Culture · Peoples · Indo-European
Tajik
塔吉克族. High-altitude herders of the Pamir Plateau near the Karakoram and Hindu Kush, the Tajik of China follow Ismaili Shia Islam and practise eagle hunting and a distinctive embroidery tradition at elevations above 3,000 metres.
About this people
The Tajik people of China live in Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County in southwestern Xinjiang, occupying the roof of the world where the Pamirs, Karakoram, Kunlun, and Hindu Kush mountain ranges converge at elevations of 3,000 to over 5,000 metres. They are not closely related linguistically to the Tajiks of Tajikistan: the Chinese Tajiks speak Sarikoli (and in some villages Wakhi), both Pamir languages of the Iranian branch of Indo-European, whereas Tajikistan Tajiks speak a Persian dialect.
The Pamir Plateau environment shapes every aspect of Tajik life. Yaks, sheep, and cattle are herded on high alpine pastures during summer and moved to lower valleys in winter. Stone and mud-brick houses are built in a style suited to the high winds and cold, with a central skylight opening and a raised platform hearth. The traditional roba (a house opening ceremony) and communal grain threshing are important social events.
The Tajik practice Ismaili Shia Islam, following the guidance of the Aga Khan. The absence of traditional mosques (Ismailis traditionally pray in the jamatkhana community house rather than a mosque) and the prohibition on representational images in some Ismaili communities gives Tajik religious life a different character from the Sunni Muslim groups of the Xinjiang lowlands. Eagle hunting (using trained Golden Eagles to hunt foxes and hares) is practised by specialist hunters. Tajik embroidery on silk or velvet uses floral and vine patterns in bright colours. The spring Nowruz (New Year) and the Shab-e-Barat festival are major celebrations.
Key festivals
- Nowruz (Persian New Year, spring equinox)
- Shab-e-Barat (mid-Sha'ban)
- Lantern Festival (local)
Crafts and cuisine
Embroidery on silk and velvet, leather riding goods, eagle-hunting harness; nan flatbread, mutton dishes, dairy products (qurut dried cheese), yak meat.
Where to encounter this culture
Tashkurgan town, Xinjiang — Tajik fortress ruins and Stone City; Karakul Lake — Tajik herders and high-altitude Pamir scenery; Khunjerab Pass (China-Pakistan border area).