National minorities of China. Ethnic population of China

If in relation to neighboring countries PRC diplomats show particular tact and restraint, then in domestic policy The Chinese are able to demonstrate “their true colors” without regard to the opinions of their neighbors

Small peoples of the PRC: unknown China. What to do with him?
Zhannur Ashigali
" Economic Strategies – Central Asia ", No. 5-2007, pp. 72-79

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the multinational composition of the population and the multi-confessional nature of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation. And at the same time, few people realize how diverse and ethnically diverse the People's Republic of China is. In many languages, there is the concept of “Chinese”, but in fact it simply means belonging to China as a universal entity “zhongguo” - the “central state” and does not carry any ethnic meaning. True, in recent times, assimilation - an ancient method of Chinese rulers aimed at increasing the number of subjects loyal to the regime - has led to the fact that the word “Chinese” is gradually becoming a common ethnic concept that unites all citizens of the PRC.

The Han ethnic group, which makes up over 90% of China's population, expanded its possessions into the territories of Inner Mongolia, Manchuria, East Turkestan, Tibet, Vietnam and Korea. Many ethnic groups that originally lived in these territories became the object of the Han assimilation policy. To the north of the Great Wall of China there are places of original residence of the Manchu-Tungut and Mongolian peoples, which are now reclaimed by ethnic Chinese. In the West are Tibet and Eastern Turkestan, where Turkic Khaganates and Tibetan states have existed since ancient times. Nowadays, Sinicization is proceeding there at an accelerated pace. Since ancient times, the south has been home to a number of peoples of the South Asian racial type, the small number of which has never threatened Chinese statehood. The main inhabitants of the Middle Plain - the modern Han - are the result of a mixture of the Han and a number of once self-sufficient peoples assimilated over recent centuries.

Unfortunately, the opinion has taken root in the public consciousness that in addition to the Han people, only well-known nationalities live in the PRC, having a certain relationship with the inhabitants of the post-Soviet space: Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Mongols, Uyghurs, Tajiks, as well as those well known throughout the world due to the closed nature of their territory and the uniqueness of their culture inhabitants of Tibet. In fact, this list is much longer. Today's communist leadership of the country recognizes the existence of only 56 ethnic groups, while in reality their number reaches 100. Among the nationalities recognized by Beijing there are both quite large and very small. The largest ones include the Zhuang, Hui, Uighurs, and (this is nothing more than the name of the nationality, which is pronounced exactly like that - “i”), Miao, Manchus, Kazakhs, Tibetans, Mongols, Tujia, Bui, Koreans, Dong, yao, bai, hani. Daurs, Mulao, Gelao, Sibo, Jingpo, Salars, Bulans, Maonan and many others are small peoples. The most numerous nationality is the Zhuang, whose number is 15.556 million people, and the smallest is the Loba (2,322 people). In this article, we will first of all talk about ethnic groups that are quite large in number, living since ancient times in close proximity to the Han Chinese, who are little known in the CIS.

In addition to Inner Mongolia, Tibet Autonomous Region (established on September 9, 1965), Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (established on March 5, 1958), there are 30 autonomous prefectures, 121 autonomous counties ( somon). It is there, as a rule, that the bulk of the above-mentioned ethnic groups and the Chinese diasporas of such peoples as Mongols, Kyrgyz, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Evenks, Tatars, Uzbeks, Russians, Koreans, and Oirats are concentrated.
The PRC is also multi-confessional. 9 ethnic groups - Hui, Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Tatars, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Salars and Baoan - profess Islam. Lamaism, one of the branches of Buddhism, is widespread among the Tibetans, Mongols, Lobai, Menbai, Tui and Yughurs. The Daits, Deans, and Bulans adhere to Hinayana, the orthodox branch of Buddhism. Among the Han Chinese there are adherents of different religions: Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism, Taoism. It is interesting that the Hui and Manchus use Chinese both in everyday life and in professional activity. The Chinese economy is developing at an accelerated pace, achieving increasingly fantastic results. This development is especially noticeable in East Turkestan, a region once little known in China itself. When developing new territories, Beijing sends there residents of the eastern provinces, that is, the Han Chinese, since they make up the largest percentage of highly educated engineers, managers, analysts, doctors, and cheap labor. In addition, the rapidly growing economy of China is increasingly in dire need of energy raw materials, for the production and processing of which it is necessary to send workers to the western provinces. China's neighbors (in the former USSR these include Russia, Kazakhstan, and the states of Central Asia), who are trying to determine the true policy of the Celestial Empire towards them, should pay especially close attention to the national policy of the PRC. While Chinese diplomats show particular tact and restraint towards neighboring countries, in domestic politics the Chinese are able to demonstrate “their true colors” without regard to the opinions of their neighbors. Since there are too many ethnic groups living in China, it seems logical to consider the most numerous of them, such as the Zhuangs, Manchus, Tujia, Miao.

