I used to hear of many nationalities wanting to split off from another group for varying reasons such as 1. significant cultural and linguistical differences between tribes or 2. There are cultural and linguistical similarities but historical relations between group 1 and group 2 were negative.. such as the case with the Lhoba who appear to be low caste people in ancient Tibetan society.
Unfortunately I've forgotten most and was hoping many of our educated people here can help list some.
Off the top of my head, there is the Mosuo.
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Officially the Mosuo is classified as Naxi (納西族)
However there are some significant differences.. the Mosuo are matriarchal while the Naxi are patriarchal like most of China (and the world). Their languages are in the same family but definitely not intelligible with each other at all. The Mosuo have applied to be a seperate nationality but I am not sure what the government's response was, but I'm assuming they turned it down. The Naxi on the other hand, are irked that people confuse them for the Mosuo and do not like being called as matriarchal.
Naxi
Their costumes are very distinguishable from other ethnic groups and they are renowned for their pictograph script
Mosuo
Darker clothing style with larger head gear for women. They did not adopt the Naxi's pictograph script.
There are some sites out there that also confuse the two and use images of both groups interchangibly with each other.
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Another is the Aynu (not the same as Ainu of Japan)
They are small in number and classified as Uighur. However their status within Uighur society is very low. I am not sure if they have applied to the gov't to be a seperate group, but many western journals have emphasized the significant difference between the two.
I couldn't find any pics but here's a link
http://www.ethnologu...ge.asp?code=AIB
From what I've read, most consider them an Indo-European people with Uighur influences, rather than to be Uighur period.
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Tuvans/Tyvans
Related to the Tyvans in the Republic of Tyva (Russia), they are classified as Mongolian and live in Northern Xinjiang among the Kazakhs. Unlike the other two unofficial groups, Tuvans are looked upon favorably by both Mongols and Kazakhs who both view them as a "branch" of their own group. There is supposedly about 4,000 of them. They are also known as Kok Monchaq (by Kazakhs) and also by their older name, Uriankhai/Urianhai
there are several subsections about them here
http://www.globalcon...GOLPASTORAL.pdf
