Ewenki (EW)

The Ewenki people who lived in different places in history were once called Soren, Tunguska and Yakutia respectively. 1957, according to the national wishes, the unified national name was Ewenki. "Ewenki" is a national self-declaration, which means "people who live in the mountains". Mainly distributed in Ewenki Autonomous Banner, Chenbahu Banner, Bute Banner, Arong Banner, Ergongzuoqi, Molidawa Daur Autonomous Banner, Oroqen Autonomous Banner and Nehe County, Heilongjiang Province. The population is small and widely distributed, and most of them live together with Mongolian, Daur, Han and Oroqen nationalities. Ewenki Autonomous Banner is its main residential area, belonging to the gentle slope grassland on the west side of Daxinganling. According to the statistics of the fifth national census in 2000, the Ewenki population is 30,505. Ewenki language is used, belonging to the Tungusic branch of Manchu-Tungusic language family of Altai language family, which is divided into Hailar language, Chenbahu language and Aoluguya language. No mandarin. Mongolian and Mongolian are commonly used in schools in pastoral areas, and Chinese and Chinese are commonly used in agricultural areas and mountainous areas.

According to archaeological and human studies, as early as 2000 BC, when bronze and stone tools were used together, the ancestors of Ewenki people lived in the outer Baikal and the coastal areas of Lake Baikal. Skulls with Ewenki physical characteristics were found in caves in Heilongjiang, Qiyoujiang and Shileka rivers, along with the unique culture and decoration of Lake Baikal. Consistent with Ewenki legends. Legend has it that the ancestors of Ewenki people lived in the Lena River and the "Rama" Lake (Lake Baikal). According to another legend, their hometown is in Shileka River in the upper reaches of Heilongjiang. In short, Ewenki people live in the mountains east of Lake Baikal and the Shileka River in the upper reaches of Heilongjiang, using bows and arrows and spears to hunt and fish. Food is eaten with fire, or stones are heated and put into birch barrels filled with water for cook the meat to eat. Make a fire, hit Mars with two stones, and start a fire with birch fiber. A "pinch" covered with birch bark At that time, it was in the matriarchal clan society stage, and their ethnic origin can be traced back to some tribes whose geography and customs were related to Ewenki in the Northern Dynasties and Sui and Tang Dynasties, especially the tribes of "Beishiwei", "Doctor Wei", "Shenweiju" and "Ju" in the tundra forest area in the northeast of Lake Baikal in the Tang Dynasty. Later, it developed eastward, and one of them came to jaxa (now Albazin, Russia) in the middle reaches of Heilongjiang. The "Northern Shan Ye Savage" who rode deer in and out described in the literature of Ming Dynasty is generally regarded as the direct ancestor of Ewenki and Oroqen. "Sorumbu" in the literature of Qing Dynasty generally refers to Daur, Oroqen and Ewenki, but especially Ewenki. In addition, "Kamm Ni Kan", also known as "Soren Bebu", also refers to a branch of Ewenki nationality.

Before the Russian colonists invaded the Heilongjiang River Basin, the Ewenki residents in the above ministries had all surrendered to the Khan regime of Nurhachi and Huang Taiji. Before Huang taiji changed his country name to Qing dynasty in 1636, he had established a jurisdiction system in Ewenki area, and it became more and more strict in the future. The Qing court organized Ewenki people into "Left" by clan, selected officials and paid tribute to mink every year. /kloc-After the middle of the 0/7th century, due to the aggression of Russia, Ewenki people migrated to Nenjiang tributaries in Daxing 'anling (Ganhe River, Arun River, Yarlung Zangbo River, Namur River, etc.). ) to live. This is one of the "Busa Killing Department", which is divided into five "Aba" (hunting grounds). In the ninth year of Yongzheng (173 1), the Ewenki able-bodied men in five hunting grounds were pressed down to specify the flag color and woven into eight flags. The following year, the Qing Dynasty transferred 1600 Ewenki soldiers from Busa area, moved their families to Hulunbeier grassland and stationed at the border. Its descendants are Ewenki people who now live in Ewenki Autonomous County. The Qing court also sent officers and men of the Eight Banners of Ewenki nationality to guard Aihui, Mo Ergen, Qiqihar, Yili, Tacheng, Kebuduo, Wuliyatai, Urumqi and other places. They have made contributions to safeguarding the reunification of the motherland and defending the frontier. 1732, the Qing army transferred 1600 Ewenki soldiers from Buzha area and moved to Hulunbeier grassland with their families. Their descendants are the Ewenki in today's Ewenki Autonomous Banner.

