The 56 Official Nationalities in China (in descending order of population size):

Han Chinese
Zhuang
Manchu
Hui (Muslim)
Miao
Uygur
Yi
Tujia
Mongol
Tibetan
Bouyei
Dong
Yao
Korean
Bai
Hani
Dai
Li
Kazak
She
Lisu
Gelao
Lahu
Dongxiang
Shui
Wa
Naxi
Qiang
Tu
Xibe
Mulao
Kirgiz
Daur
Jingpo
Salar
Bulang
Maonan
Tajik
Monba
Pumi
Achang
Nu
Ewenki
Jing
Jino
De'ang
Uzbek
Russian
Bonan
Yugur
Lhoba
Oroqen
Derung
Tatar
Hezhen
Gaoshan (only about 3,730 live on mainland China - many more in Taiwan)

The list (with chinese names) are shown:

Interesting that the aboriginies in Taiwan don't like being callsed Gaoshan (高山), but rather Yuanzhumin (原住民). Regardless, as Taiwan is not a part of China, they don't really count anyway.

Whether Taiwan is part of China is still debatable.. and is not definite. The aborigine in Taiwan's proper ethnic name is called "GaoShan ethnic". The 'yuanzhumin' is the direct chinese translation for 'aborigines". It means the "original dweller".

I've only heard from TI-supporters that Taiwanese aboriginies don't like the term Gaoshan 高山. However, I've yet to hear any 高山人 / 原住民 make the same claim. As a matter of fact, a cousin of mine in Taiwan is dating a 高山人 / 原住民 girl and I asked her about this and she just shrugged it off as if she could care less.

As for Ludahai, we all know you are a TI-supporting extremists, there is no need for you to remind us of that constantly.

THat is true. There are at this time 12 officially recognized tripes (I believe one or two of them are NOT Gaoshan but are Pingpu) and there are at least 11 more separately identified languages that are not official recognized by Taiwan's government.

Welcome to CHF, Khamba! Tibetan history is an area that should be discussed a little more here, except that most of us know so little about it. Let me refer you to an earlier thread on this board for info and different views about Tibetans in China today: http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php?showtopic=485

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少数民族分布的主要地区
Geographic Distribution of Minority Nationalities

人口数为2000年人口普查机器汇总数据
Figures of population are obtained from the Population Census in 2000.


