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Qiang people 羌族
Revival of white-stoned Qiang village after the Wenchuan Earthquake 汶川大地震.
The Qiang is one of the oldest ethnic minorities in China, which can be traced back to the era of Emperors Yan and Huang. The Qiang is reputed as "the ethnic minority on the clouds" since the Qiang people live under the blue sky and white clouds.
At the legendary time when the Qiang people moved into Sichuan from the Tibetan Plateau, they placed white stones on every hilltop and crossroads, for they did not want to forget the route leading back to their original homeland. These piles of white stones also acts as a token of their affection for their homeland and the people they left behind at the same time.
Upon arriving at the territory of the local Geji people, the Qiang fought a losing battle. Jirpol, witnessing the condition that they were in, instructed the Qiang to find a strong white stone and attach it to rattan sticks and fight with this weapon, tying some sheep wool to the neck of the stick as well. Victory was on their side, and the Qiangs began to look upon the white stones as gods to be worshipped.
Revival of white-stoned Qiang village after the Wenchuan Earthquake 汶川大地震.
The Qiang is one of the oldest ethnic minorities in China, which can be traced back to the era of Emperors Yan and Huang. The Qiang is reputed as "the ethnic minority on the clouds" since the Qiang people live under the blue sky and white clouds.
At the legendary time when the Qiang people moved into Sichuan from the Tibetan Plateau, they placed white stones on every hilltop and crossroads, for they did not want to forget the route leading back to their original homeland. These piles of white stones also acts as a token of their affection for their homeland and the people they left behind at the same time.
Upon arriving at the territory of the local Geji people, the Qiang fought a losing battle. Jirpol, witnessing the condition that they were in, instructed the Qiang to find a strong white stone and attach it to rattan sticks and fight with this weapon, tying some sheep wool to the neck of the stick as well. Victory was on their side, and the Qiangs began to look upon the white stones as gods to be worshipped.
Throughout history the Tu people have been label with various names, such as: Monguor 蒙古尔, White Mongol/Chagan Mongol 察罕蒙古尔, Donghu 东胡 and Xianbei 鲜卑. Tu people lived mostly in Qinghai and Gansu provinces. The differences in the Tu population is seen in the languages they speak-- Monguor which belongs to the Mongolic languages, Chinese, and Tibetan. Nearly all Tu speak Chinese. Most are farmers; some have a few livestock. Their culture and social organizations have been influenced by Confucianism. The religions of the Tu reflect elements of Tibetan) Buddhism, Taoism, Shamanism, and local beliefs not easily categorized. A few Tu in Huzhu and Minhe are Christian.
