The "Monguor," as known in the West, and "Tu Zu," known in China are one of the fifty six officially recognized ethnic groups in the People’s Republic. Their identity as “Tu Zu” was made by the Chinese Government in the first ethnic classificatory campaign carried out in 1953. Western scholars have long perceived the name to be derogatory, for it equated with “the indigenous peoples,” and used “Monguor” instead based on their self reference of “C...
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The "Monguor," as known in the West, and "Tu Zu," known in China are one of the fifty six officially recognized ethnic groups in the People’s Republic. Their identity as “Tu Zu” was made by the Chinese Government in the first ethnic classificatory campaign carried out in 1953. Western scholars have long perceived the name to be derogatory, for it equated with “the indigenous peoples,” and used “Monguor” instead based on their self reference of “Chaghan Monguor” (or “White Mongols”,Mongolian: Цагаан Монгол).
They totaled 241,198 in the 2000 Census and were primarily distributed in Qinghai and Gansu Provinces in the northwest. They speak an Altaic Mongolic language and practice sedentary agriculture supplemented by minimal animal husbandry. Their culture and social organizations are based on Confucianism, and their religion is a harmonious blend of the Yellow Sect (Tibetan) Buddhism, Taoism, and Shamanism.
Ethnically the “Monguor”/“Tu” are Xianbei, who could be characterized as the most...
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