Zhuang

The Zhuang are the most numerous of all the nationalities of the People's Republic of China, with the exception, of course, of the Han Chinese. Their number is just over 15.5 million people. In former times, these people worshiped the spirits of nature, professing polytheism. The spread of Buddhism and Taoism among the Zhuang began after the reign of the Tang and Sunn dynasties, and in recent centuries, some of the Zhuang converted to Christianity. These people speak a language belonging to the Zhuang Dai language branch of the Zhuang Dong language group of the Sino-Tibetan language family. It is divided into two dialects: southern and northern. The Chinese language has become widespread among the Zhuang - almost all of them speak this language. This ethnic group lives mainly (90%) in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as well as in the provinces of Guangdong, Sichuan, Hunan and Yunnan, where the Sha and Nung subethnic groups live. The Zhuangs have their own niche in China's labor market. They grow corn, vegetables, legumes, sweet potatoes, and engage in livestock breeding (buffaloes, pigs), poultry farming, and fishing. The traditional crafts of this ethnic group are metal processing, pottery making, and weaving. The assimilation of the Zhuang is not so noticeable due to their relative numbers, however, it is obvious that the Zhuang language may well be supplanted by the Han language in the near future in all spheres of activity, and confessional fragmentation only exacerbates the likelihood of assimilation.

Manchus

According to the latest data, the number of Manchus reaches 9,800 thousand people. They live in all regions of China, especially many of them (about 46% of the total ethnic group in China) in Liaoning province. The Manchu language belongs to the Manchu language branch of the Tungus-Manchu language group of the Altai language family. It, like the languages ​​of almost all ethnic groups in China, has two dialects: southern and northern. Due to their long life together and close communication with the Han people, the Manchus speak predominantly Chinese. Only a small part of them use the Manchu language - those who live in remote villages. Young people practically do not know the language, that is, its speakers are mostly elderly people. In former times, shamanism was widespread among the Manchus, but today it has lost its former significance, and among the representatives of this ethnic group there are many believing Buddhists and adherents of Taoism. It should be noted that the Manchus are a nation with rich history, – in previous centuries dominated this region. The ancestors of the Manchus inhabited vast areas of the middle and lower reaches of the Heilongjiang (Amur) River north of Changbai Mountain and the Ussuri River basin. The direct ancestors of the Manchus - Mohe - formed the Jurchen tribe and founded it in the 12th century. Jin dynasty. Nurhaci acted as a unifier of the Jurchen tribes, completing the creation of the union in 1583. He also established an eight-banner military system, created the Manchu writing system, and in 1635 gave the name “Manchu” to the people. The Eight Banner System had three functions: political, military and productive and represented the system-forming structure of Manchu society. Huangtaiji, who ascended the throne in 1636, changed the name of the dynasty to Qing. Beginning in 1644, Qing troops began new era in the history of China, which is characterized by numerous military campaigns. It was the Qing dynasty in the 18th century. conquered Tibet and Dzungaria. This nation acquired its modern name after the Xinhai Revolution of 1911. During the same period, the process of forced assimilation of the Manchus by the Han began, whose mass migration to Manchuria was observed in late XIX V. The traditional occupations of the Manchus are arable farming, animal husbandry, and in mountainous areas - forestry (ginseng harvesting), hunting, and oak silkworm breeding. Like many other Mongol-Tungut peoples, the Manchus maintained a clan division until recently. The clans (hala) had written genealogies. The ethnic group is losing all these traditional attributes, as well as language and national culture, along with the strengthening of Han hegemony and the economic growth of the country.

