Hezhen Nationality

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Hezhen Nationality


	The Hezhen NationalityPopulation: 4,640
	Major area of distribution:Tongjiang, Fuyuan and Raohe of Hei Longjiang Province, Jia Musi, Fujin, Jixian, Huachuan and Yilan
	Language: Hezhen
	Religion: Shamanism and Animatism
	Major Festival : Wurigong Festival ,Spring Festival
Most of the Hezhen nationality people live in Tongjiang, Fuyuan and Raohe of Hei Longjiang Province, while others live in some counties like Jia Musi, Fujin, Jixian, Huachuan and Yilan, etc. With a long history, Hezhen nationality has a close clan relationship with some ancient nationalities such as “Sushen”, “Yilou”, “Wuji” and “Nvzhen” in the northeast of China.“Heijin” and “Hezhen Hala” nationalities in Qing Dynasty are the ancient people of the current Hezhen nationality.Hezhen nationality has its own language, which belongs to Man-Tungus language branch of Altai phylum. It has no writing language. Chinese is commonly used by most of the people. Hezhen nationality people believe in Shamanism and animatism. They think that everything has spirit such as the sky, the earth, the sun, the moon and the star, which are all dominated by god. In order to obtain blessing from the god, Hezhen nationality emphasizes sacrifice activities very much. Hezhen nationality is the only nationality in the north that lives on fishing and sleighs by dogs. Dog sleigh is the major transportation tool of Hezhen nationality. A trained dog can pull about 70 kilograms of goods and travel about 100 to 150 kilometers per day. Dog is the good partner of Hezhen nationality people because they play an important role in transportation, hunting, guarding and protecting their masters. Therefore, Hezhen nationality is called “the tribe which uses dogs” in history. Fishing and hunting is the major resources of Hezhen nationality’s back and belly. They not only eat fish and beast meet, but also make up clothes by fish skin, roe deer skin and deerskin. Men usually wear roe deer skin overcoat with buttons on the right. The two lines of buttons are made of catfish bone. Women usually wear robes made up by fish skin or deerskin, which is like cheong-sam very much. Men and women both wear fish skin trousers and shoes made of roe deer skin, deerskin and fish skin. Making up clothes by fish skin is one of the characteristics of Hezhen nationality women, so Hezhen nationality was also called “fish skin tribe” in history. Living on fishing, Hezhen nationality people mainly eat fish in their daily life. They cook fish in many daintily ways. They usually eat fresh fish in their daily food. Some toast the fish on a fork while others braise the fish. Hezhen nationality people like to eat raw fish. For example, “Sha Shengyu” and “raw fish dressed with sauce” are their characteristic dishes, while “fried fish fur” is a very tasteful dish. The place where Hezhen nationality people store fish is called fish building, which is usually built inside the yard. Almost every family has a fish building. They also store fishing gear in their everyday life.