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Plateau Tajiks

Total population
41,028 (China);[1] 1,000~2,000 (Tajikistan, Sarikoli)[2]
Regions with significant populations
Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County
Languages
Sarikoli, Wakhi
Religion
mainly Ismailism
Related ethnic groups
Pamiri, Wakhi

Pamiri people in China^{[citation needed]}, also referred to as Plateau Tajiks,^[3] or Tajiks of China (Chinese: 塔吉克族; pinyin: Tǎjíkè Zú), are one of the 56 nationalities officially recognized by the People's Republic of China.

The term collectively refers to several East Iranian Pamiri ethnic groups^{[citation needed]}, predominantly Sarikoli, Shugni^{[citation needed]} and Wakhi speakers. They use Uyghur, Kyrgyz or Chinese to communicate with others.

Contents 1 Distribution 2 Language 3 History 4 See also 5 External links 6 References

[edit] Distribution

The group have a population of 41,028 (2000). They are located in China's western Xinjiang region with 60% living in Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County. Despite the name "Tajik" that is used to refer to them, the Pamiris of China or Tajikistan do not speak the West Iranian Tajik language which is the official language of Tajikistan,^[4] differing from Persian-speaking Tajiks in terms of language, religion and culture.^[5][6] Early 20th century travellers to the region referred to them as Sarikoli,^[7][8] "Mountain Tajiks,"^[9] or Ghalchah.

[edit] Language

In China, the languages of the ethnic group have no official written form.^{[citation needed]} The great majority speak the Sarikoli language and use Uyghur, Kyrgyz or Chinese to communicate with people of other nationalities in the area.^{[citation needed]} A small proportion speak Wakhi.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] History

Wikisource has original text related to this article: 支那提婆瞿怛羅

Wikisource has original text related to this article: 西域记十二—朅盤陁國/朅盤陀國

During the Tang dynasty, the members of the ethnic group were referred to as "Cina-deva-gotra" (from Sanskrit; Chinese transcription: 至那提婆瞿呾羅, 支那提婆瞿怛羅, or 脂那提婆瞿怛羅). The name literally means "descendant of Han and the sun-god" (漢日天种 or 日漢天种).^[10]

The name originates from a story about the Persian (波利剌斯) emperor marrying a Chinese wife.^[11][12][13]

[edit] See also

• Iranian peoples
• Iranian languages
• Äynu people - although officially classified as Uyghurs, the Äynu language is heavily influenced by the Iranian languages

[edit] External links

• The Tajik ethnic minority (China) (government website, in English)

[edit] References

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