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September 13, 2015

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Home » Sunday » Now and Then

Ethnic group excels in education

By Zhang Qian | September 13, 2015, Sunday | Print Edition

THOUGH small in population, members of China’s Tartar ethnic group boast a rich culture and an impressive record of academic achievement.

With an official population of 3,556, China’s Tartars dwell mainly in the cities of Aletai, Changji, Yili and Tacheng in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. They also make up the majority of the Daquan Tartar Autonomous Township.

Historically, the Tartar people are believed to have formed gradually from aboriginal tribes along the Volga River, as well as the Bulgars, the Kypchak and the Mongolians. The fist Tartars migrated from the middle reaches of the Volga River to present-day Xinjiang starting in the 19th century. From there, they gradually became today’s Chinese Tartars.

The Tartars were historically known as the “Datan” and the “Dada” in ancient China. They have their own language and writing system, belonging to Turki group of the Alatai family. The Tartar writing system is alphabetic and uses Arabic script. Due to close interactions with nearby Uygur and Kazak groups, most Tartars today use these two languages in daily communication.

The Tartars are adherents of Islam, which has a deep influence on life and culture within the group. In populated areas, the Tartar people usually conduct religious activities in a local mosque. For those living in remote mountain or pastoral areas without nearby mosques, Tartar Muslims observe religious services at home or in the open air.

Flour, rice, meat and dairy products compose the staple foods of the Tartar people. Being Muslims, they never eat pork. Meat soup, baked cakes, fried and steamed stuffed buns, deep fried cakes and crackers are popular foods among the Tartars.

Gubaidi’ai and yitebailixi are both important meals for the Tartars during special occasions like weddings, festivals and receiving important guests.

Gubaidi’ai is a type of baked cake with rice, mashed meat, dried grapes and eggs as filling. Yitebailixi is made with pumpkins, rice and meat. When making gubaidi’ai, the Tartar will first dry and clean the rice under the sun before covering it with cream or cheese, sun-dried sweetened apricots and currants. The entire mixture is then baked. Both cakes feature a crispy outside and a spongy inside.

The Tartars regard milk tea as an indispensable beverage. Ke’erxima, a drink made with fermented honey; and Kesaile, brewed with wild grapes, sugar and starch are also favorite drinks.

The Tartar attach great importance to eating etiquette. Elders are usually arranged at the seats of honor. Women and children are placed at a separate table if the main table is too crowded. Nobody takes off their hat or speaks aloud while eating.

The Tartar men traditionally wear small caps embroidered with white and black threading, as well as white shirts with decorative embroidery at the neck, wrists and chest.

Tartar women usually wear a small cap studded with pearls and covered with colorful scarves. Colorful clothes and skirts, leather shoes or boots are part of their traditional dress, too. They also wear ornaments like earrings, bracelets, rings and necklaces.

However, many young Tartar today are keen on more fashionable, modern dress.

Education is highly valued among the Tartars. There have been Tartar schools in China since the beginning of the late 19th century. Chinese, math, science, geography and religious courses were provided. The schools enrolled not only Tartar students, but also students from other ethnic groups.

The education system was further developed after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. At present, 14.3 percent of the Tartar population aged 6 and above has received a vocational education or higher, the highest rate among China’s 56 ethnic groups.

The Tartar people celebrate many Islamic festivals like Rozi Heyt and Corban. They also have their own traditional observances like the Saban Festival.

The Saban Festival is celebrated on an unsettled day between spring sowing and the summer harvest.

During this festival, celebrants seek blessings for a good harvest and a happy life. “Saban” is actually the name of a Tartar plowing tool.

Activities like singing, dancing, wrestling, tug-of-war, sack races and pole climbing are held everywhere within the community throughout the festival.

Now and Then


 

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