socioeconomics

Because the Ewenki people live in scattered places, the natural conditions are different in different places, and the social and economic development is very uneven. Ewenki people living in Ewenki Autonomous Banner and Chenbaerhu Banner account for more than half of their population, mainly engaged in animal husbandry production, living in Mongolian yurts and living a nomadic life. As early as the end of 17, Ewenki people were in the transitional stage from the end of primitive society to the ladder society. 1Before the liberation in August, 945, the Ewenki region was always a small nomadic people with small families as the main body, forming the "Nemore". "Nemore" was originally a nomadic feudal society composed of three, five or even more than ten blood-related families, and its social structure was a production mutual aid unit composed of several small families, all of which belonged to the same clan and had no exploitative relationship. Later, it gradually developed into a social production organization based on feudal dependency, generally consisting of a feudal herder and several poor herders. There is a great difference in the number of livestock owned by herders and herders. The pasture was formally owned by Nemore, but in fact it had been exploited by feudalism. Ewenki residents engaged in agriculture and semi-farming and semi-hunting have already entered the feudal society. At this time, only a few people living in El Gongzuoqi were still in the patriarchal commune stage at the end of primitive society, living in virgin forests, wandering around and living in simple tents-"Cuozi". Ewenki people, often called reindeer users, live a primitive social life of hunting and sharing equally because they raise reindeer.

In the long old society, Ewenki people suffered greatly and were in a state of increasing poverty and decline. In the Qing dynasty, the rulers drove them to war, and most of them died on the battlefield. The Japanese invaders carried out the policy of genocide. With the spread of smallpox, typhoid fever and sexually transmitted diseases, the population dropped sharply. 193 1 year, there were more than 3,000 Ewenki residents along the Huihe River. By 1945, there were only 1000 people left. 1August, 945, Ewenki was born again. China * * * production party and people's government help them to restore and develop production. From 65438 to 0947, the relatively developed agricultural and pastoral areas (including mountainous areas) began democratic reforms; In the hunting areas that still retain the remnants of primitive society, we will vigorously help them develop production and make them directly embark on the socialist road through cooperation. By 1958, the socialist transformation was basically completed. In August of the same year 1, Ewenki Autonomous Banner was established, and five ethnic townships and 1 ethnic Suomu (districts) were established successively. Many local cadres have received training. Since the establishment of the Autonomous Banner, the situation of "living by weeds" in the past has been gradually changed, and settled grazing has been carried out, and a number of new herdsman villages have appeared in forest areas and grasslands. Adopt the policy of "focusing on animal husbandry and combining diversified management" to make animal husbandry develop rapidly; Building water conservancy projects and developing more than 2,000 square kilometers of water-deficient grassland have basically realized the mechanization of mowing, transporting grass, carrying water, medicated bath, roughening and felting. The number of livestock has increased by more than 7 times compared with 1949, and more than 20 kinds of livestock and animal products have entered the ranks of export materials. Agriculture, weaving, raising deer, fishing and collecting fungus, hazelnut and mushroom have gradually developed. There are more than 200 miles of natural reed resources on both sides of the Hui River, which provide a large number of high-quality papermaking raw materials for the country every year. The material and cultural life of Ewenki people has improved significantly. Before 1945, almost all of them were illiterate. When the Autonomous Banner was founded, there were only nine primary schools. Now primary education has been popularized, with 18 middle schools. Many young people have entered universities, and a team of intellectuals of their own nation is growing. In Ewenki areas, a medical and epidemic prevention network has been basically established, Keshan disease has been controlled, and the plague prevailing in the old society has disappeared. Since the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee in China from 65438 to 0978, various undertakings have developed vigorously.

