Brief Introduction of Tatar Ethnic Group

The refined and cultivated Tatar nationality

The Tatar nationality is one of the minor nationalities in China. According to the statistics of the fourth census in 1990, they had totally 4,873 people. They mainly distribute in Yili, Tacheng, Aletai, Urumqi and other cities, and the pastoral areas in Qitai and Jimusa’r counties in Changji Prefecture in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

“Tatar” is the name that this nationality calls itself. The Tatar nationality has a long history. In the Chinese history of our country, it was generally translated and written as “Tatar” or “Tadan”. In the middle period of the 15th century, they ever established Kashan Kingdom in the regions of the Volga and the Kama River, which was governed by Mongolian Jinzhang Kingdom in the past. From the beginning of the middle period of the 19th century, part of the Tatar people immigrated into Xinjian in our country for the purpose of engaging in business and making livings, etc, and they gradually became one of the minor nationalities in China. 

The Tatar nationality has its own language, which belongs to the west Xiong language branch, Tujue language group of A’ertai language system, and has the written words that are based on Arabian letters. Because of the long-term cross inhabitation with the Uygur nationality and Hazak nationality, the language and written words of these two nationalities had also gradually been applied by the Tatar nationality in the social communication. The Tatar nationality believes in Islam. 

Business if the main traditional economies of the Tatar nationality, agriculture, animal husbandry and handicraft industry are secondary. Parts of people are also engaged in the work of culture, education, science and technology for a long time.