The Dongxiang People

The Dongxiang live in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, which is south of the Yellow River and southwest of Lanzhou in Gansu. The greater portion of the Dongxiang live in Dongxiang Autonomous County while others are in Hezheng and Linxia counties, Lanzhou, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

While their name is derived from their location, the Dongxiang originated from the Mongols. Legend has it that Genghis Khan moved some of his forces from Iran and Afghanistan into China. Since these people would not marry anyone outside their race, the Dongxiang came into being. The government was the first to recognize the Dongxiang as a separate minority.

Their language belongs to the Mongolian branch of the Altaic language family, although some words are borrowed from the Chinese. Because they have no written language, Chinese characters are used; some also use Arabic.

The area where they live is hilly and barren, and has suffered a serious loss of soil. Because of this, and because the Dongxiang make their living as farmers, they are poor. In addition to farming, they raise cows, sheep and donkeys. They also make carpets, trade, or serve in the transportation business.

The Dongxiang eat wheat, maize, broad beans and potatoes. In addition to these, they supplement their diets with beef, lamb, chicken, duck and fish. A favorite food of theirs is the fritter, which is made during religious festivals, weddings or in memory of a deceased person. They do not drink alcohol or smoke.

Thanks to the government, life for the Dongxiang has improved. Tracts of hilly farmland have been transformed into terraced plots with trees and grass planted to keep the soil erosion in check. With this and increased irrigation, annual grain production has increased. Transportation to their area, likewise, has been facilitated. Health care has improved along with health education. Moreover, the Dongxiang are now more literate than prior to liberation as everyone is now entitled to receive an education.

The Dongxiang are committed to cleanliness. They keep the backs of their homes swept clean and their furniture arranged carefully. They also have a strong sense of etiquette. Young people greet their elders first; elders greet them in return. Younger men and women wait for their elders to eat before they eat. Children respect their parents.

For tea drinking, porcelain cups with covers and matching saucers are used. These are either pure white or pale green and are decorated with twin dragons or orchid and flower designs. Boiling water is poured over a mixture of tea leaves, sugar and longan pulp.

The Dongxiang welcome visitors with their best provisions. The host will not dine with his visitors but will sit at the side and pour tea for them. Visitors, or the most honored guest, also have the privilege of receiving the chicken tail. The chicken is cooked and cut into thirteen pieces, but for the Dongxiang, the choice portion is the tail.

Monogamy is practiced with marriages being arranged, often with the use of a go-between. On the wedding night, the bride is brought into the bridal chamber. While she waits, children rush into the chamber and pelt her with pillows. The young people join up next as the bridesmaids protect her, throwing the pillows back. This goes on late into the night. Hitting her with pillows, they say, is a way to welcome her.

The Dongxiang have traditional art and literature, including epics, poems, folklore, folksongs, jokes, proverbs and riddles. These reflect their history, economy and cultural traditions.

This people group is Muslim with at least 2,000 full-time religious workers. They have three sects: the Old, the New and the Emerging. At the mosque, they both worship and receive education. To them, the Imam is esteemed as the middleman between God and man.

Links:

http://www.orientaltravel.com/people/Dongxian.htm