The Oroqen People

The Oroqens were forest dwellers--their name means "people of the mountain." Most inhabit the Oroqen Autonomous Banner in the Greater and Lesser Hinggan Mountains of Northeast China; others live in Heilongjiang Province. Their language belongs to the Tungus branch of the Manchu-Tungusic group of the Altaic language family. Based on this language, in 1992 Oroqen teacher, Zhang Yuhua, developed the Oroqen writing system using phonetic symbols. This is now used in more than 400 middle and primary schools. Most Oroqens also speak Chinese and many learn Russian or English in school.

Before Liberation and before the government forced the Oroqen to settle, they were a nomadic people. Because of past reliance on hunting for food, both Oroqen men and women are excellent marksmen. They continue to hunt. Oroqen dance and sing and have a repertoire of folk songs praising nature, love, hunting and the struggles of life. They play instruments called the pengnuhua (a type of harmonica) and wentuwen (hand drum) which sound like the twitter of birds or the braying of deer. Oroqen practice monogamy.

Life has changed for the Oroqens since 1953. Contact with the Chinese has resulted in the assimilation of the Oroqen into the Chinese culture. "Now, after 36 years in small settlements or scattered amid ethnic Chinese, the Oroqen people have lost most of what made them unique." Oroqen individuals have entered the mainstream of Chinese life. Recently, they have produced novelists, scholar, and cadres. Most have vocations other than hunting; all are settled. According to government sources, the status of women has improved since Liberation.

Oroqen practice shamanism and worship certain animals, particularly the bear and tiger. All things on earth have their own spirits, they believe, and a relationship between them and animals exists. This gave rise to totemism. Oroqen have little knowledge of Christianity, but as of May 1997, 15 have turned to Christ.

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