Tajik Nationality

"Tajik" is the self proclaimed name of the nation.

The meaning of the word "Tajik" includes the ancient Arab tribes "Tay", "Dashi" and the title of the Persian speaking "Tata" nation by the Central Asian Turks in the 11th century.

However, it is generally believed that "Tajik" comes from the word "Taji", and Tajik means "crown".

The ethnic origin of Tajik nationality can be traced back to several centuries BC. It is distributed among Iranian speaking tribes in the east of Pamir Plateau. These tribes were distributed in many places south of Tianshan Mountain in China from a very early time. In the 11th century, the Turkic nomadic tribes collectively referred to the people who spoke Iranian and believed in Islam in Central Asia as "Tajik". Later, "Tajik" gradually became the national identity of the people in this region. In history, the Tajiks who have lived and multiplied in the vast areas of Xinjiang since ancient times and the Tajiks who moved eastward from the west of Pamir and settled in Tashkurgan in different periods are the ancestors of the Tajik Nationality in China.

More than two thousand years ago, Zhang Qian had access to the western regions, and the Western Han Dynasty set up the "capital protection of the western regions" in the western regions. The Iranian speaking tribes in the east of Pamir established administrative subordination with the central dynasty. After Zhang Qian's access to the western regions, envoys and businessmen to Dayue, Sabbath and other countries continued to pass through Pamir. Pamir became the only way for East-West transportation on the ancient "Silk Road", which made the economic and cultural exchanges between Tajik and Han and other brother nationalities more and more frequent, and promoted the development of Tajik ancient society.

In the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D., the Tajik ancestors living on the Pamir Plateau established the state of fupanda. The word "mopanto" means "mountain road" or "mountain plain" in Eastern Iranian. Located at the Confucius pass of the Silk Road, wupantuo serves as a bridge for the economic and cultural exchanges between the East and the West.

Gupantuo has left a far-reaching influence on the history of Tajik Nationality in China. According to the records of the western regions of the Tang Dynasty and other historical materials, the state of kupuntuo excavated channels, built water conservancy and vigorously developed irrigated agriculture in Tashkurgan and its surrounding areas at that time; Build post stations and houses for free travel and accommodation to ensure the smooth flow of the Silk Road; With the construction of castles and cities, social culture has also been greatly developed. During the northern and Southern Dynasties, the national strength was the strongest. There were 12 castles around the capital for more than ten miles. At that time, more than 10 monasteries were built in the state of kupuntuo, with 500 monks. The king also used force to "invite" famous monks and children from his neighbors, who were known as one of the "four Rizhao Dynasties" at that time, and built a temple with "high and wide Pavilion and majestic Buddha image" for him, making kupuntuo the center of Mahayana Buddhism in this area. The state of kupuntuo inherited and developed the close relationship between the various parts of the Congling mountains in the Han Dynasty and the Central Plains. Even during the northern and Southern Dynasties after the split of the Central Plains, it repeatedly sent envoys to travel thousands of miles to contact the Northern Wei and Liang dynasties and contribute local products. In the early Tang Dynasty, kupan Tuo was under the jurisdiction of Bomi Prefecture, under the control of the protector of the capital of Sabbath, and had a closer relationship with the central government.

Gupantuo state existed for more than 500 years. During the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty (713-741), Tubo forces reached Pamir, and Peixing, king of gupantuo state, returned to Tubo. Since then, in order to strengthen the border defense in the west, the Tang Dynasty set up the "Cangling guard and capture" under the jurisdiction of the anxidu guard office in the Kaiyuan period to guard the Pamir Plateau and exercise effective jurisdiction. During the song and Yuan Dynasties, Tashkurgan was called selekkur, and the descendants of gupantuo also became selekkur.