Tujia

The bulk of the Tujia people live in the provinces of Hunan, Hubei, and Sichuan. Its total population is approximately 5.72 million people. The Tujia are an ancient ethnic group of the Celestial Empire - already 2000 years ago the ancestors of the Tujia lived in the west of the modern provinces of Hunan and Hubei. Together with other national minorities they were called “ulinman”, “wushiman”, and in later times - “tudin”, “tu tumin”, “tubin”. The name "Tujia" appeared only with the beginning of the mass resettlement of Han Chinese into the territory permanent residence Tujia, while the Tujia themselves called themselves “bitsyka” (local resident). After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government recognized the Tujia as an independent national minority. In 1957, the Xiangxi Tujia Miaochang Autonomous Region was formed, and in 1983, the West Hubei Tujia Miaochang Autonomous Region. In subsequent years, the autonomous national counties of Yuyan, Xiushan, Shizhu, Changyan, Wufeng, Yinjiang, and Yanjiang appeared. This ethnic group professes polytheism and has its own language, which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman group of the Sino-Tibetan family. Unfortunately, this language is largely lost, surviving only in the most remote areas of Hunan Province. Thus, the Tujia use the Han language, and some of them also speak the Mao language. The origin of this people is associated with the ancient kingdom of Ba. The ancestors of the Tujia gradually became sinicized due to their geographical isolation from Tibet. The main occupations of the Tujia are arable farming (rice, corn, vegetables, sweet potatoes), cattle breeding, forestry (tung, tea tree), and gathering. Weaving and embroidery are common crafts. Premarital relations young people were distinguished by significant freedom, the customs of cousin marriages and levirates were supported. On Tujiang big influence provided by the Han people. Well developed Agriculture, Tujia's economy, education and culture are developing rapidly. The nature of the Tujiang areas is extremely beautiful. Wulingyuan is recognized as a world cultural heritage, and Zhangjiajie is China's first national forest park. Today's Tujia have adapted perfectly to the conditions of modern China; they have almost completely lost their native language and replaced it with Chinese.

Miao

Another large ethnic group in China is the Miao, whose population is about 7.4 million people. This people for the most part settled in compact communities, but also lives in mixed communities with other nationalities in provinces such as Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The Miao language belongs to the Miaoyao group of the Sino-Tibetan language family. Three dialects of the Miao language, which are divided into numerous dialects, are still used in areas densely populated by this people, but its influence is increasingly fading. Living in mixed communities, the Miao also speak Han or the languages ​​of the Dong and Zhuang peoples. The Miao have widespread animism and traditional beliefs. Like the Manchus, the Miao are one of the ancient peoples China. In the historical chronicles of more than four thousand years ago there is a mention of the Nanman clan or tribe, among whose representatives were the ancestors of the Miao. Speaking about the origins of the ethnic group, one cannot help but recall Chi Yu, the legendary ancestor of the Miao, who, according to legend, was a worthy opponent of Huangdi. An interesting fact is that the Miao, settled in different areas, call themselves differently: “mu”, “meng”, “mao”, “guoshiong”, “daisou”. Moreover, in some areas, additional names for the Miao people are widely practiced based on distinctive features in clothing or habitat, for example, “Miao in long skirts,” “Miao in short skirts,” “red Miao,” “black Miao.” During the Han Dynasty, the Miao inhabited the western regions of Hunan and Hubei provinces, as well as the eastern regions of Sichuan and Guizhou. However, prolonged military conflicts, hunger, poverty, disease, high birth rates and population density, depletion of arable land and other reasons forced them to endlessly move from region to region. The result of this was widespread settlement, significant differences in dialects, clothing, rituals and an unbalanced level of socio-economic development of this people. Today, most of the Miao are engaged in growing jellied rice, corn, and medicinal plants.

By and large, Han settlement of lands densely populated by minorities began not so long ago - in the 19th century. and continues to this day. Therefore, it seems that in the coming decades the problem of self-preservation for national minorities will not become less relevant. Undoubtedly, economic transformations, a focus on developing the economy of national regions, the desire to create large-scale production there (which means attracting qualified personnel from the eastern - absolutely Han - provinces) leads to the erosion of national components in the Xiangxi-Tujia-Miaochang Autonomous Region, the Guangzhiang Autonomous Region, in provinces of Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, Guangdun, West Hubei-Mtujia-Miaochang Autonomous Region. Consequently, if we identify the general trends characteristic of the Zhuang, Tujia, Miao, and Manchus, we get the following picture.

Firstly, if previously the territories where these ethnic groups lived were often mono-ethnic, now they are increasingly acquiring a multi-ethnic character. In other words, the percentage of Han and non-Han people is changing in favor of the former. It is quite possible that in the foreseeable future the above-mentioned nationalities may lose their administrative-territorial autonomy.

