Tuvans

From Freepedia

Tuvans (or Tuvinians) is a group of Turkic people, make up about two thirds of the population of Tuva. They were formerly known as Uriankhai (Uryankhai, Uryanhai, Urianhai), the name given by Mongols.

There are two major ethnic grups of Tuvans in Tuva: Western Tuvans and Tuvans-Todzhins (Тувинцы-тоджинцы). The latter ones live in Todzhinsky District, Tuva Republic and constitute about 5% of all Tuvan ethnicity.

The Tuvan language belongs to the Northern or Siberian branch of the Turkic language family. Four dialects are recognized: Central, Western, Southeastern and Northeastern (Todzhinian). Written language is based on Cyrillic alphabet.

The traditional religion of Tuvans is animism (shamanism), which is still widely practiced alongside Tibetan Buddhism.

A noticeable proportion of Tuvans lives in diaspora in Mongolia, the largest group being Tsengel Tuvans (Altai Tuvans), around 1,500, that live in Tsengel. Tuvans in China are included under the Mongol nationality.

A people close Tuvans live in Okinsky District of Buryatia (self-naming: Soyots (сойоты), sometimes referred to as Okinsky Tuvans).

See also List of Tuvans.

Reference

Mongush, M. V. "Tuvans of Mongolia and China." International Journal of Central Asian Studies, 1 (1996), 225-243. Talat Tekin, ed. Seoul: Inst. of Asian Culture & Development.