After the Mongols conquered Central Asia, selekor, together with a large area of Central Asia, belonged to the Chagatai Khanate. Due to several wars and frequent abduction by nearby separatist forces, the Tajik population in selekor has decreased sharply, and most of them live in deep mountains and valleys. They graze a small amount of livestock and cultivate small plots of land in places rarely visited by outsiders, resulting in stagnation of economic development. In terms of religious belief, it is similar to the nearby residents, generally converted to Islam, and joined the ismayi sect of Islam in the 11th century at the latest. During the Ming Dynasty, the Yeerqiang khanate, which commands the vast areas of Southern Xinjiang, has been stationed in aqimubak to selekkur, and selekkur region has become a part of Yeerqiang Khanate. After the disintegration of the Yeerqiang khanate, due to frequent wars, the social life of Tashkurgan and Tajik people was seriously damaged, many people were displaced, their production was poor, and the people were unable to make a living.

At the beginning of the 17th century, selekor belonged to the East Chagatai Khanate established by the descendants of Chagatai Khan. As the social environment is relatively stable and the population is gradually developing, many small villages are built in the center of selekor. At the beginning of the 18th century, seyitiri, the "yizen" of the ismayi sect of Islam, became the ruler of selekurtajik with the support of Chagatai descendants.

In 1759, the Qing government calmed down the chaos between big and small and Zhuo, implemented the military government system in Xinjiang, and set up Ili general who ruled Xinjiang. The west of Kashgar and Pamir region were under the direct jurisdiction of Kashgar counsellor minister. Selekor was named along the old Ming Dynasty and is classified as selekor huizhuang. Like other areas in southern Xinjiang, it exercised restraint and was appointed by the Minister of Yeerqiang to manage local administrative matters from Wupin to Qipin Burke. In 1884, Xinjiang was established as a province, which abolished the Boyi restraint in southern Xinjiang, and selekul set up a "Pu Li sub defense and general judgment hall" by Shache government. After the revolution of 1911, it was changed to Puli county. Pu Litang has jurisdiction over 27 villages. Each village is managed by the local upper class appointed by the general judge of sub defense (later by the county magistrate) as the "township treaty".

The Tajik people have a glorious tradition of defending the motherland. In the 18th century, the Haohan Khanate and other ministries near Pamir harassed and plundered the selekor region for many times. In the winter of 1836, the Haohan invading army invaded selekkur. Archimuke kuerchak led the people to fight bloody battles. He was killed by the Haohan invaders and gave his precious life to defend the territory of the motherland. Tai Hong, a long poem praising the national hero, is still sung among the Tajiks.

In 1865, a Gubai, an officer of Haohan, invaded Xinjiang and established the aggressive regime zhedshar Khanate. Ashan Xia, a pawn of the akuba faction, "pacified" selekur and carried out strict prevention and cruel suppression against the Tajik people. Many Tajiks were forced to flee to other places and take refuge in wahan, Bukhara and other places. Many residents were treated as criminals by Agubo and exiled to paqiyar and Shache in the north of Kashgar City.

In 1877, the Qing government sent Zuo Zongtang to recover Xinjiang. Taking advantage of the momentum of the victory of the Qing army and the demand of the Tajik people to expel the aggressors, AQIM Burke ARIB killed Ashan Xia and recovered selekul. The Qing government rewarded aribu Lanling with five top hats to govern the area under the jurisdiction of huizhuang in the primary color, and also took charge of 9 Kirgiz nomadic areas in the northwest of Seler.

From 1891 to 1894, tsarist Russia colluded with Britain, blatantly divided Pamir and attempted to occupy Tashkurgan. In order to defend against the continued invasion of Russian and British imperialism, the Tajik people enlisted to form the "selekur Suiyuan return team", which was led by the flag officer of the horse team stationed in the local area, and archimuburke was also the general post, responsible for defending the place. Many Tajik herdsmen voluntarily moved to the border card and mingtiegai near geskam in the south of Tashkurgan, where they have been cultivating, grazing and guarding the border for a long time.

