Tajiks of Xinjiang

Tajiks (Sariquli Tajik: , Tujik; ), are an ethnic group that lives in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China. They are one of the 56 nationalities officially recognized by the government of China.

History

During the Tang dynasty, the members of the ethnic group were referred to as "Cina-deva-gotra" (from Sanskrit; Chinese transcription: , , or ). The name literally means "descendant of Han and the sun-god" ( or ).

The name originates from a story about the Persian (波利剌斯) emperor marrying a Chinese wife.

During the Qing dynasty, the Tajiks were administered by a system of Begs like the rest of Xinjiang.

The Tajiks of Xinjiang practiced slavery, selling some of their own as a punishment. Submissive slaves were given wives and settled with the Tajiks. They were considered property and could be sold anytime. Their slaves came from numerous sources, enslaving Sunni captives such as Kirghiz in retaliation for Kirghiz slave raids, or from Kunjud, Gilgit, Chitral. The Tajiks also sold some slaves to Bukhara. The Sunnis called them Rafidites and did not consider them Muslim.

The Tajiks were among the supporters in the army of Jahangir Khoja when he attacked the Qing at Kashgar in 1826. During the attack...
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