══════════════════════════════════════════
民族Nationality ║分布的主要地区Main Geographic Distribution║人口Population(person)
══════════════════════════════════════════
蒙古族Mongolian ║内蒙古Inner Mongolia,辽宁Liaoning, ║5813947
║吉林Jilin,河北Hebei,黑龙江Heilongjiang, ║
║新疆Xinjiang. ║
══════════════════════════════════════════
回族Hui ║宁夏Ningxia,甘肃Gansu,河南Henan, ║9816805
║新疆Xinjiang,青海Qinghai,云南Yunnan, ║
║河北Hebei,山东Shandong,安徽Anhui, ║
║辽宁Liaoning,北京Beijing,天津Tianjin, ║
║内蒙古Inner Mongolia,黑龙江Heilongjiang, ║
║陕西Shǎnxi,贵州Guizhou,吉林Jilin, ║
║江苏Jiangsu,四川Sichuan. ║
══════════════════════════════════════════
藏族Tibetan ║西藏Tibet,四川Sichuan,青海Qinghai, ║5416021
║甘肃Gansu,云南Yunnan. ║
══════════════════════════════════════════
维吾尔族Uygur ║新疆Xinjiang. ║8399393
══════════════════════════════════════════
苗族Miao ║贵州Guizhou,湖南Hunan,云南Yunnan, ║8940116
║广西Guangxi,重庆Chongqing,湖北Hubei, ║
║四川Sichuan. ║
══════════════════════════════════════════
彝族Yi ║云南Yunnan,四川Sichuan,贵州Guizhou. ║7762272
══════════════════════════════════════════
壮族Zhuang ║广西Guangxi,云南Yunnan,广东Guangdong. ║16178811
══════════════════════════════════════════
布依族Bouyei ║贵州Guizhou. ║2971460
══════════════════════════════════════════
朝鲜族Korean ║吉林Jilin,黑龙江Heilongjiang,辽宁Liaoning.║1923842
══════════════════════════════════════════
满族Manchu ║辽宁Liaoning,河北Hebei,黑龙江Heilongjiang,║10682262
║吉林Jilin,内蒙古Inner Mongolia, ║
║北京Beijing. ║
══════════════════════════════════════════
侗族Dong ║贵州Guizhou,湖南Hunan,广西Guangxi. ║2960293
══════════════════════════════════════════
瑶族Yao ║广西Guangxi,湖南Hunan,云南Yunnan, ║2637421
║广东Guangdong. ║
══════════════════════════════════════════
白族Bai ║云南Yunnan,贵州Guizhou,湖南Hunan. ║1858063
══════════════════════════════════════════
土家族Tujia ║湖南Hunan,湖北Hubei,重庆Chongqing, ║8028133
║贵州Guizhou. ║
══════════════════════════════════════════
哈尼族Hani ║云南Yunnan. ║1439673
══════════════════════════════════════════
哈萨克族Kazak ║新疆Xinjiang. ║1250458
══════════════════════════════════════════
傣族Dai ║云南Yunnan. ║1158989
══════════════════════════════════════════
黎族Li ║海南Hainan. ║1247814
══════════════════════════════════════════
傈僳族Lisu ║云南Yunnan,四川Sichuan. ║634912
══════════════════════════════════════════
佤族Va ║云南Yunnan. ║396610
══════════════════════════════════════════
畲族She ║福建Fujian,浙江Zhejiang,江西Jiangxi, ║709592
║广东Guangdong. ║
══════════════════════════════════════════
高山族Gaoshan ║台湾Taiwan,福建Fujian. ║4461
══════════════════════════════════════════
拉祜族Lahu ║云南Yunnan. ║453705
══════════════════════════════════════════
水族Shui ║贵州Guizhou,广西Guangxi. ║406902
══════════════════════════════════════════
东乡族Dongxiang ║甘肃Gansu,新疆Xinjiang. ║513805
══════════════════════════════════════════
纳西族Naxi ║云南Yunnan. ║308839
══════════════════════════════════════════
景颇族Jingpo ║云南Yunnan. ║132143
══════════════════════════════════════════
柯尔克孜族Kirgiz║新疆Xinjiang. ║160823
══════════════════════════════════════════
土族Tu ║青海Qinghai,甘肃Gansu. ║241198
══════════════════════════════════════════
达斡尔族Daur ║内蒙古Inner Mongolia,黑龙江Heilongjiang. ║132394
══════════════════════════════════════════
仫佬族Mulam ║广西Guangxi. ║207352
══════════════════════════════════════════
羌族Qiang ║四川Sichuan. ║306072
══════════════════════════════════════════
布朗族Blang ║云南Yunnan. ║91882
══════════════════════════════════════════
撒拉族Salar ║青海Qinghai. ║104503
══════════════════════════════════════════
毛南族Maonan ║广西Guangxi. ║107166
══════════════════════════════════════════
仡佬族Gelao ║贵州Guizhou. ║579357
══════════════════════════════════════════
锡伯族Xibe ║辽宁Liaoning,新疆Xinjiang. ║188824
══════════════════════════════════════════
阿昌族Achang ║云南Yunnan. ║33936
══════════════════════════════════════════
普米族Pumi ║云南Yunnan. ║33600
══════════════════════════════════════════
塔吉克族Tajik ║新疆Xinjiang. ║41028
══════════════════════════════════════════
怒族Nu ║云南Yunnan. ║28759
══════════════════════════════════════════
乌孜别克族Ozbek ║新疆Xinjiang. ║12370
══════════════════════════════════════════
俄罗斯族Russian ║新疆Xinjiang,黑龙江Heilongjiang. ║15609
══════════════════════════════════════════
鄂温克族Ewenki ║内蒙古Inner Mongolia. ║30505
══════════════════════════════════════════
德昂族De'ang ║云南Yunnan. ║17935
══════════════════════════════════════════
保安族Bonan ║甘肃Gansu. ║16505
══════════════════════════════════════════
裕固族Yugur ║甘肃Gansu. ║13719
══════════════════════════════════════════
京族Jing ║广西Guangxi. ║22517
══════════════════════════════════════════
塔塔尔族Tatar ║新疆Xinjiang. ║4890
══════════════════════════════════════════
独龙族Drung ║云南Yunnan. ║7426
══════════════════════════════════════════
鄂伦春族Oroqen ║黑龙江Heilongjiang,内蒙古Inner Mongolia. ║8196
══════════════════════════════════════════
赫哲族Hezhen ║黑龙江Heilongjiang. ║4640
══════════════════════════════════════════
门巴族Moinba ║西藏Tibet. ║8923
══════════════════════════════════════════
珞巴族Lhoba ║西藏Tibet. ║2965
══════════════════════════════════════════
基诺族Jino ║云南Yunnan. ║20899
══════════════════════════════════════════