In 1938, the representative of the Communist Party of China in Xinjiang suggested to the then Xinjiang provincial government that in order to consolidate the rear area of the Anti Japanese War, we must stop the illegal activities of imperialism on the land of Xinjiang. Therefore, from 1938 to 1940, Xu Liang and Hu Jian, two CPC members, came to work in the Tajik pastoral area. They served as the county head of Puli county and the captain of the border defense brigade respectively, leading the Tajik people to carry out the anti imperialist struggle, develop economy and culture and improve people's lives. In 1942, Sheng Shicai completely took refuge in the Kuomintang, the Communists were forced to leave, and the Tajik people fell into suffering again. On August 22, 1945, the Tajik and Kirgiz people launched the Puli revolution, opposed the rule of the Kuomintang, and successively conquered Puli, Yecheng and Zepu counties. The Puli revolution effectively cooperated with the three District revolution, dealt a heavy blow to the rule of the Kuomintang in southern Xinjiang, and wrote a glorious page in the history of the Tajik, Kirgiz and other ethnic people. In June 1946, the three District revolutionary government fulfilled the terms of peace talks signed with the Kuomintang government and dissolved the Puli revolutionary army. Kuomintang troops and officials re entered Puli, wantonly hunting and killing revolutionaries and innocent people. More than 4000 people were arrested and killed, and production and life were seriously damaged.

According to the geographical characteristics of mountains, valleys and water in Pamir Plateau, Tajik people use the natural conditions of abundant pasture and water in Pamir to graze livestock on high mountain pastures and plant crops in low valley farmland, forming a pattern of combination of agriculture and animal husbandry, focusing on animal husbandry production and concurrently engaged in agriculture. Tajik villages and rural areas are distributed in large and small mountains and valleys at an altitude of about 3000 meters. The agricultural economy of animal husbandry production and wide planting and low income has formed a scattered state of villages, and the distance between households is also far. Tajik people sow cold resistant crops such as highland barley, peas and spring wheat every spring. In early summer, they drive their herds to the alpine grassland for grazing. After autumn, they return to the village for harvest and winter. They live a semi nomadic and semi settled life again and again.

Before the Qing Dynasty, the social and economic development of Tajik nationality was relatively slow. Although there were irrigation agriculture and handicrafts such as spinning wool and weaving felt as early as the state of fupanduo, due to historical reasons, the animal husbandry and agricultural production of Tajik nationality are relatively extensive, and the production level has stagnated in a relatively low state for a long time. Due to the lack of iron, the horns of tall wild sheep unique to Pamir have been used to plough. In the early Qing Dynasty, the trade exchange between selekor huizhuang and Kashgar, Yeerqiang and other places was gradually carried out, and a certain amount of grain, cotton cloth, iron and other production and daily necessities were imported into Tajik areas every year. Especially with the help of the Han, Uygur and Kirgiz people, the Tajik people have made rapid progress in improving farming methods, building water conservancy, animal product processing, breeding yaks and big tailed sheep.

At the end of the 17th century, the nobles and leaders who ruled selekor forced the Tajik people to pay taxes, perform unpaid labor and carry out feudal exploitation. Soon, the religious and feudal forces of Ismail sect of Islam were integrated. The upper religious class was sealed by the Qing government and appointed Burke. They were in charge of justice, taxation, civil affairs and other affairs, and gradually formed a hereditary feudal ruling group with Burke as the main body. Burke at all levels with obvious feudal lord nature, in addition to the Quarterly "maintenance fee" issued by the imperial court, they also granted several to dozens of tenant households "nokaner" (Tajik, slave) according to their grades. The family of "nocan'er" worked for Burke for life, farming land, grazing livestock and doing housework for Burke. In addition, some Burke also kept slaves "dunganlik" (Tajik, people bought like livestock). In the Qing Dynasty, Burke gave the Tajik feudal nobles various political privileges. At the same time, the Qing government ruled the people of Tajik nationalities through Burke at all levels. As a result, Burke's people all took advantage of their power to bully the people and run amok. For generations, Burke, a Karim of the county of the county, was in the power of expanding the estate, relying on political power and domineering power. He used a piece of paper to turn more than 40 herdsmen in the same village into "Yang Ke Ke" who had no personal freedom, no registered residence and serfs. Under feudal rule and oppression, the Tajik people could not develop their production, lived in extreme poverty and had no political rights.

