DZUNGAR PEOPLE Meaning and
Definition
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The Dzungar people, also known as the Jord lineage, were a nomadic ethnic group that resided primarily in Central Asia during the 17th and 18th centuries. They were part of the Mongolian ethnic group and shared cultural and linguistic ties with other Mongolic peoples. The Dzungar people were known for their pastoral lifestyle, herding livestock such as horses, cattle, sheep, and yaks across the vast steppes and mountains of their territories.
The Dzungars established a confederation under the leadership of their ruler, Galdan Khan, in the early 17th century. They controlled a significant portion of the Eurasian land mass, including parts of present-day Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China's Xinjiang region.
In addition to their nomadic lifestyle, the Dzungar people were skilled warriors and formidable horsemen. They often engaged in conflicts with neighboring tribes, as well as the expanding Qing Dynasty of China, which sought to bring their territories under their control. The Qing Dynasty eventually defeated the Dzungars in a series of campaigns, resulting in the near extermination of the Dzungar population. This event, known as the Dzungar genocide, devastated the Dzungar people and led to their dispersal and assimilation into other ethnic groups.
Today, remnants of the Dzungar people can be found among various Central Asian communities, but their distinct cultural identity as a separate ethnic group has largely faded over time.
Etymology of DZUNGAR PEOPLE
The word "Dzungar" or "Zunghar" refers to a Central Asian ethnic group and its language. It comes from the Mongolian word "Züün gar", which translates to "the left hand". This name was used to distinguish the Dzungar tribe from the "Oirat" or "the right hand" tribe within the Mongol Empire. The Dzungars were known for residing in the western part of Mongolia and later establishing an independent Dzungar Khanate across present-day Mongolia, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
