Tu Zu
|
Donghu (Tangut), "White Mongols" ("Chaghan Monguor"), and "Tu" |
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (289,565 (2010 Census)) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| China: Qinghai and Gansu | |
| Languages | |
| Monguor and Wutun | |
| Religion | |
| Yellow Sect (or Tibetan) Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity, and Shamanism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Mongols |
The Monguor (Chinese: 蒙古尔) or Tu people (Chinese: 土族, 土昆), White Mongol or Tsagaan Mongol are one of the 56 officially recognized ethnic groups in China. The "Tu" ethnic category was created in the 1950s.
According to the 2000 census the total population was 241,198 and lived mostly in the Qinghai and Gansu provinces. The 2010 census gave their number as 289,565. The Monguor people speak the Monguor language, which belongs to the family of Mongolic languages but has been heavily influenced by both local Chinese and Tibetan dialects. These days, nearly all Tu people can also speak Chinese. Most are farmers, and some keep livestock.
Their culture and social organizations have been influenced by Confucianism, Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism, and local beliefs. A few Tu in Huzhu and Minhe are Christian, the result of on-going American and Korean missionary work in the area.
The ethnic history of the Monguor is contested. It has been variously suggested that their origins are related to the Tuyuhun Xianbei, to Mongol troops who came to the current Qinghai-Gansu area during the time of the Mongol conquests, to the Shatuo, and/or to the Han Chinese.
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