Before the founding of new China, the Tajik people living in Puli mainly engaged in animal husbandry and a small amount of agriculture. They lived a semi nomadic and semi settled life. After spring sowing, they went up the mountain to graze, and returned to the village to harvest in autumn for winter. The production level of animal husbandry and agriculture is very low. The self-sufficient natural economy can only provide a small number of livestock and animal products in exchange for necessities such as grain, tea and cloth. The polarization between the rich and the poor formed by heavy feudal oppression can be fully explained from the possession of means of production. The majority of poor Tajik herdsmen have only a small number of livestock that are not enough to maintain the minimum living standard, and some even have nothing; A few rich herdsmen not only have countless yaks, camels, horses and sheep, but also occupy large pastures and good fields. Take Tashkurgan as an example. In 1925, 834 Tajik herdsmen had 43171 sheep, with an average of more than 50 per household. However, the richest household had as many as 900 and the poorest household had only 8, a difference of more than 100 times.

In Tajik areas, the means used by herdsmen and rich herdsmen for exploitation are mainly hired workers. For every 100 sheep, the herdsman usually gets only one sheep and one lamb for half a year. Some herdsmen hand over their livestock to poor herdsmen to herd on behalf of them. If they herd 200 sheep on behalf of them, they can only get the milk and wool of 20 ewes a year. Herdsmen who own a large number of livestock not only occupy the common pasture of the whole village, but also use the tradition of "clan mutual assistance" to extract the labor of poor herdsmen. Under the cover of relatives and villagers, poor herdsmen have to rely on their attached herdsmen and rich herdsmen to engage in production and household work such as grazing, milking and making dairy products for herdsmen all year round in exchange for some daily milk. After the establishment of Xinjiang Province, Burke above the county level was abolished everywhere, except for the head and deputy archimuburke of selekul, which was not abolished until more than ten years after the revolution of 1911. Therefore, until 1925, "Yang Ke Ke" was able to be relieved from unpaid labor, to regained freedom and registered residence.

Tajik residents distributed in Shache, Zepu, Yecheng and other places settle down for agriculture, and the vast majority of them are poor farmers with no land and little land. The land is concentrated in the hands of a few landlords, such as a Tajik landowner in Zepu County, covering an area of up to 4500 mu. Like the local Uighur, Hui, Han and other ethnic groups, most of the Tajik poor suffer from the heavy exploitation of land rent and water rent by the landlord class who occupies a large amount of land and monopolizes water sources. In these areas, "food farming" is the main form of exploitation, that is, the landlord allocates the land to "neighbor farmers" for cultivation. At the time of harvest, the landlord first deducts the expenses such as seeds and cattle, and then the two sides share it. At the same time, farmers must work on the land directly managed by the landlord for about 60% of their working days, and their families should also engage in all kinds of housework for the landlord free of charge. It can be said that there is no difference between tenant farmers and serfs, only a little personal freedom.

Islam has been introduced into southern Xinjiang since the end of the tenth century, and Tajik nationality accepted Islam earlier. The Tajik ruling group also used religious privileges to extract the blood and sweat of the working people. The Tajik originally believed in Islam and Sunnis. At the beginning of the 18th century, the two feudal aristocratic groups competed for power. With the rise of seyitisali, who called himself Muhammad's "holy descendant" and "yizen", the Tajik people converted to Ismail, a Shiite branch. This sect preaches the worship of religious leaders "according to Zen". The position of "Yichan" is hereditary and has great privileges for believers. Although there are few mosques and religious activities such as worship and fasting in Tajik areas, religion is closely related to the life of Tajik people. Religious professionals such as "Kazi", "Aram" and "Haili sect" blackmail believers by taking charge of religious laws, hosting festival activities, chanting prayers and other activities. "Yizen" goes out on a tour once a year, and believers routinely give "gifts" such as livestock money to show piety. And make a "contribution" of one tenth of the annual income. In addition, a large amount of land occupied by religious leaders and "Yichan" are also cultivated by believers free of charge. The burden of various religions generally reaches more than one-third of the annual income of each herdsman.