(BTW, I want to upload the origin data picture, but I can't find the button.
Is there such a button here? Or else there is something wrong with my eyes?)

You need to upload the picture to http://www.imageshack.us and then use IMG tag

Thanks for my God ISP, I successfully link and register an account on http://www.imageshack.us .

This is the origin picture's link URL for the data above,

everyone would enjoy it.

hehe....there's almost no minorities in Kwangtung

Probably because the ones in Guangdong were all pushed out into Guangxi by Han migrants starting from the Han dynasty!

Of course Taiwan is a part of China, even if it is not necessarily a part of the PRC.

They exclude the Yue. That's why I know the Vietnamese fought back to gain their ethincity and nationality. If Vietnam was of China, it would have been Annamese, no Yue.

Like2learn, the "Yue" no longer exist as a distinct people. There are some minorities in the PRC that may be descended from the Yue, though. To equate Vietnam with the Yue is like trying to equate China with the Qin.

Quick question..how do you pronounce "Yue"?

Is it Yoo or Yoo-eh?

In Mandarin it's yoo-eh, but vowels closer together.
In most southern dialects it's pronounced like yoot, yooit (like it in English), yooet (like et in French), nget, gniot, etc

Pronounced "etsu" (classical: etu) or "o" in Sino-Japanese.

You know the word "Yeah" when you are in agreement?

Pronounce it like the first half "Yea", but with a downward ending instead of upward.

Or the first half of "Yeti", or "Yet" with a silent 't'.

Hehe thanks...

I don't know if you guys can read Hangul, but something like "예" right?

Not exactly. It's like German pronunciation of über, with a y, so like yüber, and replace the ber with 예. I don't think there is a Hangul equivalent.

Ok..I think I get it...

I was saying 예 because Snowy was talking about the first syllable of the word "yeti"...

Thanks you two.

hehe there is still Yueju 越剧 (Shaoxing/Zhejiang opera).

http://www.yueju.net (site for 上海越剧 Shanghai Yueju)

Of course, it is not based on the old Yue Kingdom language, but instead is in Wu.

That means they were once existed. That's good enough. What about the Hans? They continue to exist right, genetically, culturally, or what? What determines you to be a Han?

It's very simple to determine if you're han-chinese. Firstly, it's your language and your family name. If you're using han-language at home and your name is han-name, then you're a han-chinese.

Oh great, now I change my family name to English name, writing and learning English, then I can be an English man. Let me ask my American friend and hear what they say if they recognize me as the same race as him. Thanks for you opinion

I hope it's not sarcasm because General ZhaoYun don't deserve it.

But as far as defining whether you're Han Chinese or English or American, do you really think it should be decided by other people for you?

There's more to what GZ said, do you want to continue discussing who/what determines whether a person is Han Chinese?

I consider that analogy very poor. American is a nationality, not a race or ethnicity. Thus American has many races within a nation. There are certainly many english americans, chinese americans, black americans etc. Sorry for not being very clear, I'm not saying if your name is chinese, then you're a chinese. What I'm saying is your SURNAME (FAMILY NAME).

Now, one way of tracing your ancestry history is to find out the history of your surname (family name), where it comes from.

For instance, my surname (family name) is Zhuo 卓. This surname has its origin from Fujian Nanan region, and thus I'm a hokkien (Fujian) chinese. My ancestors migrated to Taiwan 5 generations ago.

The root of the han-chinese can sometimes be well-determined. Some chinese family keeps a log- book called Jiapu (家谱) which detailed the family history in each different generations, who they marry with etc.

Of course, there are people who go for DNA test today to trace their ancestry.

