Tajiks of Xinjiang
| File:Tashkorgan Tajik.jpg | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County | |
| Languages | |
| Sarikoli, Wakhi | |
| Religion | |
| Ismailism |
Tajiks (Sariquli Tajik: [tudʒik], Tujik ziv; Chinese: 塔吉克族; pinyin: Tǎjíkè Zú), are an ethnic group that lives in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China. They are one of the 56 nationalities officially recognized by the government of China.
History
During the Tang dynasty, the members of the ethnic group were referred to as "Cina-deva-gotra" (from Sanskrit; Chinese transcription: 至那提婆瞿呾羅, 支那提婆瞿怛羅, or 脂那提婆瞿怛羅). The name literally means "descendant of Han and the sun-god" (漢日天种 or 日漢天种).[3]
The name originates from a story about the Persian (波利剌斯) emperor marrying a Chinese wife.[4][5][6]
Distribution
The population of Tajiks in China numbers 41,028 (2000). They are located in China's western Xinjiang region with 60% living in Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County. Despite the name "Tajik" that is used to refer to them, the Tajiks of China do not speak Tajik language. Early 20th century travellers to the region referred to them as Sarikoli,[7][8] "Mountain Tajiks,"[9] or Ghalchah.
Language
In China, the languages of the ethnic group have no official written form.[citation needed] The great majority speak the Sarikoli language, which has been heavily influenced by Uyghur, Chinese, and Wakhi.[10] A small proportion speak Wakhi.[11] Sarikoli and Wakhi belong to the Pamir language group of the Eastern Iranian language group.
Religion
The Tajiks in China are adherents of the Nizari Ismaili sect of Shia Islam. Restrictions by the Chinese government bars foreign Ismaili preachers from openly working among the Tajiks in China and the religious leader of the of Nizari sect, the Aga Khan, is barred from offering aid to the Tajiks.[12]
External links
- The Tajik ethnic minority (China) (government website, in English)
References
- ^ "The Tajik Ethnic Group". China.org.cn. June 21, 2005. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ Pam Arlund (2000). "Research on Bilingual Phenomenon of Tajiks in Kashgar Prefecture". Language and Translation. 61 (1): 12. ISSN 1001-0823. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
- ^ 房, 若愚. "Patriotic traditions of Tajiks (塔吉克族的爱国主义传统)" (PDF). Tribune of Social Sciences in Xinjiang. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Xuan, Zang. Great Tang Records on the Western Regions. Vol. 12.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books" (JPG, HTML & PDF). Retrieved 2009-03-27.
- ^ Gu, Bingshu. "The Tajik People: Crown on the Roof of the World" (PDF). Glamour of Traditions. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ A Journey of Geographical and Archarological Exploration in Chinese Turkestan A Stein - 1904 - [sn] ... 15,800 feet above the sea), into Chinese territory on the Taghdumbash Pamir, using the yaks of the Sarikoli herdsmen...
- ^ The Heart of a Continent - Younghusband - ...an encampment belonging to a Sarikoli, who very kindly asked me to have some refreshment... (pg 242)
- ^ Through the Unknown Pamirs; the Second Danish Pamir Expedition 1898-99 By Ole Olufsen
- ^ Arlund, Pamela S. (2006). An Acoustic, Historical, And Developmental Analysis Of Sarikol Tajik Diphthongs. Ph.D Dissertation. The University of Texas at Arlington. p. 191.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Felmy, Sabine (1996). The voice of the nightingale: a personal account of the Wakhi culture in Hunza. Karachi: Oxford University Press. p. 4. ISBN 0195775996.
- ^ UNHCR Refworld, CHINA: Xinjiang's Ismailis cut off from international Ismaili community [accessed 13 May 2009]
 | This China-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This article about an ethnic group in Asia is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |