Altai Uriankhai

Altai Uriankhai

Location of the Altai Uriankhai
Regions with significant populations
Mongolia	26,654
Languages
Oirat, Mongolian
Religion
Tibetan Buddhism, Shamanism
Related ethnic groups
Mongols, especially Oirats

The Altai Uriankhai (Mongolian: Алтайн Урианхай, Altain Urianhai or Altai-yn Urianhai; simplified Chinese: 阿尔泰乌梁海; traditional Chinese: 阿爾泰烏梁海; pinyin: Ā'ěrtài Wūliánghǎi) refer to a Mongolian tribe around the Altai Mountains that were organized by the Qing dynasty. They now form a subgroup in western Mongolia and eastern Xinjiang.

The Uriyangkhai or Uriankhai people first appeared in the 7th century as one of the people in Mongolia (Legend of the Erkune kun). The Mongolian term Uriankhai (Uriyangkhai) had been applied to all Samoyed, Turkic or Mongol people to the north-west of Mongolia in the 17th century. The Uriyangkhai in this sense were first subjugated by the Khotgoid Khalkha and then by the Dzungars.

In the mid 14th century, they lived in Liaoyang province of modern China. After the rebellion of the northern Uriankhai people, they were conquered by Dayan Khan in 1538 and mostly annexed by the northern Khalkha.

Second group of Uriankhai (Uriankhai of the Khentii Mountains) lived in central Mongolia and they started moving to the Altai Mountains in beginning 16th century. Some groups migrated to Khövsgöl Province during the course of the Northern Yuan dynasty (1368-1691).