Whether in pastoral areas or rural areas, there are numerous kinds of exorbitant taxes and corvees. Especially from 1947 to 1949, Tajik herdsmen in Tashkurgan were forced to pay more than 3000 sheep and millions of kilograms of firewood to the Kuomintang government every year. In order to make horseshoes, the Kuomintang army also plundered all the iron tools in Tajik areas. In many places, there was only one cutting trowel left in the whole village, so that Tajik people had to use wild sheep horns and wooden plows to cultivate land, which artificially set back agricultural production for centuries. In Tashkurgan on the eve of liberation, animal husbandry production dropped sharply, and the total number of livestock decreased by half compared with 1942. About 50% of herdsmen had less than 20 livestock, and 20% had only one or two goats or no livestock at all. The majority of the Tajik people are suffering from hunger and cold, have no means of livelihood, the disease is spreading, and the population has decreased sharply. Before the founding of new China, there were only more than 7000 Tajiks in Tashkurgan. The suffering Tajik people look forward to liberation day and night.

In December 1949, the five-star red flag was planted on the snowy Pamir Plateau, and the Tajik people began a bright and happy new life. Tashkurgan autonomous region was established in 1954 and changed into an Autonomous County in 1955. Tajik nationality townships have also been established in other Tajik settlements. From 1954 to 2004, the Autonomous County held 9 people's congresses, and more than 80% of the Tajik representatives participated in each Congress. Tajik representatives participated in every people's Congress of the autonomous region. At the Fifth People's Congress of the autonomous region, Tajik representatives were also elected as members of the Standing Committee. Tajik deputies have participated in every National People's Congress since the third National People's Congress to discuss state affairs. After the founding of new China, the contingent of Tajik cadres continued to grow. In 1953, there were 44 Tajik cadres in Tashkurgan County, and only 6 above the section level. By the end of 2004, there were 729 Tajik cadres in the county, of which 103 held posts above the section level, accounting for 67% of the total number of cadres above the section level in the county.

faith

Islam has been introduced into southern Xinjiang since the end of the tenth century, and Tajik nationality accepted Islam earlier. The Tajik ruling group also used religious privileges to extract the blood and sweat of the working people. The Tajik originally believed in Islam and Sunnis. At the beginning of the 18th century, the two feudal aristocratic groups competed for power. With the rise of seyitisali, who called himself Muhammad's "holy descendant" and "yizen", the Tajik people converted to Ismail, a Shiite branch. This sect preaches the worship of religious leaders "according to Zen". The position of "Yichan" is hereditary and has great privileges for believers. Although there are few mosques and religious activities such as worship and fasting in Tajik areas, religion is closely related to the life of Tajik people. Religious professionals such as "Kazi", "Aram" and "Haili sect" blackmail believers by taking charge of religious laws, hosting festival activities, chanting prayers and other activities. "Yizen" goes out on a tour once a year, and believers routinely give "gifts" such as livestock money to show piety. And make a "contribution" of one tenth of the annual income. In addition, a large amount of land occupied by religious leaders and "Yichan" are also cultivated by believers free of charge. The burden of various religions generally reaches more than one-third of the annual income of each herdsman.

Whether in pastoral areas or rural areas, there are numerous kinds of exorbitant taxes and corvees. Especially from 1947 to 1949, Tajik herdsmen in Tashkurgan were forced to pay more than 3000 sheep and millions of kilograms of firewood to the Kuomintang government every year. In order to make horseshoes, the Kuomintang army also plundered all the iron tools in Tajik areas. In many places, there was only one cutting trowel left in the whole village, so that Tajik people had to use wild sheep horns and wooden plows to cultivate land, which artificially set back agricultural production for centuries. In Tashkurgan on the eve of liberation, animal husbandry production dropped sharply, and the total number of livestock decreased by half compared with 1942. About 50% of herdsmen had less than 20 livestock, and 20% had only one or two goats or no livestock at all. The majority of the Tajik people are suffering from hunger and cold, have no means of livelihood, the disease is spreading, and the population has decreased sharply. Before the founding of new China, there were only more than 7000 Tajiks in Tashkurgan. The suffering Tajik people look forward to liberation day and night.

