Waxiang people (original) (raw)

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Ethnic group in China

Ethnic group

Waxiang people

Total population
about 400,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
Hunan, China: Yuanling County Guzhang County Luxi County Yongshun County Chenxi County Xupu County Shimen County Chengbu Miao Autonomous County Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County
Languages
Waxiang Chinese, Southwestern Mandarin, Xiang Chinese
Religion
Buddhism, traditional religions
Related ethnic groups
Miao people, Yao people, Han Chinese

The Waxiang people (Chinese: 瓦乡人; pinyin: Wǎxiāngren) are an unrecognized ethnic group living along the Yuan River in Yuanling County of western Hunan, China. They call themselves Huaxiang people (IPA::/wa33 ɕioŋ55/)[_citation needed_] and they speak Waxiang Chinese. Compared to the Han, Miao and Tujia people of the region, they are different in terms of living style, farming and other cultural norms.[_how?_]

Population and distribution

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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 primarily located in northwestern Hunan province.

Ethnic group designation

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Many of the Waxiang people are designated as Miao, while some are designated as Tujia or Han.

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

  1. ^ a b Liu, Xing-lu 刘兴禄 (2009). "Xiāngxī Wǎxiāng rénmín jiān shòuliè xísú chūtàn" 湘西瓦乡人民间狩猎习俗初探 [An Exploration of Hunting Custom of the Waxiang People in Xiangxi]. Jíshǒu Dàxué xuébào (shèhuì kēxué bǎn) / Journal of Jishou University (Social Sciences Edition) (in Chinese). 30 (5): 49–53.
  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. ^ Pi, Jian-hui 皮建辉; Li, Jie 黎杰; Li, Lin 李林; Zhou, Jian-bo 周建波; Wu, Yi-zhong 吴亿中 (2011). "Húnán Wǎxiāngrén tǐzhí tèzhēng yánjiū" 湖南瓦乡人体质特征研究 [A Study of the Physical Characteristics of the Waxiang People of Hunan]. Rénlèixué xuébào / Acta Anthropologica Sinica (in Chinese). 30 (2): 218–226.