Uygurs famous for lively music, food
Print Edition
Editor’s Note:
China has 56 ethnic groups. Today’s distribution of ethnic groups resulted from expansion and integration during Chinese history. Each group has its own rich and colorful tradition of costumes, festivals, religious beliefs and dietary habits.
This biweekly column will introduce and explain the evolution and characteristics of each ethnic group.
Uygur people are the ethnic minority group that lives at the foot of snow-covered Tianshan Mountain in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, popularly known for talent in music, making beautiful dresses and distinctive food.
Reaching a population of about 8.4 million, according to the fifth national population census in 2010, the Uygur ethnic group is now the sixth biggest ethnic group in China. Its people are largely distributed in scattered oases along Tianshan Mountain in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with a group found in Changde, Hunan Province, but small groups also have moved to many other parts of China.
Uygur (pronounced WEE-gur) probably originated from the word uyughur according to some linguists and historians, which means united or alliance.
The origin of the Uygur people can be traced back more than 2,000 years, to the nomads called Dingling in the third century BC, in northern and northwestern China, and in areas south of Lake Baikal and between the Irtysh River and Lake Balkhash.
The Uygur have their own language, a Turkic branch of the Altaic language family. Today, many Uygur people speak both Uygur and Mandarin.
The Uygur people eat three meals a day, with wheat flour and rice as their traditional staple. Sweet jam, dumplings, noodles and melons are favorites along with strong tea and milk tea.
A variety of special dishes includes nang, which is a round, very popular baked pancake made with wheat and corn. The Xinjiang region is abundant in sheep, and many popular local dishes are made of mutton, such as the mouth-watering roasted whole lamb and shish kebab mutton. The Uygur don’t eat pork. Blood of any creature and meat from animals that died on their own are also forbidden.
Music and dance play a significant role in the life of the Uygur people. Typical Uygur dances are distinguished by unique and graceful head and wrist movements. The Uygur folk dances are also characterized by fast turns with various dances having their own patterns of turns.
The music of Uygur Muqam is the most well-known genre of Uygur music. Among the four major categories of Muqam, namely the Dolan Muqam, Twelve Muqam, Turfan Muqam and Qumul Muqam, the Twelve Muqam is widely considered the mother of music, which reflects the abilities of the Uygur people in musical creation.
In 2005, the Art of Uygur Muqam was proclaimed by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Traditional Uygur costumes are distinctive with their looseness and free style. Men usually wear button-less robes, called qiapan, fixed with a waistband, while women generally wear vibrantly colored one-piece dresses with front-opening vests. Both men and women wear embroidered skullcaps.
In the Uygur tradition, before couples get married, there are a range of rites to be followed, from matchmaking, engagement, betrothal gift negotiation, engagement ceremony, a religious ceremony called nikka, and finally the wedding.
The wedding ceremony lasts three days. The day before the wedding, the groom’s relatives deliver food for the ceremony to the bride’s house. Close relatives and friends are invited to the new couple’s room to cut carrots. The wedding ceremony is hosted by an imam. At the wedding, the groom will present the betrothal gifts and other presents received from relatives. The whole ceremony is filled with dances and songs until late at night. The day after the wedding, the groom’s family will receive the bride’s relatives and friends to get closer.
Most Uygur people believe in Islam. They celebrate many traditional festivals, such as the Lesser Bairam, the Corban Festival, and the Noruz Festival. They attach great importance to the Corban Festival, which is celebrated on the 10th day of December on the Islamic calendar.
To the Uygurs, the Corban Festival is like the Spring Festival to Han people. During this day, the Uygurs get all dressed up in their new clothes and gather to worship at the mosque in the morning. After going home, they prepare to slaughter the livestock at what is considered a best time for sacrifice. They also visit relatives and friends.
Agriculture plays a big role in Uygur life and they grow crops like cotton, grain, corn and rice. The Uygurs have a tradition of growing and spinning cotton, and most clothing worn by Uygurs is made of cotton.
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