In December 1949, the five-star red flag was planted on the snowy Pamir Plateau, and the Tajik people began a bright and happy new life. Tashkurgan autonomous region was established in 1954 and changed into an Autonomous County in 1955. Tajik nationality townships have also been established in other Tajik settlements. From 1954 to 2004, the Autonomous County held 9 people's congresses, and more than 80% of the Tajik representatives participated in each Congress. Tajik representatives participated in every people's Congress of the autonomous region. At the Fifth People's Congress of the autonomous region, Tajik representatives were also elected as members of the Standing Committee. Tajik deputies have participated in every National People's Congress since the third National People's Congress to discuss state affairs. After the founding of new China, the contingent of Tajik cadres continued to grow. In 1953, there were 44 Tajik cadres in Tashkurgan County, and only 6 above the section level. By the end of 2004, there were 729 Tajik cadres in the county, of which 103 held posts above the section level, accounting for 67% of the total number of cadres above the section level in the county.

Clothes & Accessories

Tajik's clothing is mainly cotton padded clothes and sandwich clothes, and there is no obvious change of clothing in the four seasons. Adult men usually wear black velvet round and high-end "twamak" hats, which are embroidered with several fine patterns and a lace. The inside of the hat is sewn with high-quality black lamb skin, the lower edge of the hat is rolled up to expose the fur, and teenagers wear the same white hat. The "twark" hat is very suitable for plateau and mountainous areas. When the weather is warm, you can fold the hat ring, and when the weather is cold, put down the hat ring to protect your ears and cheeks. In summer, Tajik men wear small round shaida hats sewn and embroidered with white cloth. Men usually wear Pullover shirts with black loops (long jacket with two laps) and embroidered belts. In winter, they wear overcoats and leather overcoats without cloth.

Women usually wear dresses and trousers, a vest in the skirt in summer and a cotton loop in winter. Old women usually wear blue and green dresses, while young women and girls wear red and yellow dresses. In order to look beautiful and protect skirts, married women often wear colored aprons behind their waists. "Kuleta" hat is an important feature and symbol for Tajik women to distinguish women of other nationalities. Among Tajik women, almost everyone has one or more of these thick dome hats with ear circumference. The top and surrounding of the hat are made of white cloth. The patterns loved by Tajik women are embroidered on it. The colors are gorgeous and eye-catching. A thick curtain hangs at the back of the hat to cover the back of the head and ears. When going out, the hat is added with a square turban, which is generally white, Brides use red, and little girls use yellow. Both men and women wear felt stockings, wool stockings and long sheep skin soft boots, with yak skin as the sole, which is soft and solid, suitable for climbing mountain roads. Tajik handicrafts are eye-catching. Various flowers and patterns with national characteristics are painted, carved, stabbed and embroidered on houses, skylights, columns, Kang hangings, wall hangings, bedding, pillows, cloth bags containing food and clothing. Most women like decoration. When they dress up, they add a row of small silver chains ("silasila"), wear large earrings and necklaces with beads around their necks, and wear large round silver ornaments called "aleka" on their chest.

diet

The diet of Tajik herdsmen is mainly milk, meat and pasta; Farmers are mainly pasta.

Herdsmen are good at making dairy products, such as butter, yogurt, milk pimples, milk skins, etc.

Most of the food is cooked, and "grasping meat" (stewed mutton), "xianergelenqi" (boiled rice with milk), "xianertailiti" (boiled scones with milk) are good food. Love drinking black tea. After the tea is boiled, milk is often added to make milk tea.

