Uyghurs

The Uyghurs, also spelled Uighurs, Uygurs, or Uigurs, are a Turkic ethnic group from Central Asia and East Asia. They speak a language called Uyghur, which is related to Uzbek. Today, many Uyghurs live in a part of China called the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where they are one of China's 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities.

Uyghurs have a rich history and their ancestors include many different peoples and cultures, such as the Tocharians, Uyghur Khanate, and Qocho. Over time, most Uyghurs became Muslims, and their faith remains very important in their culture and identity today.

In recent years, there have been serious concerns about how the Chinese government treats Uyghurs living in Xinjiang. Some people say that Uyghurs have faced unfair treatment, but the government says this is not true. Many Uyghurs also live outside of China, especially in countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey.

Ethnonym

The Uyghur people, also spelled Uighur, Uigur, or Uygur, are a Turkic ethnic group from Central Asia and East Asia. They speak the Uyghur language, which is related to Uzbek. The Uyghurs are the main group living in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China.

Historically, the ancestors of today’s Uyghurs did not always have a common name. In the past, they called themselves “Muslims,” “Sarts” (meaning merchants or caravan leaders), or used names based on where they lived, like “Kashgari” for people from Kashgar or “Hotani” for people from Hotan.

The term “Uyghur” was not used for this group until the early 1900s. In 1921, a meeting in the Soviet Union decided to call them “Uyghur.” This name comes from an ancient group called the Uyghur Khaganate. Today, “Uyghur” is the official name for this ethnic group in China and many other places.

The word “Uyghur” has different spellings and pronunciations. In the Uyghur language, it is written ئۇيغۇر. In Chinese, it is 维吾尔 (Wéiwú'ěr). In English, it is most commonly said as “WEE-goor,” but some prefer “OO-ee-GOOR.”

The history of the Uyghur name is complex. It was used by ancient groups long ago but fell out of use. It was brought back in the early 20th century by Soviet leaders and later adopted by the Chinese government. Before this, people in the region used many different names to describe themselves, often based on their city or as “Muslims.”

Population

The Uyghur population mainly lives in the Xinjiang region of China, with some smaller groups in other parts of the country, such as in Taoyuan County where around 5,000 to 10,000 people live.

There has been some debate about the exact size of the Uyghur population in China. Chinese officials say there are just over 12 million Uyghurs in Xinjiang, making up about half of the region's people. However, some Uyghur groups and activists claim the number is much higher, between 20 million and 35 million, though most scholars do not support these higher numbers.

Overall provincial distribution of Uyghurs

Provincial Distribution of Uyghurs, from the 2020 Chinese census:

Genetics

Studies of Uyghur DNA show they have a mix of ancestry from both Western Eurasian (related to Europe and West Asia) and Eastern Eurasian (related to East Asia and Siberia) groups. Different studies have found varying percentages of each type of ancestry, but overall Uyghurs show a balance between these two major ancestral groups. Some studies also show slightly more similarity to Western East Asian populations than to Eastern East Asian populations.

One study found that Uyghurs are on average about one-third West Eurasian, one-third East Asian, one-fifth South Asian, and one-sixth Siberian in their genetic makeup. The western parts of Xinjiang tend to have more West Eurasian ancestry than the eastern parts.

History

The history of the Uyghur people is complex and debated. Some Uyghur historians see them as the original inhabitants of Xinjiang with a very long past. Others, including the official Chinese view, say the Uyghur group formed later when different people mixed together.

Early on, people who looked European lived in the Xinjiang area during the Bronze Age. Later, many different groups moved into the region, including people from Iran, India, and Central Asia.

In the 8th and 9th centuries, the Uyghur Khaganate was a powerful state in Mongolia. It fell in 840 after facing problems like famine and civil war.

After this, Uyghur people spread out and formed new kingdoms in places like Gansu and Qocho in Xinjiang. These areas saw changes in religion over time, with many Uyghurs turning to Buddhism and later to Islam.

In more recent times, the region became part of China, leading to many changes and challenges for the Uyghur people. Today, there are ongoing discussions and concerns about their rights and treatment in China.

Uyghurs of Taoyuan, Hunan

Around 5,000 Uyghurs live in Taoyuan County and other parts of Changde in Hunan province. They come from a Uyghur leader named Hala Bashi and his soldiers who were sent to Hunan by a Chinese emperor many years ago to help during a time of trouble. In 1982, about 4,000 Uyghurs were counted in Hunan. They keep old family records that are still used today. These Uyghurs were given the family name Jian by the emperor.

