Kazakhs in China
Kazakhs are a Turkic ethnic group (哈萨克族, Hāsàkè Zú, literally "Kazakh ethnic group") and are among 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China.
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1,462,588 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Xinjiang (Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Aksai Kazakh Autonomous County, Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County, Mori Kazakh Autonomous County) | |
| Languages | |
| Kazakh, Russian, Mandarin | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Kazakhs, Turkic peoples |
| Part of a series on Islam in China |
|---|
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During the fall of the Dzungar Khanate, the Manchus massacred the native Dzungar Oirat Mongols of Dzungaria in the Dzungar genocide and filled in the depopulated area with immigrants from many parts of their empire. Kazakhs from the Kazakh Khanates were among the peoples who moved into the depopulated Dzungaria. Dzungaria was subjected to mass Kazakh settlement after the defeat of the Dzungars.[1] In the 19th century, the advance of the Russian Empire troops pushed Kazakhs to neighboring countries. In China there is one Kazakh autonomous prefecture, the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, three Kazakh autonomous counties, Aksai Kazakh Autonomous County in Gansu, Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County and Mori Kazakh Autonomous County in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Russians originally referred to Kazakhs as Kirghiz.
In the 19th century, Russian settlers on traditional Kirghiz land drove many Kirghiz over the border to China, causing their population to increase in China.[2] Compared to Russian-controlled areas, more benefits were given to the Kirghiz on the Chinese controlled areas. Russian settlers fought against the nomadic Kirghiz, which led the Russians to believe that the Kirghiz would be a liability in any conflict against China. The Muslim Kirghiz were certain that in an upcoming war China would defeat Russia.[3]
To escape Russians slaughtering them in 1916, Kazakhs escaped to China.[4] Xinjiang became a sanctuary for fleeing Kazakhs escaping the Russians after the Muslims faced conscription by the Russian government.[5]
Soviet persecution of Kazakhs led to Kazakhs from Soviet Kazakhstan moving to Xinjiang.[6]
An estimate of 65,000 Kirghiz, 92,000 Hui, 326,000 Kazakh, 187,000 Han and 2,984,000 Uyghur adding up to a total population of 3,730,000 in all of Xinjiang in 1941 was estimated by Toops and 4,334,000 people lived in Xinjiang according to Hoppe in 1949.[7]
The Kazakhs had settled in the Dzungaria area of Xinjiang after the Dzungar genocide by the Manchus wiped out most of the native Dzungar Oirats and fleeing from Soviet engineered famines against the Kazakhs like the Kazakh famine of 1919–1922 and Kazakhstan famine of 1932–1933. The Kazakhs had defected to the Republic of China and fought against the Soviet Communist backed Uyghur Second East Turkestan Republic in the Ili Rebellion.
Kazakh exodus
In 1936, after Sheng Shicai expelled 30,000 Kazakhs from Xinjiang to Qinghai, Hui led by General Ma Bufang massacred their fellow Muslim Kazakhs, until there were 135 of them left.[8][9][10]
From Northern Xinjiang over 7,000 Kazakhs fled to the Tibetan–Qinghai plateau region via Gansu and were wreaking massive havoc so Ma Bufang solved the problem by relegating the Kazakhs into designated pastureland in Qinghai, but Hui, Tibetans and Kazakhs in the region continued to clash against each other.[11]
Tibetans attacked and fought against the Kazakhs as they entered Tibet via Gansu and Qinghai.