Architecture

In Tajik villages, most of them are square flat roofed houses with wood and stone structures. The walls are mostly made of stones and turf, which are thick and solid. Put branches on the top and spread the soil mixed with wheat straw. The door opens to the East, usually near the corner. A skylight is opened in the center of the top for ventilation and light transmission. The largest house within the courtyard wall is called "sairanyi". There are also animal sheds, kitchens, guest rooms and warehouses. Due to the wind and snow on the plateau, although the interior is relatively spacious, it is low. Earth Kang is built around. Elders, guests and younger generations live side by side. Felt is paved on the earth Kang for sitting and lying. The stove is on the opposite side of the gate, and there is a small storage room behind the stove to store oil, meat, dried fruits and grain.

Herdsmen go up the mountain to graze in summer, live in yurts more, or build earth houses on pastures.

Travel

Horses, yaks, camels, donkeys and other pack animals are important means of transportation for Tajiks. Yak has the reputation of "boat on the plateau", which plays a very important role in the transportation on the plateau. Herdsmen usually ride horses for grazing or long-distance travel, and their harness is basically self-made. Many competitive activities of Tajik people are related to horses, such as picking sheep, horse racing, horse riding shooting and hunting.

family

The traditional family form of Tajik is the patriarchal extended family. The male elder is the head of the family, and the production activities and life of family members are arranged by the parents. Respecting parents is the traditional moral concept and social fashion of Tajik nationality. When parents are alive, their sons will be blamed by public opinion. So far, there are still many families living together for three generations, and some even live together for four generations. Parents inherit in the traditional way, usually the father dies, the mother dies, and the eldest son dies. The extended family especially advocates respecting elders, loving children, filial piety to parents, mutual loyalty between husband and wife, brotherhood, etc. In the family, women can put forward their own opinions on domestic affairs and participate in the discussion of economic affairs and the marriage of their children.

In the Tajik family, the birth of a baby is a great joy. If a boy is born, he should fire three shots or shout three times, hoping that he will be brave and promising when he grows up; After giving birth to a girl, put a broom under her head to wish her good housekeeping when she grows up. When relatives and friends hear the news, they should come to congratulate and sprinkle some flour on the baby to show good luck. Boys are circumcised when they are 6-7 years old; Girls hold a haircut ceremony when they are 1-2 years old.

etiquette

Tajik people have a fine tradition of respecting women. If you go to a house to be a guest, or to attend a wedding, funeral, festival, etc., the host regards the oldest woman among the guests as the most distinguished guest, and asks her to come in first, while others enter in the order of women first and then men, big first and then small. On the Tajik indoor Kang, the upper seat is on the right and the lower seat is on the left. After the guests enter the room and go to the Kang, the female guests sit on the right, the male guests sit on the left, and the oldest female guests sit on the right. If the sheep are slaughtered for the guests, the plates with delicious sheep head and tail should be placed in front of the oldest female guests to show respect.

Tajik people pay attention to unity, friendship and mutual help. In rural areas, the mutual cooperation in production and life is not limited to the extended family or relatives, but the help of all people in need, mainly manifested in neighborhood mutual assistance, rotational grazing, cooperative farming and "job change" without specified conditions in advance.

Tajiks are a polite and hospitable people. Guests, whether close or distant, old or young, or ethnic groups, are warmly entertained by passers-by and strangers.

literature

Tajik folk literature includes legends, stories, poems, etc.

Poetry is the most important form of oral literature. People often feel the scenery and sing impromptu on various occasions. The more famous are "makam" (Daqu), such as "Eagle", "White Eagle", "smart gem", "lissel", "all kinds of". Some of these poems express dissatisfaction with the rulers, and some express longing for future life.

Stories and legends mostly take love as the theme, repose people's emotion and hope for beautiful things, and are full of strong romantic color.

language

Tajik language belongs to the Pamir branch of the Iranian language family of the Indo European language family. It includes two dialects: selekkur language and wahan language.

Selekkur language is the main spoken language for Tajik residents in Tashkent to communicate in their daily life. About 30000 Tajiks use selekkur language and about 10000 use wahan language.

