Khotons

Khoton

Regions with significant populations
Mongolia	10,000 (2010)[1]
Languages
Oirat
Religion
Tibetan Buddhism, Sunni Islam, Shamanism
Related ethnic groups
Mongols, especially Oirats

The Khoton people are an ethnic group in Mongolia. Most live in Uvs Province, especially in Tarialan, Naranbulag and Ulaangom. While the Khotons spoke a Turkic language until the 18th century, most now speak the Dörbet dialect of the Oirat people. Khotons often avoid mainstream Mongolian written culture.^[2] There were officially about 6,100 Khotons in 1989.^[2]

History and culture

The Khotons are reputed to be descended from members of Uighur tribe.

Khoton or Khotong was originally a Mongol term for Muslim Uyghur and Hui people, or Chinese language-speaking Muslims.^[2]

The Khotons settled in Mongolia by Oirats in the XVII century. Accordig to another version, settled in Mongolia after 1753, when their leader, the Dörbet Prince Tseren Ubashi, surrendered to the Qing Dynasty.^[2]

Unlike most Mongolians, Khotons follow a syncretic religion retaining some aspects of Islam, and traditionally avoid intermarriage with other ethnic groups.^[2]

Bibliography

The Khotons of Western Mongolia, 1979.

See also

• Khoton (redirect page)
• Demographics of Mongolia

References

1. "Монгол улсын ястангуудын тоо, байршилд гарч буй өөрчлөлтyyдийн асуудалд" М.Баянтөр, Г.Нямдаваа, З.Баярмаа pp.57-70
2. Christopher Atwood Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire, c. 2004 Khotong was originally the Mongol designation for Muslim oases dwellers and in Inner Mongolia designates the Hui or Chinese-speaking Muslims.