The Kazak Nationality

The Kazak people, with a population of 1.1 million, live mainly in the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang. Except for a few settled farmers, most Kazaks live by animal husbandry traveling widely in Xinjiang's northwest in search of pasture as the seasons change.

The Kazaks are Moslems who have their own spoken and written language. They are widely known as warmhearted and hospitable people. Many of the traditional sports of the Kazaks are done on horseback, including snatching a sheep carcass, a game where girls chase the boys, horsemanship trials, wrestling and archery.

Tianshan Mountain lies to the south of the Junggar Basin in Xinjiang Province, and Altay Mountain lies to the North . At the foot of the mountains there are wide-spreading grasslands and arable land irrigated by the Yili and the other three rivers in the area. Living in this beautiful land are the brave and hard-working Kazak people with a population of 1,111,000.

The KazaK people live all year around in Zhanfang dwellings which are similar to the Mongolian yurts. The arched roof is supported by vaulted poles on four sides, and the dwelling is covered with woolen blankets. Between the poles and the cover, straw mats are inserted. Handmade blankets are hung on the walls inside, and their beds are covered with carpets. The Zhanfang, like the Mongolian yurt, can be easily disassembled and transported.

The Kazak people like to eat Shoubarou, which is boiled mutton, eaten with their fingers. When they boil the mutton, the Kazaks do not put any sauces or salt, nor do they boil it for a long time. Fried dumpling is a speciality to serve guests. The dumplings are fried after they have been stuffed with minced meat and some sauces. The Kazaks are wellª²known for their dairy products and food made of flour. Milk wine is an essential offering to a guest.

A popular recreational activity for young Kazak men and women is known as " the girls chase the boys" game, which is often held on social occasions. On the prairie, couples ride their horses to a certain place. The boys tease the girls whom they are fond of, but the girls mustn't show their anger. However, as soon as they reach the destination and start the return ride, the girls raise their whips and chase the boys to get their revenge for the teasing.
The Kazaks have rich stores of folk literature in the form of mythological stories, poetry, folk songs and proverbs. These treasures have been collected and handed down by Akens, the Kazak folk artists who are widely loved and respected by the Kazak people.

Every autumn, in celebration of the harvest, Akens are invited to a singing competition. They are the best chosen from their different tribes, and people come from far away to join in. Whilst the competition is in progress, other activities, such as poem reciting and storyª²telling take place. The winner is a household name on the prairie.

Dongbula, a traditional plucked musical instrument of the Kazaks, is played by the singer himself. Apart from legendary narrative poems and stories, the songs are improvised. The instrument can play a variety of beautiful tunes which describe the life of this nomadic people.

The Kazaks are mainly involved in animal husbandry, so hunting is an essential part of their life. The Kazak dances, graceful with quick movements, are based on experience and the skills used fighting animals. Dances such as The Bear Dance and Fighting Against the Bear give a vivid account of how a hunter defeats a great bear.

The wedding ceremony of the Kazaks is in 3 parts: the farewell, the welcoming and the unveiling. At each stage, an imam reads out a part of the Koran. During the ceremony, the newlyweds sing in callª²andª²response style while their friends and relatives congratulate them and wish them everlasting happiness.

Nowadays, historical changes have taken place in the prairie. The Kazak people have moved into new villages and their living standard has improved enormously. They are the link between Europe and Asia, and thus invite the continents to join their contribution to world peace and progress.