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 The
Bonan is one of China's smallest ethnic minorities, with only
11,700 people. Its language belongs to the Mongolian branch of
the Altaic language family and is close to that of the Tu and
Dongxiang ethnic minorities. Due to long years of contacts and
exchanges with the neighboring Han and Hui people, the Bonan people
have borrowed quite a number of words from the Han language. The
Han language is accepted as the common written language among
the Bonans.
Judging from their legends, language features
and customs, many of which were identical with those of the Mongolians,
the Bonan minority seems to have taken shape after many years
of interchanges during the Yuan and Ming (1271-1644) periods between
Islamic Mongolians who settled down as garrison troops in Qinghai's
Tongren County, and the neighboring Hui, Han, Tibetan and Tu people.
The Bonans used to live in three major villages in the Baoan region,
situated along the banks of the Longwu River within the boundaries
of Tongren County.
During the early years of the reign of Qing
Emperor Tongzhi (1862-1874),they fled from the oppression of the feudal serf owners of the
local Lamaist Longwu Monastery. After staying for a few years
in Xunhua, they moved on into Gansu Province and finally settled
down at the foot of Jishi Mountain in Dahejia and Liuji, Linxia
County. Incidentally, they again formed themselves into three
villages - Dadun, Ganmei and Gaoli - which they referred to as
the "tripartite village of Baoan" in remembrance of
their roots.
Dahejia in western Linxia County is the place
where the Bonans mainly concentrated. The area is thickly wooded
and enjoys a moderate temperature supported by plenty of water
and lush grass, which make it suitable for farming and stockbreeding.
However, until the mid-20th century, under the heavy burden of
feudal oppression and exploitation, the place had been bleak and
desolate. In Dahejia, Bonan and Hui bureaucrats, landlords and
religious leaders owned large tracts of farmland, forests and
orchards.
They also monopolized the river transport and
owned 20 of the 27 water mills. The majority of the people were
reduced to tenants toiling under the severe exploitation of land
rents and usury. Rent in kind was a form of exploitation widely
practiced in the area. In most cases, rentals were as high as
50 per cent. Exploitation by the landlords also took on other
forms such as hiring farm labourers on a long-term basis and trading
in slave girls.
The Bonan people, mainly Muslims, are divided
into two different sects - the Old and the New.
A sideline occupation for which Bonans are particularly
noted is the making of knives. A cottage industry, the Bonan knives
are famous all over China for their beauty and sturdiness.
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