[General_Zhaoyun]

Today, when you visit Beijing, the so-called "Hutong 胡同" generally refers to the "narrow alleys" in Beijing. It was a traditional feature of the Beijing city. As the city modernizes rapidly today, "Hutong" are also gradually disappearing, making some of the people wonder whether Beijing was trying to remove its traditional alleys in the midst of modernization. Hutong appeared in Beijing during Yuan dynasty, and further formed the transportation network of the Beijing city during Ming and Qing dynasty.


A hutong in Beijing


I've always been curious about the historical origin of "Hutong". The first thing that came across my mind is that this word "Hutong" doesn't sound like a han (chinese) language. Even in its han-character, the word "Hu tong 胡同" when translated into today's modern chinese literally means "same as hu (referring to northern nomads)". In no way does it mean in han-chinese (mandarin) language "narrow alley"? It thus suggest that Hu Tong is of a non-han origin.

So, where does it originate from?

After checking some sources, they indicated the the first appearance of this word "Hu Tong" were in Yuan Dynasty's Opera Play. For instance, Guan Hanqing's "Dan Dao Hui 单刀会" (Single Sword Meeting) mentioned "杀出一条血胡同来" (out came a hutong), suggesting that Hu Tong dated back to Yuan period.

According to http://www.tour-beij...jing_hutong.php,

the word "hutong" is Mongolian in origin, meaning a "water well". In the old time with the digging of new wells, came the new communities. Later it was referred to as narrow streets or lanes formed by quadrangles. The word " hutong" with the meaning of narrow lanes was formed during the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century when the Mongols, led by Genghis Khan, occupied Beijing, then the capital of the Jin Dynasty. In 1260 Kubla Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, established the Yuan Dynasty. Kubla Khan chosed Beijing as his capital. During the takeover by the Mongols, the old city had been largely demolished, and so he decided to rebuild the city. When the new city was finished, there were clear definitions of streets, lanes and hutongs. A 36 metre wide road was called a "big street". An 18 metre wide one a "small street", and a 9 metre wide lane was called a "hutong". Surrounding the Imperial Palace, hutongs were established throughout the Yuan (1206-1341), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties. Most of the hutongs we see today were built during the Ming and Qinq. You only still find a very few hutongs preserved from the Yuan Dynasty.

According to the chinese books I read, there are some names of Hutong (alley name) which are actually of Mongolian origin. They sound ugly in the han language, but in the Mongolian language sounds alright.

For instance,

Sikelang Hutong 屎壳郎胡同 - "Sikelang" means "Sweet Water Well" in Mongolian

Mohe Hutong 墨河胡同 - "Mo He" means "a well that has a taste" in Mongolian

Mao Hutong 帽胡同 - "Mao" means "bad" in Mongolian

Now, I do not know the Mongolian language, perhaps some of our members who know the Mongolian language might be able to comment on this.

Is "hutong" of Mongolian origin?

[Zorigo]

General_Zhaoyun, on Sep 6 2007, 07:48 AM, said:

Is "hutong" of Mongolian origin?

very interesting.

Just as confirmation what you already wrote.

1. Sikelang Hutong 屎壳郎胡同 - "Sikelang" means "Sweet Water Well" in Mongolian.

In modern Mongolian language it would sound like "CHIKERLEG HUDAG"
- Chiher- sweet, chiher+leg means "with sweet taste"
chiher(mongol)-sugar(english)-sahar(russian)-sukkar(arabic)
-hudag- is word "well" in Mongolian language.

2. Mohe Hutong 墨河胡同 - "Mo He" means "a well that has a taste" in Mongolian.

In modern Mongolian language it would sound like "MUUHAI HUDAG"

- Muuhai- means "with bad taste" also it means "ugly"

3. Mao Hutong 帽胡同 - "Mao" means "bad" in Mongolian

-It is true "Muu"- means "bad"in Mongolian
----------------------------------------------------

But I think "hutong" means "HUDAM" which is STREET in Mongolian language. Although Mongol people are nomad, when they gather in one place and settle temporary/ permanently, they organise their settlement with street accesses
wide streets are called ÖRGÖN CHÖLÖÖÖ
normal streets are called GUDAMJ
narrow streets are called GUDAM/HUDAM
mongolian word "hudam" means also "wide spread" in english

This post has been edited by Zorigo: 06 September 2007 - 02:43 PM

[Kimchee]

Zorigo,

So this picture would be more of a permanent settlement? The streets look quite well-worn and are there fences dividing each space? Or do people use, move away then return to the same spaces season after season?

Kimchee

This post has been edited by Kimchee: 06 September 2007 - 04:11 PM

[Zorigo]

I post that picture as example of mongolian settlement with its street /hudam/hutong

Kimchee, on Sep 6 2007, 04:10 PM, said:

Zorigo,
So this picture would be more of a permanent settlement? The streets look quite well-worn and are there fences dividing each space?

I think it is permanent new settlement, each property is divided by wooden fences. Grassland can be worn out within a few months

Kimchee, on Sep 6 2007, 04:10 PM, said:

Or do people use, move away then return to the same spaces season after season?

I think it is some kind of settlement like village or it is suburban area of a city. Looks like those families newly arrived living in traditional yurt (around ones) eventually sometime later build their houses defending on their finance

This post has been edited by Zorigo: 06 September 2007 - 05:16 PM

[polar_zen]

Wow, that's really interesting. Is it just the word that is Mongolian or that type of living as a whole?

[spikeyli]

My husband and I took a tore of the Hutong when we were in Beijing, a word of advice, DON'T DO IT! It's a total tourist rip off and all you get is be carted around these worn down alleys and then meet a family in their house. You don't learn anything from the tour other than there were a lot of people living in some amazingly tight spaces. I'm sure the Hutong has a lot of history and it's worth checking out if you had weeks in Beijing. But if you want to get to know the history and culture of China, this ain't it.

PS: I felt so sorry for the guy who had to bicycle us around, it was November and he was clearly cold. We pissed off our tour guide when we tipped our bike guy $20 (which is like half a month's salary for these people) and only gave the tour guide 5 RMB. Well he did a crappy job showing us the history and scenes in Hutong.

[General_Zhaoyun]

Interesting... thanks to Zorigo for that Mongolian explanation..

[Dagvadorj]

Firstly tens of thousands of thanks and appreciates to Zhou Enlai for standing still of priceless monuments during diverse years. And let's remember those who are great, those who helped serve tradition.

In center of Beijing city, around Mongol Lamaist Yong He Gong Temple, Confucius Temple and Taoist Temple, in in some diverse places we can still see those "hutong" streets. Those are maybe most heart-touching monuments since the tradition itself is there, when you are walking through it.

General_Zhaoyun, on Sep 6 2007, 02:48 PM, said:

the word "hutong" is Mongolian in origin, meaning a "water well".

Zorigo, "Hudam" ("Gudam") is a really reasonable approximation. But to me as the source states meaning a "water well", I think it is "Huuduu" or "Hüütüü" in Mongol language meaning "water well". And let's keep in mind that Khubilai Khan improved water and road systems, also systematized the Grand Canal.