Secondly, the dominance of the Han language, culture, and way of life in regions inhabited by national minorities is becoming more and more obvious. And if in the case of the Mongols, Tibetans or Hui this trend is not so clearly visible, then among ethnic groups living side by side with the Han and increasingly speaking Chinese, such as, for example, the Zhuang, Miao, Manchus and Tujia, the situation is practically disastrous. From year to year the conversational environment is narrowing, there is a tendency for native speakers to age, as young people move away from native language, traditions, way of life and thinking, national worldview. It is safe to say that the young Miao, Tujia, Daur, Sibo, Yao, Lisu, Li, Bui, and Manchus today are more Han than carriers of the culture created by their ancestors.

Thirdly, the PRC positions itself as a multinational, multi-confessional federal state in which representatives of different nationalities have equal rights. But still, the significant numerical dominance of the Han Chinese, their actual state-forming role leads to the fact that minorities become part of the multifaceted, diverse Han civilization. Everyone knows the ability of the Han people to adopt something else, sinicize it and then present it as something purely Han. For example, Buddhism, initially far from the culture of the Celestial Empire, became an integral part of it, and socialism in China turned into “socialism with a Chinese face.” Perhaps one should not be deceived into believing that the Manchus, Zhuangs, Tujia or Miao will be able to reverse the worsening trend of Sinicization and remain on the ethnic maps of the late 21st century. Blaming anyone for this is pointless and unfair, because Beijing’s desire to Sinicize minorities is not the only reason for the current trend. Everything is much more complicated. We must not forget that China is huge and it is extremely difficult to govern. Moreover, in economic system, which is experiencing a real boom, the already limitless scale of which is increasing with the annual expansion of the zone of influence, it is quite natural to expect a constant flow of both cheap labor and qualified personnel from province to province. Thus, in pursuit of economic success, ordinary Chinese, without knowing it, are increasingly transforming their huge country into a mono-ethnic state. Should Beijing be blamed for the current situation? It would be more expedient to think instead about our own system of ties with the Celestial Empire, taking into account the nature of relations towards national minorities within China and the degree of influence of this state on its neighbors, especially Russian Federation and Kazakhstan. Of course, the officially established borders of these states are a kind of barrier, so far restraining the influx of “cheap labor” from the Middle Kingdom. But it is obvious that with the development of economic relations, the increase in trade turnover between the Russian Federation and China, Kazakhstan and the PRC, it is impossible to avoid the gradual penetration of Chinese economic entities, for whom overcoming this barrier will not be difficult. The cultural influence of China, which for centuries assimilated everything that came into the Celestial Empire, is very strong. The once self-sufficient ethnic groups mentioned above quickly found themselves in a situation where their language and culture could become only part of history. All this cannot but alarm us, the neighbors of the PRC.

With a giant like China, we need to be especially vigilant. It is necessary to develop a system of relations that is adequate to the long-term intentions of this state and the possible results of close contact with it. A close study of the relationship between the Han people and national minorities can be very useful, if not vital, for the neighboring states of the PRC.

Many experts are asking the question: what principles does China follow in relations with its neighbors, who have significantly less economic and political influence both in the region and in the world as a whole? My answer is this: “Examine the attitude of the PRC authorities towards national minorities, and you will not only understand these principles, but also predict the future of China’s neighboring countries.”

Population

Population growth

National composition

Languages ​​and writing

Chinese traditional holidays

Religious politics

Population

China ranks first in the world in terms of population. By the end of 2008, the country's population was 1.32802 billion people. (not including Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR and Taiwan Province). This is a fifth of the planet's population.

China is one of the most populous countries in the world. The average population density is 138 people per 1 sq. km. At the same time, the population is distributed extremely unevenly: in densely populated coastal areas Eastern China the figure leaves more than 400 people. per sq. km, in central China - more than 200 people, and in the mountainous regions of Western China - less than 10 people.

