Zakhchin

Zakhchin
	Location of the Zakhchin
Total population
	32,845
Regions with significant populations
Mongolia	32,845
Languages
	Oirat language
Religion
	Tibetan Buddhism, Mongolian shamanism
Related ethnic groups
	Mongols, especially Oirats

The Zakhchin (Mongolian: Захчин) is a subgroup of the Oirats residing in Khovd Province, Mongolia. Zakhchin means 'Border people'. They are so called because they originated from the border garrison (mainly from Torghut, Dorbet Oirat, and Dzungar) of the Dzungar Khanate. They originally spoke the Zakhchin dialect of the Oirat language, but actually pure Oirat language is used by elder generations, younger generations use a dialect being under a strong Khalkha influence.

History

The Zakhchins conquered by the Manchus of the Qing dynasty in 1754 and controlled by Zasagt Khan aimag's Tsevdenjav gün, then moved to Zereg and Shar Khulsan. One Banner with 4(+1) sums were designated for them and noble Maamad (Mamuud) zaisan became the chieftain but Mamuud killed by Zungharian king Amarsanaa later and the Zakhchins revolted together with Amursana against the Qing.

The sums were:

Bichgiin meeren's sum (in modern Mankhan, Khovd province)
Güüj zan's sum (in modern Altai and part of Must, Khovd province)
Baljinnyam zahiragch sum (in modern Zereg and parts of Mankhan in Khovd province)
Jantsandorj's sum or Hoit (North) sum (in modern Mankhan, Khovd province)
Guniikhen (in modern Uyench, Khovd province)

Administrative center was in Hoit sum's Tögrög Hüree.

During the Bogd Khanate of Mongolia, Zakhchin was subject to Dörbet Ünen Zorigt Khan aimag. The south Banner is called Goviinkhon "people of the Gobi", while the north was called the Shiliinkhen "people of the mountain range".

Clans

Zakhchin has 16 tamga (seal) and 30 clans ^{[citation needed]}. Some of them are:

Donjooniikhon
Damjaaniikhan
Shurdaankhan
Baykhiinkhan
Emchiinkhen
Khereid
Tsagaan Yas
Aatiinkhan
Dumiyenkhen
Burd Tariachin
Adsagiinkhan
Tavagzaaniikhan
Nokhoikhon
Khotonguud
Khurmshtiinkhan
Mukhlainkhan

Number

The Zakhchin numbered 29,800 in 2000.^[2]

Famous Zakhchins in modern Mongolia

Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, who is a former President of Mongolia
Damdingiin Demberel, who is current speaker of State Parliament
Rinchinnyamyn Amarjargal, who is a former Prime Minister of Mongolia

References

Literature

[hamagmongol.narod.ru/library/khoyt_2008_r.htm Хойт С.К. Антропологические характеристики калмыков по данным исследователей XVIII-XIX вв. // Вестник Прикаспия: археология, история, этнография. No. 1. Элиста: Изд-во КГУ, 2008. с. 220–243.]
[hamagmongol.narod.ru/library/khoyt_2012_r.htm Хойт С.К. Калмыки в работах антропологов первой половины XX вв. // Вестник Прикаспия: археология, история, этнография. No. 3, 2012. с. 215–245.]

Zakhchiny tüükh soël, öv ulamzhlal. Iadamzhav, ed. Ulaanbaatar : Soëmbo Printing KhKhK, 2014. ISBN 9789996228612

[mongolian-1] National Census 2010

[2] Хойт С.К. Последние данные по локализации и численности ойрат // Проблемы этногенеза и этнической культуры тюрко-монгольских народов. Вып. 2. Элиста: Изд-во КГУ, 2008. с. 136-157. - in Russian.

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