangxi
| '''Mulam'''
| 160.6  
| Guangxi
|-
|-
| Naxi || 277.8 || Yannan, Sichuan
| '''Naxi'''
| 277.8  
| Yannan, Sichuan
|-
|-
| Nu || 27.2 || Yunnan
| '''Nu'''
| 27.2  
| Yunnan
|-
|-
| Oroqen || 7 || Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang
| '''Oroqen'''
| 7.0
| Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang
|-
|-
| Ozbek || 14.8 || Xinjiang
| '''Ozbek'''
| 14.8  
| Xinjiang
|-
|-
| Pumi || 29.7 || Yunnan
| '''Pumi'''
| 29.7  
| Yunnan
|-
|-
| Qiang || 198.3 || Sichuan
| '''Qiang'''
| 198.3  
| Sichuan
|-
|-
| Russian || 13.5 || Xinjiang
| '''Russian'''
| 13.5  
| Xinjiang
|-
|-
| Salar || 87.5 || Qinghai, Gansu
| '''Salar'''
| 87.5  
| Qinghai, Gansu
|-
|-
| She || 634.7 || Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Guangdong
| '''She'''
| 634.7  
|  
Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Guangdong
|-
|-
| Shui || 347.1 || Guizhou, Guangxi
| '''Shui'''
| 347.1  
|  
Guizhou, Guangxi
 
|-
|-
| Tajik || 33.2 || Xinjiang
| '''Tajik'''
| 33.2  
| Xinjiang
|-
|-
| Tartar || 5.1 || Xinjiang
| '''Tartar'''
| 5.1  
| Xinjiang
|-
|-
| Tibetan || 4,593.10 || Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Yunan
| '''Tibetan'''
| 4,593.1
| Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Yunan
|-
|-
| Tu || 192.6 || Qinghai, Gansu
| '''Tu'''
| 192.6  
| Qinghai, Gansu
|-
|-
| Tujia || 5,725.00 || Hunnan, Hubei
| '''Tujia'''
| 5,725.0
| Hunnan, Hubei
|-
|-
| Uygur || 7,207.00 || Xinjiang
| '''Uygur'''
| 7,207.0
| Xinjiang
|-
|-
| Va || 352 || Yunnan
| '''Va'''
| 352.0
| Yunnan
|-
|-
| Xibo || 172.9 || Xinjiang, Liaoning, Jilin
| '''Xibo'''
| 172.9  
| Xinjiang, Liaoning, Jilin
|-
|-
| Yao || 2,137.00 || Guangxi, Hunan, Ynnan, Guangdong, Guizhou
| '''Yao'''
| 2,137.0
| Guangxi, Hunan, Ynnan, Guangdong, Guizhou
|-
|-
| Yi || 6,578.50 || Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi
| '''Yi'''
| 6,578.5
| Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi
|-
|-
| Yugu || 12.3 || Gansu
| '''Yugu'''
| 12.3  
| Gansu
|-
|-
| Zhuang || 15,555.80 || Guangxi, Yunnan, Guangdong, Guizhou
| '''Zhuang'''
| 15,555.8
| Guangxi, Yunnan, Guangdong, Guizhou
|}
|}


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[[Category:Chinese Genealogy]][[Category:Cultural Groups]]
[[Category:China]][[Category:Taiwan]][[Category:Hong Kong]][[Category:Chinese Genealogy]][[Category:Minorities]]

Revision as of 07:12, 10 May 2018

Chinese Minorities

Chinese Wiki Topics
Chinese character.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Chinese Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources

From the hinterlands of the north, to the lush jungles in the south, from the mountains of Taiwan in the east, to the top of the world in the west, China serves as home to 56 official ethnic groups. The largest group, the Han, make up over 92 percent of China's vast population. It is the elements of Han civilization that the world considers "Chinese culture." Yet, the 55 ethnic minorities, on China's vast frontiers maintain their own rich traditions and customs, and all are part of Chinese culture.

General History[edit | edit source]

China's history is a story of an immense land with several diverse tribes. It is also one of migrations and conflict, and separation and fusion of cultures. The product of the intermingling of many tribes, the Han people were among the first to settle down and develop an agrarian society. As their culture flourished, the more contempt they felt for the migrant hunter-gatherers who lived just beyond the horizon. Even though the modern concept of 56 ethnic groups is often considered a conservative summary of the hundreds of diverse peoples in China, it pales in comparison to the simplicity by which the ancient Han people distinguished their nomadic neighbors. For the Han (the tribe occupying the Center of the World) the only distinction was direction, and non-Han were called "Di" (northern), "Rong" (west), "Yi" (east), and "Man" (south).

As the Han prospered, they became the envy of the hearty horsemen of the north. Over a 2,000 year period, waves of invaders breached the Great Wall and poured into the Chinese heartland. The Huns, the Mongols, and Manchurians all came. However, unlike the plunder and destruction characterized by the barbarian invasions of Rome, these peoples admired what they saw, leading them to stay and assimilate.