In Northern Tibet, Kazakhs clashed with Tibetan soldiers and then the Kazakhs were sent to Ladakh.[12]
Tibetan troops robbed and killed Kazakhs 400 miles east of Lhasa at Chamdo when the Kazakhs were entering Tibet.[13][14]
In 1934, 1935, 1936–1938 from Qumil Eliqsan led the Kerey Kazakhs to migrate to Gansu and the amount was estimated at 18,000 and they entered Gansu and Qinghai.[15]
Distribution
By county
- County-level distribution of the Kazakh
(Only includes counties or county-equivalents containing >1% of county population. 2000)
| Сounty/City | % Kazakh | Kazakh pop | Total pop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region | 6.74 | 1,245,023 | 18,459,511 |
| Aksay Kazakh autonomous county | 30.5 | 2,712 | 8,891 |
| Ürümqi city | 2.34 | 48,772 | 2,081,834 |
| Tianshan district | 1.77 | 8,354 | 471,432 |
| Saybag district | 1.27 | 6,135 | 482,235 |
| Xinshi district | 1.06 | 4,005 | 379,220 |
| Dongshan district | 1.96 | 1,979 | 100,796 |
| Ürümqi county | 8.00 | 26,278 | 328,536 |
| Karamay city | 3.67 | 9,919 | 270,232 |
| Dushanzi district | 4.24 | 2,150 | 50,732 |
| Karamay district | 3.49 | 5,079 | 145,452 |
| Baijiantan district | 3.35 | 2,151 | 64,297 |
| Urko district | 5.53 | 539 | 9,751 |
| Hami city | 8.76 | 43,104 | 492,096 |
| Yizhou district | 2.71 | 10,546 | 388,714 |
| Barkol Kazakh autonomous county | 34.01 | 29,236 | 85,964 |
| Yiwu county | 19.07 | 3,322 | 17,418 |
| Changji Hui autonomous prefecture | 7.98 | 119,942 | 1,503,097 |
| Changji city | 4.37 | 16,919 | 387,169 |
| Fukang city | 7.83 | 11,984 | 152,965 |
| Midong district | 1.94 | 3,515 | 180,952 |
| Hutubi county | 10.03 | 21,118 | 210,643 |
| Manas county | 9.62 | 16,410 | 170,533 |
| Qitai county | 10.07 | 20,629 | 204,796 |
| Jimsar county | 8.06 | 9,501 | 117,867 |
| Mori Kazakh autonomous county | 25.41 | 19,866 | 78,172 |
| Bortala Mongol autonomous prefecture | 9.14 | 38,744 | 424,040 |
| Bole city | 7.10 | 15,955 | 224,869 |
| Jinghe county | 8.27 | 11,048 | 133,530 |
| Wenquan county | 17.89 | 11,741 | 65,641 |
| Ili Kazakh autonomous prefecture | 1.78 | 5,077 | 285,299 |
| Kuytun city | 1.78 | 5,077 | 285,299 |
| Ili prefecture direct-controlled territories | 22.55 | 469,634 | 2,082,577 |
| Ghulja city | 4.81 | 17,205 | 357,519 |
| Ghulja county | 10.30 | 39,745 | 385,829 |
| Qapqal Xibe autonomous county | 20.00 | 32,363 | 161,834 |
| Huocheng county | 7.96 | 26,519 | 333,013 |
| Gongliu county | 29.69 | 45,450 | 153,100 |
| Xinyuan county | 43.43 | 117,195 | 269842 |
| Zhaosu county | 48.43 | 70,242 | 145,027 |
| Tekes county | 42.25 | 56,571 | 133,900 |
| Nilka county | 45.15 | 64,344 | 142,513 |
| Tacheng prefecture | 24.21 | 216,020 | 892,397 |
| Tacheng city | 15.51 | 23,144 | 149,210 |
| Usu city | 9.93 | 18,907 | 190,359 |
| Emin county | 33.42 | 59,586 | 178,309 |
| Shawan county | 16.23 | 30,621 | 188,715 |
| Toli county | 68.98 | 55,102 | 79,882 |
| Yumin county | 32.42 | 15,609 | 48,147 |
| Hoboksar Mongol autonomous county | 22.59 | 13,051 | 57,775 |
| Altay prefecture | 51.38 | 288,612 | 561,667 |
| Altay city | 36.80 | 65,693 | 178,510 |
| Burqin county | 57.31 | 35,324 | 61,633 |
| Koktokay county | 69.68 | 56,433 | 80,986 |
| Burultokay county | 31.86 | 24,793 | 77,830 |
| Kaba county | 59.79 | 43,889 | 73,403 |
| Qinggil county | 75.61 | 40,709 | 53,843 |
| Jiminay county | 61.39 | 21,771 | 35,462 |
Culture
Some Kazakhs are nomadic herders and raise sheep, goats, cattle and horses. These nomadic Kazakhs migrate seasonally in search of pasture for their animals. During the summer, the Kazakhs live in yurts while in winter, they are settled and live in modest houses made out of adobe or cement blocks. Others live in the urban areas and tend to be highly educated and hold much influence in integrated communities. The Islam practiced by the Kazakhs in China contains many elements of shamanism, ancestor worship and other traditional beliefs and practices.[16]
Notable Kazakh Chinese
- Osman Batur, Kazakh chieftain who fought both for and against the Nationalist Chinese government in the 1940s and early 1950s.
- Nazaerbieke Bieken, pro cyclist.
- Dalelkhan Sugirbayev, Kazakh chieftain who fought against the Nationalist Chinese government and sought to join the Chinese Communists in 1949.
- Jumabieke Tuerxun, mixed martial arts fighter. He previously fought as a Bantamweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.[17]
- Kanat Islam, former Chinese Boxer, now Boxer for Kazakhstan
- Mamer, Kazakh folk singer
- Yerjet Yerzat, Chinese footballer Chongqing Dangdai Lifan FC.
- Ashat Kerimbay Razdykov (Kazakh: Асхат Керімбай) is a Chinese politician.
