Manchu is a minority of China. The total population of Manchu is about 10.7 million according to the 2010 nationwide census. The Manchus mainly live in the northeast part of China, such as Heilongjiang Province, Liaoning Province, Jilin Province, Beijing, and the Inner Mongolia. The Manchu people speak their native language which belongs to Altaic Language Family. In the 16th century, they created a script system for their language. Most Manchus also use the Mandarin.
The History of Manchu
The ancient Manchus were nomads who grazed their animals in the northeastern China. Around 2,000 years ago, they started to reside and farm in the vast China Northeast Plain. During the Tang Dynasty(618-907), the Manchus established their Zhenguo State(698-926). In the year of 713, it became one of the vassals controlled by the Tang Empire and was renamed as the Bohai State. After the Tang Empire collapsed, the Bohai State was conquered by the Khitan’s Liao Kingdom(907-1125). The Manchus were forced to change their group name to Jurchen.
Wanggiya was one of the Jurchen tribes. The chieftain of the tribe was Aguda. In the year of 1114, Aguda called on all the Jurchen people to rise up against the Khitan’s army. They wiped out all the Khitan’s forces and founded the Jurchen’s Jin Kingdom(1115-1234). Kaifeng, the capital of the Northern Song(960-1127), was taken over by the Jurchen’s troops in 1127. In the following decades, the Jurchen occupied most parts of the northern China. The Jin Kingdom was destroyed by the Mongols led by Temujin in 1234.
By the end of the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644), a turbulent peasant rebellion broke out. It greatly weakened the Ming Empire. Nurhachi, the warlord of Manchu region took this opportunity to restore the Jurchen’s Kingdom. Hong Taiji, the successor, renamed the kingdom as the Qing in 1636. The Qing’s army took over Beijing and gradually reunified the whole China. The Qing Empire was overthrown in 1911. It was the last dynasty in Chinese history.
Manchu’s Folk Costume
Cheongsam is called Qipao by Chinese people. It is a straight, tightly fitting silk dress originally worn by Manchu’s women. The dress has a high neck, short sleeves and an opening at the bottom on each side. Gradually, it was also accepted by the Han people. Nowadays, It has become one of the most popular traditional costume among Chinese women.
Manchu’s Food
The Manchu people are partial to snacks and desserts. They also like Hot-Pot, Jiaozi Dumplings, and pickles. The Man-Han Banquet is quite famous in the world. It has a 200-year history. The meal was only offered to the royal family during the Qing Dynasty. The cooks had to prepare 108 various dishes for the meal. Manchu people love dogs. It is not allowed to kill dogs in Manchu Region.
Manchu’s Culture and Tradition
Siheyuan House is the favorite traditional dwelling of Manchu people. Siheyuan means quadrangle in English. There are usually three or four buildings in the courtyard. Beds in the rooms are made of bricks. A fireplace is set under the bed. It is called Kang by the natives. The bed is usually placed by walls, either the south or the north or the west. The west one is not allowed for guests to sit on or sleep on, because the hosts usually place an altar for worshiping their ancestors.
Most Manchu people are followers of Shamanism. They worship their ancestors. Mahayana Buddhism is also popular among the Manchu people. The festivals that the Manchu people celebrate are the Spring Festival, the Tomb-Sweeping Festival, the Dragon-Boat Festival, the Moon-Cake Festival and the Banjin Festival. The Banjin Festival is associated with Hong Taiji. On the 13th day of the 10th month, 1635, Hong Taiji renamed his kingdom as the Qing and gave his group a new name, Manchu.
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Author: Tina Luo
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