At the same time, the Han were also following migratory patterns. Seeking to avoid the invasions, or simply moving as burgeoning populations strained resources, the Chinese moved southward. In the south they met with an enormous diversity of cultures. Some would be pushed further south, others would stay and assimilate. No matter what the story, one enduring theme of Chinese history remains the stability of Han Chinese culture.

In 1911, the last Imperial Dynasty (established 300 years before by the Manchu minority) was unseated by the Nationalist Party of Sun Yat-sen. Dr. Sun himself saw China as a "Republic of Five Nationalities" (which are represented by the five stars on the national flag of the People's Republic of China). After his death, the Nationalists denied the existence of different ethnic groups.

After the Communist Party came to power in 1949, an earnest effort to investigate and categorize minorities began. Although over 400 minority groups answered a call to register, studies found that there was a lot of overlapping, and a significant number of groups that claimed to be separate were actually the same only with different names. After four years of detailed research and field work, 54 ethnic groups were officially recognized as independent nationalities. A 55th was added in 1979.

Ethnic Group Determination[edit | edit source]

  • Distinct Language: While hundreds of Chinese dialects are spoken across China, a minority language is not simply a dialect. Rather, it is a language with distinct grammatical and phonological differences from Chinese. Language families include Sino-Tibetan, Altaic, Indo-European, Austro-Asiatic, and Austronesian. Twenty-one ethnic minority groups have unique writing systems.
  • A Recognized indigenous Homeland: A territory within the national boundaries of China, from which the group originated. Native history and mythologies are interwoven into this native land.
  • Distinctive Customs: Ranging from dress, marriage rituals, cuisine, religion, and so forth.
  • A strong Sense of Identity: Feeling of relation with other members of the group, along with historically perceived friends and enemies among other groups.

Minority Names[edit | edit source]

Many of the original Chinese names for minorities come from a long history of contempt. In 1951, the use of derogatory names was abolished. However, the new, currently used names were set by Han Chinese. As the Communist Party has relaxed its iron grip in recent years, minorities have been given flexibility in choosing their own official names.

Ethnic Minority Groups[edit | edit source]

The following is a distribution of Ethnic Minority Groups in China, based on the Census of 1 July 1990.

Ethnic Group Population
(1,000s)
Major Areas of Distribution
Achang 27.7 Yunnan
Bai 1,598.1 Yunnan, Guizhou
Bao'an 11.7 Gansu
Bouyei 2,548.3 Guizhou
Bulang 82.4 Yunnan
Dai 1,025.4 Yunnan
Daur 121.5 Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Xinjiang
De'ang 15.5 Yunnan
Dong 2,506.8 Guizhou, Hunan, Guangxi
Dongxiang 373.7 Gansu, Xinjiang
Drung 5.8 Yunnan
Ewenki 26.4 Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang
Hani 1,254.8 Yunnan
Hezhen 4.3 Heilongjiang
Hui 8,612.0 Ningxia, Gansu, Henan, Hebei, Qinghai, Shandong, Yunnan, Xinjiang, Anhui, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Shaanxi, Beijing, Tianjin
Gaoshan 2.9 Taiwan (population not counted), Fujian
Gelo 438.2 Guizhou, Guangxi
Jing 18.7 Guangxi
Jingpo 119.3 Yunnan
Jino 18.0 Yunnan
Kazak 1,110.8 Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai
Kirgiz 143.5 Xinjiang, Heilongjiang
Korean 1,923.4 Jilin, Liaoning, Heilongjiang
Lahu 411.5 Yunnan
Li 1,112.5 Hainan
Lisu 574.6 Yunnan, Sichuan
Loba 2.3 Tibet
Manchu
 8,846.8 Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Hebei, Beijing, Inner Mongolia
Maonan 72.4 Guangxi
Miao
 7,383.6 Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hainan, Hubei
Mongba 7.5 Tibet
Mongolian
 4,802.4 Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Qinghai
Mulam 160.6 Guangxi
Naxi 277.8 Yannan, Sichuan
Nu 27.2 Yunnan
Oroqen 7.0 Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang
Ozbek 14.8 Xinjiang
Pumi 29.7 Yunnan
Qiang 198.3 Sichuan
Russian 13.5 Xinjiang
Salar 87.5 Qinghai, Gansu
She 634.7

Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Guangdong

Shui 347.1

Guizhou, Guangxi

Tajik 33.2 Xinjiang
Tartar 5.1 Xinjiang
Tibetan 4,593.1 Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Yunan
Tu 192.6 Qinghai, Gansu
Tujia 5,725.0 Hunnan, Hubei
Uygur 7,207.0 Xinjiang
Va 352.0 Yunnan
Xibo 172.9 Xinjiang, Liaoning, Jilin
Yao 2,137.0 Guangxi, Hunan, Ynnan, Guangdong, Guizhou
Yi 6,578.5 Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi
Yugu 12.3 Gansu
Zhuang 15,555.8 Guangxi, Yunnan, Guangdong, Guizhou

External Links[edit | edit source]

Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Chinese_Cultural_Groups&oldid=3215716"