Li people
Encyclopedia
The Li or Hlai are a minority ethnic group
, the vast majority of whom live off the southern coast of mainland China
on Hainan
Island, where they are the largest minority ethnic group. Divided into the five branches of the Qi, Ha, Run, Sai and Meifu, the Li have their own distinctive culture and customs.
they were known by the name Liliao. The Li form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China
.
tribes of China, who settled on the island thousands of years ago. DNA analysis carried out amongst the modern Li population indicate a close relationship with populations in mainland southern China and in particular Guangxi province.
During the Japanese occupation of Hainan (1939–1945), the Li suffered heavily. They are held in high esteem by the Beijing
government because they fought on the side of the CPC
against Chinese Nationalist
rule during the Chinese Civil War
. Hainan Li-miao autonomous prefecture was created in 1952 (abolished in 1988).
, a member of the Tai–kadai language family, but most can understand or speak Hainanese and Mandarin—and it is also common for Li people to learn and speak Cantonese
because many Li in Hainan relocate to Cantonese-speaking areas in southern mainland China near Hainan such as Guangzhou
and Hong Kong
.
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
, the vast majority of whom live off the southern coast of mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
on Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
Island, where they are the largest minority ethnic group. Divided into the five branches of the Qi, Ha, Run, Sai and Meifu, the Li have their own distinctive culture and customs.
Background
They refer to themselves as the Hlai people, but they are sometimes colloquially known as "Sai" or "Say", and during the Sui DynastySui Dynasty
The Sui Dynasty was a powerful, but short-lived Imperial Chinese dynasty. Preceded by the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it ended nearly four centuries of division between rival regimes. It was followed by the Tang Dynasty....
they were known by the name Liliao. The Li form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
Origin and history
The Li are believed to be descendants of the ancient YueNanyue
Nanyue was an ancient kingdom that consisted of parts of the modern Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan and northern Vietnam. Nanyue was established in 204 BC at the final collapse of the Qin Dynasty by Zhao Tuo, who was the military commander of Nanhai Commandery at the time, and...
tribes of China, who settled on the island thousands of years ago. DNA analysis carried out amongst the modern Li population indicate a close relationship with populations in mainland southern China and in particular Guangxi province.
During the Japanese occupation of Hainan (1939–1945), the Li suffered heavily. They are held in high esteem by the Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
government because they fought on the side of the CPC
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
against Chinese Nationalist
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
rule during the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
. Hainan Li-miao autonomous prefecture was created in 1952 (abolished in 1988).
Language
They speak their own Hlai languageHlai language
Hlai is one of two languages of the Hlai or Li people, the other being the Jiamao "dialect". It is spoken by 600,000 people , a quarter of them monolingual, in the mountains of central and south-central Hainan Island...
, a member of the Tai–kadai language family, but most can understand or speak Hainanese and Mandarin—and it is also common for Li people to learn and speak Cantonese
Cantonese
Cantonese is a dialect spoken primarily in south China.Cantonese may also refer to:* Yue Chinese, the Chinese language that includes Cantonese* Cantonese cuisine, the cuisine of Guangdong province...
because many Li in Hainan relocate to Cantonese-speaking areas in southern mainland China near Hainan such as Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.