Family planning

Family planning is one of the main directions of the state's social and demographic policy. In practice, this means a combination of government regulation with the conscious choice of citizens. Central and local authorities develop policies and administrative legislation in the field of controlling population growth, increasing the level of population health and improving the structure of the population, united in a national demographic plan. Under the patronage of the state, married couples are provided with the necessary consultations, recommendations and necessary services on all necessary issues - from medical and hygienic issues to raising children. Married couples, taking into account the age, state of health, social and financial situation of the family, responsibly and systematically regulate the issues of the birth and upbringing of a child, and take measures to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

The main content of family planning policy is to encourage late marriages and late childbirth, limit the number of births and focus on improving the quality of the new generation, the requirement to have only one child in the family. Peasant families experiencing difficulties due to a shortage of labor are allowed to have a second child at a certain interval after the birth of the first. In relation to representatives of small nations, a differentiated family planning policy is carried out depending on the will and number of these peoples, taking into account local socio-economic conditions,

cultural traditions and folk customs. In general, each such family can have two children, in some areas - three.

There are no restrictions for the smallest ethnic groups.

Population growth

In 1949, when the formation of the People's Republic of China was proclaimed, the country's population was 541.67 million people. Social stability, economic development, improving sanitary and hygienic conditions and quality medical care, on the one hand, and insufficient awareness of the importance of controlling population growth and lack of experience in this matter, on the other, predetermined the rapid growth of the population. As a result, by the end of 1969 the population increased to 806.71 million people. Faced with a population explosion, the government, since the 1970s, began implementing a birth control program. By the end of 2008, the birth rate was 12.14‰. At present, China has largely transitioned to a new model of population reproduction, characterized by low fertility, low mortality and low population growth.

According to the main provisions of the 11th Five-Year Plan for Social and Economic Development of China (2006 - 2010), adopted in March 2006 at the 4th session of the 10th NPC, the average annual natural population growth in the country should be kept within 8 ‰: This means that by the end of 2010 the population will be limited to 1.36 billion people.

Aging society

According to expert analyses, China in the 21st century will be an aging society.

By 2025, the population over 60 years of age in China will approach 300 million people. Faced with such a serious problem, governments at all levels in China have chosen a positive approach: they mobilize various social forces and resources, seek various effective measures for a happy old age, providing as good a living conditions as possible and medical guarantees.

National composition

China is a single multinational state, on whose territory 56 nationalities live. Han Chinese make up 91.6% of the country's total population, so the other 55 nationalities are usually called national minorities. According to the 5th National Population Census conducted in 2000, among the 55 national minorities there are 18 nationalities with a population of over 1 million people. These are the Zhuangs, Manchus, Hui, Miao, Uighurs, Tujia, Mongols, Tibetans, Bui, Dong, Yao, Koreans, Bai, Hani, Li, Kazakhs and Dai. The largest ethnic group is the Zhuang - 16.179 million people. The other 17 nationalities number from 100 thousand to 1 million people each. These are the She, Lisu, Gelao, Lahu, Dong, Bai, Shui, Nasi, Qiang, Tu, Sibo, Mulao, Kirghiz, Daur, Jingpo, Salar and Maonan peoples. 20 nationalities number from less than 10 thousand to 100 thousand people, including Bulan, Tajiks, Pumi, Achan, Well, Evenks, Jing, Jino, Dean, Uzbeks, Russians, Yughurs, Baoan, Menba, Orochons, Dulongs, Tatars , Hezhe, Gaoshan (excluding Gaoshan living in Taiwan) and Loba. The smallest nationality is the Loba - about 3,000 people.

Miao Yao peoples are a group of related peoples who speak Miao Yao languages. Their languages ​​are of disputed origin, and different time different researchers attributed them either to the Tai Kadai or to the Mon Khmer languages, or to a separate family of languages. Now... ... Wikipedia

The peoples of Oceania at the beginning of European colonization- Unlike Australia, Oceania has archaeological monuments and even written monuments, but the former have not yet been explored much, and the latter are only being deciphered. Therefore, the study of its history is based mainly on anthropological data... ... The World History. Encyclopedia

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Books

• Chronological and esoteric analysis of the development of modern civilization. Book 2. Origins of Knowledge, Sidorov G.A. At first glance, it may seem to the reader that the author of the book is trying to introduce him to the pages of a world history that he has never heard of. In other words, impose on the uninitiated... Category: Domestic esoteric teachings. Rodnoverie Series: Publisher: Conceptual,
• I explore the world: Countries and peoples. Asia, America, Australia, Africa, Sidorov G.A. AST Publishing House brings to the attention of readers the next volume of the children's encyclopedia “I am exploring the world.” The book 'Countries and Peoples: Asia, Africa, America, Australia' will introduce young readers to... Category:

Ethnically, more than 90% of China's population is Han, or "Han" Chinese. Due to migration processes, their number in areas inhabited by national minorities is increasing, but for the most part they inhabit Central and Eastern China.