- Mayra Muhammad-kyzy (Maira Kerey, Kazakh: Maıra Muhamedqyzy) is a Kazakh opera singer. She was the first Kazakh at the Parisian Grand Opera. She is a Honored Artist of the Republic.
- Qazhyghumar Shabdanuly (Kazakh: Қажығұмар Шабданұлы) was a Kazakh Chinese political activist and an author writing in Kazakh language. For more than forty years, Shabdanuly was imprisoned by the People's Republic of China for his political views.
- Xiakaini Aerchenghazi (Kazakh: Шакен Аршынғазы), speed skater. He competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
- Yeljan Shinar (Kazakh: Елжан Шынар) is a footballer currently playing as a defender for Shenzhen.
- Mukhtar Kul-Mukhammed (Kazakh: Мұхтар Абрарұлы Құл-Мұхаммед) is a politician and a public figure of Kazakhstan, First Deputy Chairman of "Nur Otan" party.
- Yeerlanbieke Katai (Kazakh: Ерланбек Кәтейұлы) is a freestyle wrestler. He competed in the men's freestyle 65 kg event at the 2016 Summer Olympics, in which he was eliminated in the round of 16 by Ganzorigiin Mandakhnaran.
- Yushan Nijiati is amateur boxer best known for winning the bronze medal at the 2007 World Championships in the 201 lb/91 kg division.
- Janabil Jänäbil Smağululı (Kazakh: Жәнәбіл Смағұлұлы) is a male Chinese politician.
References
- Smagulova, Anar. "XVIII - XIX CENTURIES. IN THE MANUSCRIPTS OF THE KAZAKHS OF CHINA". East Kazakhstan State University. Cite journal requires
|journal=(help) - Alexander Douglas Mitchell Carruthers; Jack Humphrey Miller (1914). Unknown Mongolia: A Record of Travel and Exploration in North-west Mongolia and Dzungaria. Hutchinson & Company. p. 345.
- Alex Marshall (22 November 2006). The Russian General Staff and Asia, 1860-1917. Routledge. pp. 85–. ISBN 978-1-134-25379-1.
- Sydykova, Zamira (20 January 2016). "Commemorating the 1916 Massacres in Kyrgyzstan? Russia Sees a Western Plot". The Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst.
- Andrew D. W. Forbes (9 October 1986). Warlords and Muslims in Chinese Central Asia: A Political History of Republican Sinkiang 1911-1949. CUP Archive. pp. 17–. ISBN 978-0-521-25514-1.
- Genina, Anna (2015). Claiming Ancestral Homelandsː Mongolian Kazakh migration in Inner Asia (PDF) (A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Anthropology) in The University of Michigan). p. 113.
- Ildikó Bellér-Hann (2008). Community Matters in Xinjiang, 1880-1949: Towards a Historical Anthropology of the Uyghur. BRILL. pp. 64–. ISBN 978-90-04-16675-2.
- American Academy of Political and Social Science (1951). The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Volume 277. American Academy of Political and Social Science. p. 152. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- American Academy of Political and Social Science (1951). Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Volumes 276–278. American Academy of Political and Social Science. p. 152. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
- American Academy of Political and Social Science (1951). The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Volume 277. American Academy of Political and Social Science. p. 152. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
A group of Kazakhs, originally numbering over 20000 people when expelled from Sinkiang by Sheng Shih-ts'ai in 1936, was reduced, after repeated massacres by their Chinese coreligionists under Ma Pu-fang, to a scattered 135 people.
- Hsaio-ting Lin (1 January 2011). Tibet and Nationalist China's Frontier: Intrigues and Ethnopolitics, 1928-49. UBC Press. pp. 112–. ISBN 978-0-7748-5988-2.
- Hsaio-ting Lin (1 January 2011). Tibet and Nationalist China's Frontier: Intrigues and Ethnopolitics, 1928-49. UBC Press. pp. 231–. ISBN 978-0-7748-5988-2.
- Blackwood's Magazine. William Blackwood. 1948. p. 407.
- DEVLET, NADİR (2004). "STUDIES IN THE POLITICS,HISTORY AND CULTURE OF TURKIC PEOPLES". Yeditepe University: 192. Cite journal requires
|journal=(help) - Linda Benson (1988). The Kazaks of China: Essays on an Ethnic Minority. Ubsaliensis S. Academiae. p. 195. ISBN 978-91-554-2255-4.
- Elliot, Sheila Hollihan (2006). Muslims in China. Philadelphia: Mason Crest Publishers. pp. 62–63. ISBN 1-59084-880-2.
- "Jumabieke Tuerxun: From The Rural Edges of China to the UFC". Fightland. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