Due to frequent folk exchanges, many Tajiks speak both Uighur and Kirgiz, and generally use Uighur language. Tajiks are the only people in China who speak the Iranian language.

music

The unique instruments of Tajik nationality include "Nayi" (Piccolo made of Eagle wing bone) and balanzi

Kuomu (plucked lyre) and rapufu (plucked lyre), of which Nayi and rapufu are the two favorite instruments of Tajik nationality.

dance

Tajik dance has various forms, including Eagle dance, custom dance, simulation dance, puppet dance and song and dance drama, among which Eagle dance is the most famous.

Eagle is a symbol of hero in Tajik folklore. Eagle dance is mostly a duet. During the dance, the dancers bend their knees and shrug their shoulders to simulate the eagle's flying and circling movements. Their movements are vigorous and strong, and are accompanied by Eagle flute, tambourine and other musical instruments.

festival

The three main festivals of Tajik nationality are guerbang Festival, Rouzi Festival and Shengji Festival. In addition, there are unique Xiaogong Bahar Festival (Spring Festival), pirik Festival (Lantern Festival), zuwur Festival (water diversion Festival), tiehemu zuvati Festival (sowing Festival), etc.

The Xiaogong Bahar festival in March is a festival to welcome the beginning of the year. The festival lasts for three days. At that time, every household will clean the dust and sprinkle beautiful patterns on the wall with flour to show blessing. On the festival day, people led by the "Xiao Gong" (the leader of the festival) to congratulate each other and wish a good harvest in the coming year. Then, we began to visit relatives and friends and pay homage to each other. The women dressed beautifully and generously, waiting in front of the house, sprinkled white flour on the visitor's left shoulder to show good luck. During the festival, every family prepares rich food for visitors; Young people sang and danced, and held horse racing, picking sheep, wrestling and other activities. After the festival, people began to prepare for spring farming.

Pirik Festival is held on the first two days of August in the Islamic calendar every year. Before the festival, every family made "kauri" grass torches (wrap the grass in cotton and coat it with butter); In the evening of the festival, the whole family lit two homemade small butter candles and prayed in front of the candles to pray for blessings from heaven. Everyone went to the roof and inserted a torch tied on a long pole to summon good luck. On the festival night, from the mountain village to the pasture, village torches shine high, there are happy songs and laughter everywhere, and people play all night. The next day, each family went to visit the grave.

Vasti festival in tiehe Muzu, which means "sowing Festival". At that time, each family will go to the field to do symbolic plowing and sowing, and pour water on each other to celebrate.

marriage

The Tajik people practise monogamy. Intermarriage within the nation.

Marriage generally goes through many processes and rituals, such as mate selection, marriage proposal, engagement, marriage and so on. The proposed marriage is called "kudagli". Generally, the man invites the elders in the neighborhood or relatives and friends to bring gifts (clothes, jewelry and a sheep) to the woman's house to propose marriage. If the woman agrees to propose, she will kiss each other's hand. Subsequently, the two sides agreed on the date of marriage. The older woman from the man met the future bride alone and put a ring and a red scarf around her, indicating that the girl had an object. The wedding ceremony is very grand. Generally, it is in the autumn of August and September when the grass is high and the cattle and sheep are fat. Both men and women should have a wide banquet for guests. After marriage, the bride wears a string of white buttons on her braid to distinguish her from the girl.

Most Tajik couples can grow old together.

funeral

Tajik funerals are "clean" according to Islamic regulations, then wrapped in white cloth and covered with the clothes of the dead, but their heads and feet should be exposed to show that they are all safe. On the night of wake and the day of funeral, relatives, friends and villagers have to come to offer condolences and escort, but women can't get close to the cemetery.

The inferiority of men and women in funerals is also reflected in the depth of the tomb. The man's tomb is about two meters deep, while the woman is only in front of her chest. According to the traditional custom, the bodies of Tajiks who died in a foreign land must be transported back for burial.