Waxiang people

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Waxiang people
Total population
about 400,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
Hunan, China:
Languages
Waxiang Chinese, Southwestern Mandarin, Xiang Chinese
Religion
Buddhism, traditional religions
Related ethnic groups
Miao people, Yao people, Han Chinese

The Waxiang people are an unrecognized ethnic group living along the Yuanjiang River in western Hunan, China. They call themselves Huaxiang people (IPA::/wa33 ɕioŋ55/) and they speak Waxiang Chinese. Compared to the Han, Miao and Tujia people of the region, they are very different in terms of clothing, food, living, farming and other cultural norms.

Population and distribution[]

The Waxiang people are an unrecognized ethnic group in China, with a population of about 400,000.[1] Currently, the views of scholars and the Chinese government are usually that Waxiang Chinese, the main language used by Waxiang people, is in the Mandarin subdivision of the Chinese language.[2] The Waxiang people are usually situated in the Hunan province of China.

Ethnic group designation[]

Many of the Waxiang people are designated as Miao, while some are designated as Tujia or Han. However, no matter the designated ethnic group, most of them have recognition to the Waxiang ethnic group, and hope to edit the ethnic group category, in addition to establishing a Waxiang autonomous region.[citation needed]

According to a study on their physical characteristics, the Waxiang were found to be closest related to the Derung and Lahu people.[3]

Notable people[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Xing-Lu, L. I. U. "An Exploration of Hunting Custom of the Waxiang People in Xiangxi." Journal of Jishou University (Social Sciences Edition) 30.5 (2009): 49.
  2. ^ Reference 《中國語言地圖集》A1“中國語言圖”，A2“中國漢語方言圖”，B8“東南漢語方言圖”，B11“江西省和湖南省的漢語方言” (in Chinese)
  3. ^ Jian-hui, P. I., et al. "A study of the physical characteristics of the Waxiang people of Hunan." Acta Anthropologica Sinica 30.02 (2011): 218.
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