National minorities. The Han Chinese traditionally considered all non-Chinese people to be backward peoples. As the Han Chinese expanded their territory beyond their original areas of residence, they assimilated some non-Chinese ethnic groups. Other ethnic groups retreated to remote, less convenient areas for life, where many of them managed to preserve their national characteristics.

Many non-Chinese people now live in the vast, sparsely populated areas of Northeast, West and South-West China. According to the 1953 census, the total number of residents belonging to more than 50 ethnic minority groups was 35.3 million people, or about 6% of the total population. A census conducted in 1982 showed that the total number of non-Chinese people had increased to 67.2 million people, and in 1990 this figure was already 91.2 million people, or 8% of the population. National minorities include a variety of ethnic groups, ranging from almost primitive mountain tribes to peoples at an equal stage of development with the Han Chinese. The process of Han Chinese assimilation of some national minorities continues. In total, according to official data, there are 55 national minorities in China. The largest non-Chinese peoples living in the PRC: Zhuang (about 1.4% of the population), Hui (0.8%), Manchus (0.8%), Miao (0.7%), Mongols, Tibetans, Uighurs , Kazakhs, Koreans, etc.

China's demographic resources are unmatched in the world. In 2003, the population was about 1.287 billion people, or 22% of the population of planet Earth.

Over the past two decades, the population reproduction regime in China has changed radically. In terms of natural population growth, it can no longer be classified as an underdeveloped country: in particular, annual natural population growth has dropped to less than 1%, and average life expectancy has exceeded 70 years (see Appendix). This situation is a consequence, on the one hand, of the strict demographic policy pursued by the state, and on the other hand, an improvement in the financial situation of people and their medical care.

The demographic problem has always been the focus of attention of both the Chinese government and the world community. Since August 1956, the government has implemented targeted population controls, prohibiting young people from marrying before age 20, and limiting couples to having one child (except for minorities, for whom the bar is raised to two children). Consequently, the population stabilization policy has borne fruit.

However, this coin also has its other side: it is necessary to take into account such negative consequences of demographic policy as the relative reduction of the working-age population, which bears an increasingly heavy demographic burden, and the growing dissatisfaction of citizens with state interference in the personal life of every citizen.

China is a multinational country; its people speak more than 100 languages ​​belonging to different language families. The description of the languages ​​of the peoples of China has not yet been completed. The languages ​​listed are the most well-known and have been described to varying degrees.

The languages ​​of the peoples of China belong to the Sino-Tibetan, Thai, Austroasiatic, Altaic, and Indo-European families.

The Sino-Tibetan family includes Chinese, Tibetan, and numerous languages ​​of Northwestern and Southwestern China that are closely or distantly related to Tibetan. Within this family, Chinese, as noted, occupies the position of a separate group.

Thai languages ​​were recently classified as part of the Sino-Tibetan family, but now they are separated into an independent family. Thai languages ​​are divided into a number of groups. The Zhuang-Dai group is represented in China by the Zhuap, Bui, Nung, Sha, and Dai languages, spoken by the peoples living in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as well as in the provinces of Guizhou and Yunnan. The Kam-Sui group is represented by the Kam, Sui languages ​​and their numerous dialects, which are spoken in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and in the province. Guizhou. The Li group consists of the single Li language of Hainan Island and its dialects.

The Austroasiatic family is represented in China by two groups, which include small peoples living in the province. Yupnan. The Wa-Palaung group includes the Kawa and Pala-ung languages. The Puman group consists of a single Puman language with numerous dialects. The Miao-Yao languages ​​are represented in China by the Miao, Yao and their numerous dialects. The peoples who speak them are scattered over a vast territory of the provinces of Hunai and Yunnan. Guizhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as well as on Hainan Island.

The Altai family is represented in China by Turkic, Mongolian, Tungus-Manchu languages. The Turkic languages ​​of China include Uyghur, Salar, Yugur, Kazakh, Uzbek, Tatar languages ​​(Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region). Mongolian languages ​​include dialects of the Mongolian language spoken in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the language of the Mongols of the province.

Indo-European languages ​​are represented in China by dialects of the Tajik language in the XUAR.

