Yugur Ethnic Group: Living where there is water and grass

Sunan Yuku nationality autonomous county locates in the long and narrow region at the northern foot of Qilian Mountain, in the middle part of Hexi Corridor, and the area of pasture is vast. Since the period of the Qin and Han Dynasties, this region had become an ideal place for the ancient nomadic nationalities to multiply and live. The people of the Yuku nationality also followed the production and life experiences of their ancestors, developed and formed their own unique animal husbandry economy and culture, and have made important contribution to the economic construction and cultural development of Gansu province and even the whole country. 

The Yuku nationality had ever lived the nomadic life in the place where there were water and grass for a long time, afterwards, it gradually developed the present three compatible production modes: nomadic, semi-nomadism and semi-settlement, and settling down to herd. At present, most of the people are mainly in the mode of semi-nomadism and semi-settlement and settling down to herd, concurrently, they also operate small part of agriculture, forestry and sideline production, etc. 

The main domestic animals raised by the Yuku nationality are sheep, goats, yaks, pien niu, oxen, horses and camels, and small numbers of donkeys and mules. For the difference of pasture and the traditional herding and raising habits and experiences, almost all the places have their own “famous brands” and “competitive products”. Just as what is said in the proverb among the people: “The donkeys in Shuiguan, the horses in Yangge, the wool in Huangcheng is better than cotton; the goats in Baiyin, the oxen in Dacha, and the camels in Minghua are strong.” 

To adapt to the needs of animal husbandry production, most of the herdsmen of the Yuku nationality take tents as home in summer and autumn, and live in the houses in building structure in winter and spring. In the past, most of the tents were in conical shape, and at present, mostly in square shape. The tent cloths are the blankets that are made of the wool of yaks and goats, and woven by knitting wools, they can not only keep out rain and wind, but also are convenient to move. When pitching tents, generally people choose the places that take shelter from the wind and face the sun. The sitting direction is decided according to the shape of mountains and waterway, most of the tents face south, or west or east, and they are forbidden to face north. Because people believe that it is unlucky to face north, and it is said “only at the time of bad luck, the doors of people face north”.