Bonan Ethnic Group

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

Funeral Customs of the Bonan Ethnic Group: "Burial in the Ground", "Thrifty and Simple Burial", and "Quick Burial"

The Bao’an ethnic group (保安族) is one of China’s officially recognized small-population minority groups, with a total population of approximately 24,434 people according to the Seventh National Census. The ethnic origin can be traced back to Mongolian frontier soldiers stationed in Tongren, Qinghai Province (青海同仁) during the Yuan and Ming dynasties. Over centuries, the group gradually integrated with Tibetan, Tu, Hui, and Han communities, forming a distinct ethnic identity officially recognized in 1952.

The Bao’an people developed in a geographically isolated but culturally rich environment along the upper Yellow River region. Their traditions reflect a long history of frontier settlement, agricultural adaptation, and cultural blending. Despite their small population, they have maintained strong cultural continuity, especially in craftsmanship, oral traditions, and religious life.

The language belongs to the Mongolic branch of the Altaic language family, mainly oral and without a written script. Mandarin Chinese is widely used in daily communication, while Arabic and Persian vocabulary appears in religious contexts. The population is almost entirely Muslim, following Sunni Islam (伊斯兰教逊尼派), which deeply influences family structure, dietary rules, and social customs.

More than 80% of the population lives in Jishishan Bao’an, Dongxiang and Salar Autonomous County (积石山保安族东乡族撒拉族自治县), Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province (甘肃省临夏回族自治州), making it one of the most geographically concentrated ethnic groups in China, with strong community cohesion and well-preserved traditions.

Distribution of Bao’an Communities

Core Administrative Region

The only autonomous administrative region is:

• Jishishan Bao’an, Dongxiang and Salar Autonomous County (积石山保安族东乡族撒拉族自治县), Gansu Province (甘肃省)

This county functions as the political, cultural, and economic center of the Bao’an ethnic group. Most traditional villages, intangible heritage sites, and cultural institutions are located here, forming the core of Bao’an identity.

Main Towns and Settlements

Key settlements include:

• Dahejia Town (大河家镇) – cultural origin center and home to the famous “Three Bao’an Villages”
• Liuji Township (刘集乡) – traditional rural settlement with old village clusters
• Liugou Township (柳沟乡) – known for folk songs and Hua’er culture
• Shiyuan Township (石塬乡) – agricultural-based communities
• Qizang Town (癿藏镇) – mixed farming and pastoral area
• Chumatan Town (吹麻滩镇) – county seat with modern development and cultural institutions

Among them, Dahejia Town (大河家镇) is regarded as the historical and cultural heartland, where early Bao’an communities formed and where traditional craftsmanship is still actively preserved.

Dispersed Population Areas

Smaller communities are also found in:

• Gansu Province (甘肃省): Linxia City, Linxia County, Yongjing, Heshui, Guanghe, Lanzhou
• Qinghai Province (青海省): Tongren, Xunhua, Xining – historical settlement zones
• Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区): Urumqi, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture – migrant working populations

These dispersed groups maintain cultural ties with the core region through festivals, family networks, and religious practices.

Traditional Culture of the Bao’an People

Traditional Clothing

Men typically wear white or black brimless caps, simple white shirts, and black vests. During festivals, they wear deep blue long robes tied with cloth belts. The most distinctive cultural symbol is the Bao’an waist knife (保安腰刀), carried by adult men as both a practical tool and a cultural identity marker.

Women’s clothing is more decorative, featuring embroidered jackets and patterned garments. Headscarves indicate age and marital status:

• Green veil: unmarried women
• Black veil: married women
• White veil: elderly women

Embroidery often includes floral motifs such as peony, pomegranate, and vine patterns. These designs are not only decorative but also reflect blessings for prosperity, fertility, and harmony within families.

Traditional Housing – Zhuangke Courtyards

The Zhuangke (庄窠) courtyard is a unique architectural form adapted to the Loess Plateau environment. Built with thick rammed-earth walls and flat-roofed wooden structures, it forms a closed courtyard system.

Inside, spaces are clearly divided into living rooms, guest rooms, kitchens, and livestock areas. This design provides strong protection against wind, cold, and external threats, while also maintaining family privacy and social order.

Many villages still preserve original Zhuangke courtyards, offering visitors a rare glimpse into traditional rural life in Northwest China.

Marriage Traditions

Marriage customs follow a structured and religiously guided process:

• Proposal and family negotiation
• Engagement gifts and confirmation
• Religious marriage ceremony
• Wedding banquet celebration

During weddings, Banquet Songs (宴席曲) are performed continuously, accompanied by traditional dance. The Bao’an waist knife (保安腰刀) is often included as a symbolic gift, representing honor, protection, and family responsibility.

Wedding events are both religiously solemn and socially festive, bringing entire villages together in celebration.

Etiquette and Taboos

Hospitality is an essential cultural value. Guests are usually welcomed with Sanxiang Tea (三香茶), fried pastries, and Hand-Grabbed Lamb (手抓羊肉).

Cultural etiquette includes:

• Always using the right hand for giving and receiving
• Prioritizing elders in seating and meals
• Speaking politely and avoiding loud behavior

Important restrictions include:

• No pork, alcohol, blood products, or self-dead animals
• No smoking or drinking in daily life
• No disrespect toward 古兰经 or 清真寺
• No photography of religious rituals without permission
• No stepping on food or wasting resources

These rules reflect both religious discipline and long-standing cultural values.

Religious Life

The Bao’an people follow Sunni Islam (伊斯兰教逊尼派) as a unified belief system deeply integrated into daily life. Religious practice structures social rhythms, family events, and community relationships.