Tibetan, Uyghur, and Mongolian are ancient written languages ​​with a rich cultural tradition that is world famous. The Tibetan alphabet in the ancient Indian script (Brahmi) and the written tradition in this language have existed since the 7th century. The ancient Uyghur alphabet on the Sogdian script was created in the 10th century. and played an important role in the cultural history of Central Asia.

Thanks to the Cultural Revolution, 59% of the Chinese population (767 million people) call themselves atheists. However, for a large group of mainland Chinese, religion plays a very important role, especially Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Unlike the PRC, the majority of the population of Taiwanese China considers religion a necessary component of private life. 93% profess Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, 4.5% - Christianity of various movements, and 2.5% - Islam, Judaism and other beliefs.

The main beliefs of the PRC are: Confucianism, Taoism, ancestor worship, Buddhism (100 million), Islam (20 million), Christianity (15 million Protestants, 5 million Catholics).

The main beliefs of the Republic of China are: Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism.

The PRC is an atheistic secular state, but it allows following religious practices which are recognized by the government. That is, there is an opportunity to exercise, albeit limited, the right to freedom of conscience. Taoism and Buddhism, along with the moralistic Confucian code, have been the main religious teachings of China for 2 millennia, so even the communist government cannot neglect this tradition.

The Republic of China does not restrict any religion or belief. There are no barriers to the exercise of the right to freedom of conscience.

However, there is another opinion about how the Chinese Communist Party treats believers: “In mid-February 2006, a group of human rights experts from the United Kingdom Jubilee Campaign published a 140-page material consisting of secret documents illegally transferred by employees of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security to the Committee for Investigation of Religious Persecution. Previously, evidence of the sadistic persecution of believers in the PRC leaked through information barriers quite often, but the document mentioned is the first time when stunned researchers had official documents at their disposal, from which it became possible to judge the scope of the anti-religious activities of neo- Maoists, their methodology and plans.

According to these documents, the Chinese government is engaged in a systematic study of “cults” that could become “a creeping threat to our safety and security.” They mean all religious organizations that are not registered by public security authorities, except for fourteen registered and, in the opinion of the party leadership, “peace-loving and safe.” The “creeping threat”, in addition to local cults, included communities of Catholics and Protestants who decided not to join to “patriotic” religious organizations controlled by atheistic authorities, illegal Buddhist and other religious groups. For this kind of “threat to the national security of the PRC,” believers - Christians, Muslims and others - risk being imprisoned for life or executed.”

China, being the largest country in the world by population, is characterized by a relatively low birth rate (28, with an average of 24), low mortality (8, with an average of 9), and low natural increase (16, with an average of 15). However, China suffers from overpopulation, so the country is holding demographic policy aimed at reducing the birth rate. Demographic policy was enshrined in law in 1978.

When talking about China, we must not forget that not only the Chinese live there. China is a multinational state. In total, 56 nationalities live there.

Actually, the Chinese (汉族 - hànzú - "Han") make up 95% of the country's population.

The remaining peoples in Chinese are called 少数民族 ( - shǎoshù mínzú) - literally “small peoples”, or national minorities.

The most numerous after the Han are the Zhuang (壮族 - zhuàngzú). There are about 14 million of them. Then the Dungans (回族 - huízú) - 7.5 million people. There are a million (6.5 million) fewer Uyghurs (维吾尔族 - wéiwúrzú). Five million Miao (苗族 - miáozú).

Also living are Mongols (蒙古族 - měnggŭzú), Tibetans (西藏族 or 藏族 - xīzàngzú), and (that’s what the people are called 🙂 - 彝族 - yízú), Koreans (朝鲜 - cháoxiān), Manchus (满族 - m ănzú) and others.

As you probably already understood, the hieroglyph at the end of each name of a nationality - 族 (zú) - means "clan, clan, surname; tribe, tribes; nationality, nationality."

Languages ​​of the Minor Peoples of China

Peoples of China - Miao, Yi, Zhuang and Bui

All peoples speak their national languages. And only the Manchus use it as a native language.

Some small peoples of China have their own written language. Uyghur and Tibetan scripts have existed for several centuries.

Languages peoples of China vary greatly, and even belong to different language groups: Sino-Tibetan, Altai, Austroasiatic and Thai.

The Chinese government promotes the development of local culture in national areas. It even helps in the creation and development of national alphabets.

In general, the topic of the languages ​​of the peoples of China is not yet closed. New languages ​​are still being discovered. For example, in 2009, 24 languages ​​were identified in one Chinese province, although it was believed that everyone there spoke the same language.