The Tajik Nationality

There are over 33,000 Tajiks, the majority of whom live in the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County in Xingjiang. While still speaking their native tongue, they now use the Uygur script to write with. The Tajiks are followers of Islam. Animal-breading is their main occupation, and arable farming a supplement. Their embroidery, waving and applique are famous. The heroic eagle has a great symbolic meaning for the nationality. Tajik herdsmen play a flute made of the eagle's wing-bone that produces a particularly thrilling sound.

The Tajiks live in the east of the Pamirs Plateau, known in China as the "Roof of the World." The region is seen as holy land because it is thought of as one of the nearest places to Heaven in the world. For the same reason, its inhabitants are called "people living in the clouds."

The Tajiks live a half-nomadic, half-settled life. For most of them the Zhanfang dwellings, similar in shape to the Mongolian yurts, provide a moveable home. The Zhanfang is a simple, handy structure which can be easily dissembled and transported from pasture to pasture. Winter shelters are usually set up on the sunny slopes of a well-watered, fertile mountain valley. When summer comes, the people move to the mountain areas higher up. Their homes are elaborately decorated with splendid, colorful tapestries, carpets and rugs in the distinctive Tajik style.

Costumes of the Tajiks living on the Pamirs Plateau follow the Central Asian style. Men's clothes are simple. They wear slanting-collared gowns with no buttons, similar to those the Uygurs wear, mostly in black, blue and white. Their trousers are made of leather especially good in winter. To go with these are an embroidered waistband and a round highª²crowned hat with a turn-up brim. The hat has a velveteen surface and a black sheepskin lining. Tajik men often hang a knife from the waist, which they consider handsome and manly especially when they ride on horse-back.

Tijik women love red or floral-patterned blouses and skirts edged with lace that are worn beneath a black waistcoat. Under the skirts, they wear trousers fastened with a colorful belt embroidered with silk threads of many colors. Very unusual is the brim which can be turned up or down with flaps on either side depending on the weather which changes so rapidly on the plateau. Tajik women cover their hats with long gauze scarves, and strings of dazzling pearls and silver ornaments hang down behind. They also enjoy wearing earrings, and necklaces made of various roundª²shaped precious stones.

Dairy products are a major part of the diet of the Tajiks living in the high pastures, along with meat and wheat products. Those involved in arable farming live mainly on wheat products, with milk and meat as a supplement. Foods specific to the nationality include a mixture of rice and milk cooked as porridge, a cereal made of milk and flour, roasted pancakes soaked in butter, and Zhuafan (steamed rice eaten with the fingers). The Tajiks amphasize very much etiquette at the dining table. When meals are ready, guests and elders of the family take the seats specially arranged for them before-hand. Mutton is cooked for important guests who come a long way. At the banquet, the host presents what is thought to be the best part of the meat-the sheep's head-to the most distinguished guest, who accepts the offer by cutting a piece off, eating it and then returning the head to the host.

At festival time, Tajik herdsmen carry on the tradition of "Lamb-snatching" competition that is held between two teams. It puts all the participant's skills to the test-their horsemanship, physical strength and even their intelligence. Whoever succeeds in snatching up the lamb in hand and getting it to the designated spot with the help of his teammates, wins a goal for his team.

The dead lamb used in the competition is one or two years old. It is provided by the orgnizer of the sport, who has prepared the body by cutting off its head and hoofs, and tying up its esophagus. The skin of a lamb can be used as an alternative.

As the contest starts, dozens of men on horseª²back rush at lightening speed for the body and dozens of horses mix up in a mass as many hands reach and scramble for the lamb. The rider who gets it fights his way through the mass and finally, with the assistance of his teammates, gallops out of the reach of his rivals, and wins for his team.

The Tajiks lamb-seizing sport is different from that of the Kazak nationality's in two respects. On the plateau 5,000 meters above sea level, yaks often take the place of horses which cannot run so fast up here; secondly, there must be no injury to either the men or the animals involved in the competition. The Tajiks view the sheepª²snatching sport as a ceremony to bring good luck and happiness.

The eagle is the symbol of the Tajik nationality. One of their folk instruments is a flute, made of the bird's wingª²bone. It is 20cm long, 1.5cm in diameter and has six finger holes. When played it produces a ethereal, ringing sound. The flute, joined by handª²drums, makes an accompaniment for the Tajik's folk dance called the Eagle Dance. It is performed by pairs of men and women imitating the flight of eagles, full of vigor and agility. The dancing reaches a climax when the excited audience matches the dancers' fervour with whistles, applause and shouting. The two parties simply become one, totally given to the enjoyment of the dancing.

The Pamirs Plateau, once a backward outlying district, has ushered in a new era of economic development since China adopted its "open-door" policy. A new railroad has been built that runs across the Tuckeramagan Dersert and leads directly to Pakistan. Foreign trade is active here and the tourist industry is flourishing as a great many tour the "Silk Road" that runs through the plateau. They come to enjoy the hospitality and learn about the culture of the generous, warm-hearted Tajiks.