The Mysterious Tribe of Tuwa

China Times ^ | January 27, 2004 | by Chen Lin

[vannrox]

The Mysterious Tribe of Tuwa-It's said that they originated from the old or wounded soldiers abandoned by Genghis Khan

The Mysterious Tribe of Tuwa

On the banks of the Kanas Lake, there live 2,000 Tuwas, a Mongolian tribe that have existed in this remote area of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for generations. They mainly inhabit the areas of Kanas, Hemu and Baihaba. Their primitive nomadic lifestyle seems to have been isolated from the modern civilization of the 21st century.

They believe in Shamanism and Lamaism and keep the primitive worship of fire and other natural forces as their ancestors did. They offer sacrifices to mountains, waters, Heaven, fire and Aobao (a kind of stone piles).

Tuwa people live a nomad life, residing in yurts or log houses roofed with straws. Due to the geographic conditions and natural environment, the Tuwas' habits and customs are similar to that of the Kazaks and Mongolians. They eat meat and dairy food, such as beef, mutton, milk, yogurt and milk-wine, in addition to potatoes and other vegetables.

They celebrate not only the Mongolian Aobao Festival but also the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival of Han Chinese. Every spring, they drive their herds of cows and sheep to leave their homes and start the grazing trip till July or August, when they would begin to make hays for feeding their livestock in the winter.

It's said that the Tuwas were originated from the old or wounded soldiers abandoned by Genghis Khan when he led his people to expedite westward. Some people hold that they're an independent ethnic group, while others believe they are a branch tribe of the Mongolian ethnic group. Up to now, a Tuwa is registered as a Mongolian when his or her ethnic identity is concerned.

Tuwas have no written language. Their history has been passed down orally from generation to generation. Since there is no written archeological reference, the folk stories have inevitably added mysterious color to the tribe.

Due to the isolation of their residential areas, the Tuwas always marry their close relatives, which has made the quality of the people drop increasingly. According to the governmental prediction, the tribe will possibly disappear within a couple of generations.

[vannrox]

interesting and cool.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

Equally as mysterious as that ancient American Indian tribe whose braves were always getting lost: "Werethefugawee"

Semper Fi,

[Verginius Rufus]

I wonder if these people are related to the people of Tannu Tuva, which also borders Mongolia.

Richard Feynman (Nobel Prize in Physics, 1965) wanted to visit Tannu Tuva ("Tuva or Bust!") but by the time the Soviets finally granted permission in 1988, he had just died...the people who had planned to go with him went ahead with the trip. There was a TV program on PBS about it some years ago. I believe Tannu Tuva had been independent for a short time and had issued its own postage stamps, which is what piqued Feynman's interest in the place.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Re: ...marry their close relatives, which has made the quality of the people drop increasingly. According to the governmental prediction, the tribe will possibly disappear within a couple of generations.

That's what I've said about the DemocRATs for years...

[SunkenCiv]

An oldie that got missed. Thanks VannRox.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[Lady Jag]

Feynman brought back recordings of fascinating vocalizations by the Tuva. Do you recall this and what they were for?

[SunkenCiv]

Friends of Tuva - Richard Feynman
http://www.fotuva.org/feynman/

[Verginius Rufus]

Feynman died without ever making the trip to Tannu Tuva, so it must have been his friends who made the recordings.

According to the Feynman link, today the temperatures in Kyzyl (the capital) will range from a high of minus one Celsius to a low of minus 3 Celsius. Another fine spring day in the country of the Tuvans.

[Lady Jag]

I had a recording from Feynman of the Tuva's vocalizations. It was a sort of singing, but I'm not sure if it can be so described. Maybe some friends did bring it back; I don't know.

[-=Wing_0_Walker=-]

"They eat meat and dairy food, such as beef, mutton, milk, yogurt and milk-wine, in addition to potatoes and other vegetables." POTATOE(s)! So they aren't isolated as indicated or they were miscaracterized, they might eat yams. As I understand it, potatoes are a new word crop. Perhaps these people emigrated from America. Perhaps they spell like Dan Quayle and the 'potatoe' kid. Perhaps I am wrong and the plural is potatos?

[Cowboy Bob]

Due to the isolation of their residential areas, the Tuwas always marry their close relatives, which has made the quality of the people drop increasingly.

A bit judgemental! I bet their mothers still love them, though. ;^)

[SunkenCiv]

In the case of this tribe, uh, perhaps too much.