My husband's name is Chan Chung Sing, his parents came from Hap Sing Fong in Jiangmen. What type of Chinese would that be can anyone tell me please?

Yes, my family does this. We have records with the names and deeds of all our (male) ancestors. I've always thought this was common practice... but how widespread is this tradition anyway? Is it only in certain parts of China that this practice exists? Also, is it just my family, or do all Chinese families who keep a Jiapu record only male names?

My family does it too. XD

in most cases.. but I think in some cases it may be difficult. The Hui for example speak a han language (cantonese, mandarin, etc depending where they are from), and use han names. the Manchu too.. although.. many here would consider both of them Han by now, with the former simply being Han Muslims (a view which I also share)

My family does it too. My family in China.

here are some maps i found, it is not very detailed but give a basic idea on what the 'official' groups are.

[Ethnitic Map]
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east..._ethno_1971.jpg
[Linguistic Map]
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east...ina_ling_90.jpg
[Ethnolinguistic Map]
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east...nguistic_83.jpg

[Ethnitic Map]

http://www.culturalgeographic.com/maps/images/cnminzumap.jpg

Great Maps... but the wording on the ethnicity map is not very clear..

The last map:
Detailed in ethnicities (>50) but too small. I can't even read the characters there. I'm guessing what the patterns actually represent by comparing to my knowledge of distributions of ethnics.

i bet people get really confused when the term 粵劇 is pronounced exactly the same as 越劇 but both represent different forms of opera.

To all, this is a very interesting thread.

One of the rare but recurring subjects in scientific magazines here in the states is when Western migration paths of ancient times crossed into China. The most prevalent of these of course is the Spice route, and the mummies of the Gobi desert.

Within that topic matter is how "blonde-haired" Chinese people could exist (extremely rare, but genetically possible), and where ancient Judaic tribes existed in remote regions.

I am told the last of the "Judaic ethnicities tribes" may have finally been intermingled about 100 years ago, just prior to the Communist revolution. I am also told that the villagers who celebrated Judaic symbolisms and feast days, basically had lost all recollection as to the actual meaning of their rituals and customs, so vast a time had elapsed with their original Judaic traditions.

Have you heard any of these stories of (for lack of a better term) Judaic ethnic tribes in China?

Thank you for any input.

It's getting to the point that you're a Han Chineee if you say you are. Han is a cultural designation, not an ethnic one. There are no genetic markers that identify you as a Han.
The original Han are probably citizens of the Han Kingdom, and the word "Han" became synonymous with being Chinese. In ancient China, when there were many kingdoms, people identified with the kingdom they resided in. For instance, Confucius would not say he is a "Chinese", but rather a "Lu" citizen, being from the state or kingdom of "Lu" (pronounced Loo).
I recently found out that an elderly friend with the last name "Guan" is actually Manchurian. Doesn't speak any Manchu. There is no way to look at him and tell that he is Manchu. I have also seen Mongolians who look just like any other "Han" Chinese.
Interestingly when I was doing some short term mission work in northern Thailand many years ago, I asked this one lady if she was Chinese. Our medical team drew people from all ethnicities from the surrounding countryside and mountains, and there were lots of minority tribes living there that I'd never heard of before. She smiled and nodded and said yes, she was Chinese. I then asked her if she was "Han", and again she nodded and said yes. The reason I asked is because she was very dark, had big round eyes, and actually resembled more some of the hill people I'd seen. I eventually found out that in these border regions many people identify with more than one nationality. In Thailand they would claim to be Thai; cross the border into China and they become Chinese. Being multi-lingual it's part of their routine to do that.
In essence a Han Chinese is who he/she claims to be.

Boarhuntr



Ed,
You are probably referring to the Jews of Kaifeng in Honan province. I've read numerous articles about them. Do a google search and I'm sure you will find tons of material . Most of these Jews have been assimilated and no longer know much about their heritage. Some just know they are part Jewish, but have no clue how to observe the high holy days or much about Judaism as a religion.
Being isolated from the mainline Jews in the Middle East and Europe, they had much difficulty holding on their traditions, so when Islam came into China many converted. This is due largely because Islam is a monotheistic religion that also honors and recognizes the same old Hebrew patriarchs such as Abraham and Moses, and their dietary customs are very similar. "Kosher" is "Halal" in Islam, so conversion to Islam was easy for the Kaifeng Jews.