Culture and art

Ewenki folk literature is very rich, including historical legends, myths, stories, proverbs and riddles, which are vivid and touching. Although they originated in different times, they all reflect real life. For example, The Legend of the Origin of Humans gives a simple description and explanation of their migration history, ancient life and natural scenery. The famous writer of contemporary literature is Yugetu, whose masterpiece is The Appeal of a Hunter. They are good at singing and dancing, with beautiful folk songs and unique styles, that is to say, they love lyrics. Especially pastoral songs and hunting songs, show the brave and simple character of Ewenki people. On New Year's Day or weddings, women often dance Ewenki dances. "Nugler" dance is unique, vigorous and rhythmic, with "following steps" and "stamping steps" as its dance characteristics. Dances in hunting areas are mostly held around bonfires at night, mainly including "jumping tiger" and "hunter dance". Ewenki residents started shooting, high jump, long jump, pole vault and skiing in their teens. Plastic arts include embroidery, sculpture, painting and so on. They like to decorate utensils with various patterns and are good at making animal-shaped children's toys with birch bark as raw material.

Life and customs

The marriage of Ewenki nationality is monogamous, and it still retains the characteristics of extraclan marriage and cousin marriage. Marriage can only be carried out between different clans, and intermarriage is prohibited within the same clan. They also intermarried with Mongolia, Oroqen and Daur. The Ewenki people in Chenbaerhu Banner also have the custom of "running away from marriage". After the young men and women who love each other set the wedding date, the woman fled to the "pinch crab" in the man's tower by night, and the old woman waiting here combed the girl's eight braids into two and became a legal marriage. After death, people used to be buried in the sky (that is, in the wind), but later, due to the influence of neighboring brothers, they were buried in the ground.

In the daily life of Ewenki people, birch bark occupies a certain position, which can be called "birch bark culture". Many products used for hunting, fishing and milking are made of birch bark. Tableware, brewing utensils, containers, houses, fences and hides. Even after death, the shroud is made of birch bark. In addition, many Ewenki costumes are also made of birch bark. For example, birch bark hats, birch leather shoes and so on are very extensive. All kinds of birch bark products, especially birch bark containers, are not only light and practical, but also decorated with patterns. Ordinary women began to learn carving, stamping, painting, collage and other crafts handed down from generation to generation at the age of seven or eight, and gradually developed a passion for studying skills and creating art. Patterns mostly come from production and life, such as flowers, trees, peaks, insects, fish, cliffs, etc., which imitate natural composition and have a unique national style.

Ewenki people are not only hardworking, brave, simple and frank, but also have the virtue of honesty. Among Ewenki hunters and herders, I don't know what stealing is. Hunters and herders have warehouses in forests and grasslands to store food, clothes and tools. , they are never locked. If someone runs out of food and clothes on the way, they can go to any two warehouses to get them. Ewenki people pay attention to etiquette and are very hospitable. When young people meet their elders, they should salute and offer cigarettes. The most common manners are kneeling, sideways and bowing. It is considered a happy event to have guests at home. Pastoral areas provide milk tea to guests, while hunting areas entertain guests with breast meat of deer or sheep and reindeer milk. Festivals mainly include offering sacrifices to Aobao, Lunar New Year, Mikole Festival and so on. When offering Aobao, you should slaughter cattle and sheep as sacrifices and pray for the safety of people and animals. There will be horse racing, wrestling and other activities at every Aobao conference. "Mikole" Festival is a production festival, which is held on May 22nd of the summer calendar every year. On this day, horses will be branded, maned, castrated, their teeth removed, their ears cut into sheep, and so on. And hold a banquet.

Religious belief

In the past, Ewenki people believed in Shamanism, and residents in pastoral areas also believed in Lamaism. Before 1945, there were remnants of animal worship, totem worship and ancestor worship, and some clans took birds and bears as totem worship objects. Every clan or large family has a wizard "Shaman", most of whom are chiefs (chiefs).