Xibe people commemorate westward migration

A large group of Xibe people gather in Shenyang in Northeast China’s Liaoning province, on May 22, to commemorate the 255th anniversary of the Xibe ethnic group’s westward migration. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Hundreds of Xibe folk gathered at the family temple of the Xibe people and Xibe cultural square in Shenyang in northeastern Liaoning province, on May 22, to commemorate the 255th anniversary of the Xibe ethnic group’s westward migration.

They came from areas across the country – including Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Heilongjiang province, Jilin province and from Beijing.

The Xibe ethnic group originated in Northeast China. They mostly lived in the Greater Hinggan Mountains area in ancient times.

In 1764, during the reign of Emperor Qianlong who ruled in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the government sent groups of Xibe soldiers to Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to settle the area and strengthen it against foreign invasion, as well as open up wasteland and grow crops.

Now Xibe ethnic group currently has more than 190,000 people, mostly living in two areas –– one in Qapqal Xibe autonomous county in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and another in Shenbei new district in Shenyang.

To commemorate the group’s westward migration, activities such as an ancestor worship ceremony, traditional Xibe dances and songs, and a gift-giving ceremony were held.

During the gift-giving ceremony, a delegation of more than 190 Xibe people from Qapqal Xibe autonomous county in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region gave three gifts to the Xibe museum in Shenbei new district -- namely a wheel from an ox cart that went on the westward migration 255 years ago, the first portable printing plate used in Qapqal Xibe autonomous county, and a set of the 14th century great Chinese classical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms translated into the Xibe tongue.

The gifts will be housed at the Xibe museum, China’s first Xibe museum which opened to the public last July.

Xibe folk attend an ancestor worship ceremony in Shenyang, Liaoning province, on May 22. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

Traditional Xibe dance is performed during the event in Shenyang on May 22. [Photo/Chinanews.com]