Boarhuntr

There are I think, at least you are a Mongoloid . There was no 'Han', and Qin had not conquered Middle Plain either.
Some Manchurian use Chinese Names, there's nothing strange about it since some other tribes around e.g. Korean, Vietnamese, Zhuang all use Chinese names. Interestingly I found some Miao have Chinese names, some do not.
Maybe she thought you asked "Hani" (a very different tribe from Han, and most members match your description). But what does that do with ethnicities?
Perhaps, but no one will believe you if you look like European.

Since they Jews are not listed as an ethnicity in China, I thought there were no Jews in China nowadays. Now that you've said that there are, what ethnicity does P.R.China consider them to be? Is it Hui-Zu?

Many of the natives of Guangdong region speak Guangdong Dialect and are of significantly smaller in stature and features than many Han from the north and central China. I was curious how this is considered in terms of being a different minority. The difference is greater than than that of some other minorities. There is also a significant amount of social animosity among them toward the Chinese from thenorth and central China.

To all on this wonderful thread.

In my library excursions, I have come across an interesting book published by the New England Antiquities Research Association .... NEARA, 1998, titled... "Across Before Columbus?"

Of the many, many interesting subjects within was a description of an Amerindian tribe called the Yuchi, which may have come originally from China via India/Pakistan/Afghanistan (Yuehchih, meaning “Moon people”....branch of the Tungu or Eastern Tartars, .....the Chinese provinces of Tangut and West Kansu, with part of South Thiangshan)

Question...Possibly, could this be the Tujia ethnic group mentioned as among the 'top 56', or possibly it is one of the non-mentioned minor ethnicities?

Either way, I would like to share this information with you on the probable migration of a Chinese tribe which influenced the creation of Bhuddism, and may have migrated all the way to the Americas, thousands of years before Columbus.

From “Across Before Columbus”, Edited by Donald Y. Gilmore and Linda S. McElroy

Excerpts from “The Yuchi, American and Asian”, by Joseph B. Mahan (161-163)

The ‘American Yuchi’

The Yuchi have been the most mysterious of all the tribes of eastern North America since the general subject of the origin and history of the American Indians became of interest to antiquarians…. Whence they came has remained uncertain, as their language was unlike any other known to 19th Century linguists and the speakers of other Indian languages as well….

…their original name was Zoyawahano…

(in the author’s research as to their origins)

I have drawn the following conclusions: The Yuchi are themselves an ancient confederation of earth people led by Sun and Moon people, the Zoyaha and the Ystafa Wano. At some time in the more recent past they united with another earth-sky people they called the Sha people (wano).Sha means both ‘serpent’ and ‘eagle’ in the Yuchi language. The Shawano then, was a confederation of the Yuchi and the Eagle Serpent people…. The moon king presided in the ceremonial ‘peace’ or ‘white’ towns, and the sun king was the leader of the ‘war’ or ‘red’ towns. Both positions were hereditary through the women of the dynastic line….

The sun king of the ‘Shawano’ held sovereignty over the sun kings in the confederated towns…their emblem was the peacock. Their totem was the falcon; that of their mothers and sisters was the crane or goose.

The emperor known to history was Yuchi. This was the Cu or ‘bird’ town. It was also a Sha town, hence the name Cusha.

The ‘Asian Yuchi’

In Pakistan and India… I researched another people with the same name, Kusha, who were also Yuchi. They were the people the Chinese called the Yuehchih, meaning “Moon people”. According to them, these people were a branch of the Tungu or Eastern Tartars, who several centuries before the Christian era, had passed into western Tartary where they founded an extensive empire, the limits of which enclosed the Chinese provinces of Tangut and West Kansu, with part of South Thiangshan.

About 200 BC, they were defeated by the Hiungnu and driven from the country. Fifty years later, they were again defeated and driven further westward…The smaller …into Tibet, and the larger, called the Great Yuchi…eventually into Bactria, the present Northeastern Afghanistan.

Earlier, there were the Shakyas who moved into Northern India. Buddha’s mother belonged to these people. His father’s people were the Koshala, ‘Man-bird’. They were absorbed by the Magdha, who became the undisputed masters of India by the 5th Century BC.