Daily life includes:

• Five daily prayers
• Weekly Friday congregational prayer
• Annual Ramadan fasting

Every village has a mosque (清真寺), which functions not only as a place of worship but also as a center for community decision-making, education, and social gatherings.

Funeral customs follow principles of simplicity and speed:

• Burial instead of cremation
• No elaborate tomb structures
• Emphasis on humility and respect for life cycles

Religious values strongly emphasize charity, honesty, discipline, and community unity.

Traditional Festivals

Eid al-Fitr

Held on the first day of the Islamic month following Ramadan, this festival marks the end of fasting. Families prepare traditional foods such as 油香 and 馓子, visit relatives, and share meals. The atmosphere is warm, social, and highly community-oriented.

Eid al-Adha

The most important annual festival. Families sacrifice livestock and divide meat into three parts: family consumption, guests, and charity. Large communal prayers are held at mosques, followed by extended family gatherings.

Mawlid

This festival commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. Religious recitations, sermons, and communal meals are organized in 清真寺, reinforcing spiritual reflection and social unity.

Hua’er Festival

Held between May and June (lunar calendar), the 保安花儿会 is a vibrant folk music gathering. People sing Hua’er (花儿) songs in open mountain areas, expressing love, labor, and natural beauty. The festival is highly immersive and visually expressive.

Arts and Intangible Heritage

Bao’an Waist Knife Craftsmanship

The Bao’an waist knife (保安腰刀锻制技艺) is a nationally recognized intangible cultural heritage with over 700 years of history. It involves forging, quenching, engraving, and inlaying techniques using materials such as brass, steel, and animal bone.

Well-known styles include:

• Zhehua Knife (折花刀)
• Shiyangjin Knife (什样锦)
• Twin Dragon Knife (双龙头)

Each knife carries both practical and artistic value, reflecting craftsmanship passed through generations.

Music and Dance

• Banquet Songs (宴席曲): performed during weddings with narrative and lyrical structures
• Hua’er Songs (花儿): high-pitched mountain folk songs with emotional expression
• Traditional dances imitate riding, forging, and farming movements

These art forms remain central to village celebrations and cultural transmission.

Oral Literature

Bao’an oral traditions preserve myths, historical memory, and moral teachings. Notable stories include:

• Legend of the Bao’an waist knife (保安腰刀传说)
• Migration of the Three Villages (三庄迁徙故事)

These narratives continue to shape cultural identity and intergenerational memory.

Bao’an Cuisine

Bao’an food culture follows strict Halal (清真) dietary principles and emphasizes lamb, beef, and wheat-based dishes.

Signature dishes include:

• Hand-Grabbed Lamb (手抓羊肉) – tender, lightly seasoned, and widely served
• 油香 – fried pastry served during festivals
• 馓子 – crispy twisted fried dough
• 发子面肠 – stuffed sheep intestine specialty
• 三香茶 – sweet tea with red dates, longan, and sugar
• 杂碎汤, 青稞馍, 麦穗包子 – daily home-style dishes

Food culture reflects hospitality, simplicity, and communal sharing traditions.

Cultural Tourism Destinations

Museums and Heritage Centers

• Jishishan Ethnic Museum (积石山县民族民俗博物馆) – located in 吹麻滩镇, featuring over 1,000 cultural artifacts including costumes, knives, and historical relics
• Dahejia Waist Knife Workshop (大河家保安腰刀非遗传习所) – live demonstrations of traditional forging techniques

Natural and Cultural Landscapes

• Dadunxia Scenic Area (大墩峡景区) – canyon landscapes, waterfalls, and forest trails
• Jishi Pass (积石雄关) – ancient Silk Road frontier and Yellow River gorge
• Dashan Zhuangxia Scenic Area (大山庄峡景区) – alpine scenery and rural landscapes
• Jishi Folk Village (积石民俗村) – cultural exhibitions and live performances

Traditional Villages

• Dadun Village (大墩村) – center of waist knife culture
• Ganhentan Village (甘河滩村) – preserved Yellow River settlement
• Meipo Village (梅坡村) – Hua’er and Banquet Song heritage base
• Gaozhaoli Family Village (高赵李家村) – ancient courtyard architecture
• Xietao Village (斜套村) – folk song traditions

Other villages such as Yuanjia Village (袁家村), Shenjiaping Village (沈家坪村), Maba Village (麻坝村), and Gancangou Village (甘藏沟村) maintain authentic rural lifestyles.

Historical Origin Site

• Bao’an Town in Tongren (保安镇·同仁市) – Qinghai Province (青海省), featuring ancient fortress remains and early settlement ruins that trace the origins of the Bao’an people

Travel Guide for Bao’an Region

Best Time to Visit

The ideal travel season is April to October, when the weather is mild and cultural activities are frequent. Summer months feature flower festivals and folk gatherings. Winter brings ice waterfalls and quieter village landscapes.

Suggested 3-Day Route

Day 1: Lanzhou (兰州) → Jishishan County → Ethnic Museum
Day 2: Dahejia Town (大河家镇) → Three Villages → Dadunxia Scenic Area
Day 3: Ancient Villages → Cultural Experiences → Return

Cultural Experiences

Visitors can experience:

• Traditional waist knife forging workshops
• Staying in Zhuangke courtyards
• Hua’er and Banquet Song performances
• Wearing traditional costumes for photography
• Hiking along Yellow River villages

Travel Notes

Respect for Islamic customs is essential. Visitors should dress modestly when entering mosques, avoid restricted foods, and follow local etiquette. Photography of religious activities requires permission. Mountain roads require careful driving due to terrain conditions.