Some people wonder if they follow Islam. Some think they have mixed with local people and no longer follow Islamic customs, but others say they are Muslim. The Uyghurs in this area often eat pork, which some older people disapprove of. They also follow some local customs, like honoring their ancestors. These Uyghurs usually speak Mandarin and use Arabic only for religious events at the mosque.

Culture

Religion

The ancient Uyghurs believed in many local spirits. These beliefs led to practices like shamanism and Tengrism. They also followed aspects of Zoroastrianism, such as fire altars, and later adopted Manichaeism as a state religion. After moving to Qocho, some Uyghurs practiced Buddhism, and others followed the Church of the East.

Over time, many Uyghurs converted to Islam, beginning in the Kara-Khanid Khanate period. Some older customs continued under Muslim rule. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there were Christian conversions, but these were stopped by government agents, leading to the destruction of churches and scattering of believers. Today, most Uyghurs are Muslim, and they are the second-largest Muslim group in China after the Hui. Most are Sunni, though there are also small groups of Shia Muslims.

Language

The people of the Tarim Basin originally spoke languages like Tocharian, Saka, and Gandhari. When Turkic people moved into the region in the 9th century, they brought their languages, which gradually replaced the local ones. By the 11th century, the Uyghurs spoke a pure Turkic language, though they also used another language among themselves and had different scripts.

Today, the Uyghur language is part of the Karluk branch of the Turkic language family. It is related to languages like Äynu, Lop, Ili Turki, and Uzbek. Uyghur is an agglutinative language with a subject-object-verb word order and vowel harmony. It uses various scripts, including the Arabic script known as Chagatay alphabet, and more recent versions like the Uyghur Cyrillic alphabet and Uyghur Latin alphabet.

Literature

Ancient Uyghur literature included translations of Buddhist and Manichaean texts, as well as original narrative, poetic, and epic works. The Kara-Khanid period is considered important in Uyghur literary traditions, with works like Kutadgu Bilig by Yusuf Khass Hajib and Mahmud al-Kashgari’s Dīwānu l-Luġat al-Turk. Modern Uyghur literature includes religious biographies and stories of local figures, as well as novels by writers like Abdurehim Ötkür, Zordun Sabir, and Ziya Samedi.

Music

Uyghur music includes folk traditions and modern influences. The 12 Muqams are considered the national oral epic of the Uyghurs. These musical forms developed over about 1,500 years from the Arabic maqamat system. Local muqam systems are named after oasis towns like Dolan, Ili, Kumul, and Turpan. The Western Tarim region’s 12 muqams are well-developed and preserved by traditional performers.

Dance

Sanam is a popular folk dance among the Uyghur people, often performed at weddings and festivals. Other dances include Sama, Dolan dances, Shadiyane, and Nazirkom. Some dances combine singing and dancing, with hand-drums called dap used for accompaniment.

Art

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, expeditions to Xinjiang’s Silk Road uncovered cave temples, monastery ruins, and wall paintings. These sites feature Buddha murals and other religious art, with varying qualities from naïve to masterful.

Education

Historically, Uyghur education was provided by mosques and madrasas, with schools often attached to these religious centers. In more recent times, secular education became more common, though there have been changes in the languages of instruction. Today, many Uyghur schools teach in Chinese, which has affected the preservation of their language and culture.

Traditional medicine

Uyghur traditional medicine, known as Unani, is based on ancient Greek theories. It involves diagnosing through pulse checks and using personalized herbal remedies. Today, traditional medicine is practiced alongside modern medical science.

Cuisine

Uyghur cuisine includes dishes like polu (a type of pilaf), kawaplar (grilled meat), and leghmen (a noodle dish). Common ingredients include mutton, beef, camel, chicken, carrots, tomatoes, onions, and various dairy products and fruits. Breakfast often includes tea with bread, hardened yogurt, olives, honey, raisins, and almonds.

Clothing

Traditional Uyghur clothing includes the chapan (a coat) and doppa (a hat for men). In the early 20th century, some women wore veils in public, though this varied by social status and location.

Traditional handicrafts

Yengisar is known for its Uyghur knife craftsmanship. These knives are part of Uyghur culture, though their sale has been limited due to concerns about safety.

Livelihood

Most Uyghurs work in agriculture, excelling in irrigation techniques like the karez system. They also work in mining, manufacturing, cotton, and petrochemical industries. Handicrafts like rug-weaving and jade-carving are also important. Some Uyghurs face challenges in finding jobs due to language barriers and other factors.

Names

Many Uyghurs use names of Arabic origin since the arrival of Islam, though traditional Uyghur names are still used by some. After the Soviet Union’s establishment, some Uyghurs added Russian suffixes to their names. The government has restricted the use of certain Islamic names.