…A new dynasty, that of the Kushans, had been founded by one of the five chieftains among whom Bactria was divided. The third and greatest of the Kushana Kings was Kanishka, ‘Peacock’s-eye man spirit’. … I knew that Kanishka, although a mighty king, a son of the sun and follower of the sha, also belonged to his mother the Earth, represented… by the geese. His people were the Shalalawano, “Goose People’, …

That day I realized that the Asian Yuchi were indeed the same people as the Yuchi of North America.”

Any thoughts? Note: if anyone is interested, I can jpeg the article directly to you.

By Yuechih, you mean Yuezhi?

Yang Zongbao... I copied it letter for letter from the book, but I am sure you are correct... Yuezhi and Yuechih sound plausibly identical.

What is your understanding of Yuezhi? Are you aware of who/what/where they are?

Thanks for any information.

Ed Z

Just a question here: those who support Taiwan's independence are branded extremist, what does that make those who support reunification?

Is there any RATIONAL reason why one ideal is placed above the other? And no, I won't accept petty nationalism explainations.

Whatever happened to right to self-determine?

Not all TI supporters are extremists just as not all reunificationists are either. What makes these people "extremists" are their, well, extreme ideals. A typical extremeist TI supporter would be someone who wish to completely "de-Sinicize" the island of Taiwan and cut off ALL ties to mainland China, including economical beneficial ones, and yes there are plenty of these people in Taiwan. A extremists reunificationist would be someone who want reunification so bad that they would just have Taiwan join the PRC and be under CCP rule.

"Right to self-determine"? Ha, while it's a very good ideal, it doesn't exist in real life. Being idealistic won't get you anywhere in life unless you're realistic first.

Please step off your high chair. You're trolling around the forum wagging fingers as if we all decided to make you our king.

Instead of answering the question, you brought up strawmen. I guess the answer is no.

Since you don't seem to know much beyond China, I won't blame you. I don't suppose you've heard of East Timor, or Bangladesh, or Slovakia, or a serie of new nations recently created by self-determination.



That's an interesting image. Are you hearing voices as well?

Keep it down you two. Don't pollute the forums with your bickering. If you've got something to say, do it over PM.

Highly doubtful of the conection Ed, but go on.

Yang... highly doubtful, you are correct. But should I say... Maybe I should not share? Or, Gee whiz, nobody would be interested or gain from my sharing, or point me in a better direction, which you are doing and I thank you for it.

I am stunned by 56 officially recognized ethnic groups? I bet there are in fact, another 200 UN-officially recognized ethnic tribes in China. I am told you have 100 languages or so, with 5 "main" languages? I am completely learning about these things, and fascinated with the similarities we all share, ethnicities, race, language, technologies, sciences, cultures, theologies...

One of the over-riding dilemmas on any website is that I come across amazing Chinese finds in the Americas, such as a 7th Century Ming metallic object found "underground" in California, and I ask myself... should I mention this "possible connection", could anyone at CHF gain by this published article which ITSELF, questions ITS OWN authenticity? So why share in the first place?

And I am embarrassed to say, of the hundreds of stories I have read, published about Chinese artifacts, found buried 20 feet down, in an Ohio ancient Hopewell gravesite, or the Olmec writings of Central America comparing favorably with the Shang dynasty alphabet... I am embarrassed to say... for the most part... I pass! Why risk embarrassment on my part?

The information is as ??? real ??? as a printed page in an authentic American magazine or book, yet for me to put my name on it for CHF readers to read, and then accept or reject these theories as if I am placing my HIGHLY-esteemed "cabdriver" reputation on the line, it takes courage or foolishness, or both.

I choose to remain foolish and ignorant, and share when I gain the courage, which is often on this wonderful website.

Sorry Ed, unless time travel is possible, then no metallic Ming object was found dating from the 7th century.

Valid, my error. The article listed the found artifact as in the 1300-1400 range, and I am embarrassed to say, closer inspection raise a multitude of questions about the artifact that seem to dispute itself. So, cancel the Ming dyansty object.

I will start another thread on allegedly ancient Chinese artifacts found, from articles written in the West, which are unexplained, mysterious, and even the authors admit.... possible fraud exists and have few expert advisors as to their authenticity.

Valid call, my error, and return to the topic... "56 official ethnic nationalities in China"