The mysterious origin of the Hakka People

The Hakkas are a unique ethnic group of "Han" Chinese people whose ancestors are said to originate from around Henan and Shanxi in northern China over 2,700 years ago. They are thought to be one of the earliest "Han" settlers in China. One theory has it that many of the early Hakkas were affiliated with the "royal bloods". It is highly likely that while Hakka may be a stronghold of Han culture, Hakka people also have married other ethnic groups and adopted their cultures during the long migration history of 2000 years.

There are many theories about the origin of the Hakka people. (1) Some argue that they may actually be descendants of the indigenous southern She ���� / Yue Խ��. (2) Some argue that they are Xiongnu  ��ūdescendents. (3) However, most agree that they are probably descendants of Han migrants from the north. Some date the first migration as from Qin dynasty (220 -206 BC) when the first unified Chinese nation was formed. But most scholars agree that Hakka Chinese migrated from northern China to the south starting from East Jin dynasty (317-420 AD). Their ancestors migrated southwards because of social unrest, upheaval, or by invasion of foreign conquerors. Subsequent migrations occurred at the end of the Tang Dynasty when China fragmented, during the middle of the Song Dynasty which saw a massive depopulation of the north, and a flood of refugees southward when the Jurchens captured the northern Song capitol, and the fall of the Song to the Mongols in the Yuan Dynasty and when the Ming Dynasty fell to the Manchu who formed the Qing Dynasty.

Some claim Hakka as "pure" Han people. But pure Han really does not exist. Recent archaeological studies have shown that China had multiple centers of civilization, developed rather independently of each other. Yangshao ���� (Henan), Banpo ���� (Shaanxi), Hongshan �tɽ (Liaoning) , Liangzhu ��� (Jiangsu/Zhejiang), Sanxingdui ���Ƕ� (Sichuan), Longshan ��ɽ (Shandong) all eventually merged into the Han culture. Han people are thus the integrated composite of several different tribes. Hakkas as Han cannot be ethnically pure. Hakka have been at the interface of ethnic conflicts for many dynasties. Genetically speaking, some Hakka people have clearly inherited some non-Han features such as wavy hair and high nose bridge. Hakka must have incorporated these features from the different ethnicities along the migration path through out the 2000 years of history.

The term Hakka (guest families) is a misnomer, only used since Qing dynasty. The spelling "Hakka" is derived from the pronunciation in Hakka dialect ( pronounced as "haagga" in Hakka and "kejia" in Mandarin). They are referred to as "guest people" for their wandering past. Although they are frequently distinctive in culture and language from the surrounding population, they are not considered a separate ethnic group by Chinese and are seen as part of the majority Han Chinese. Their spoken language can find roots in ancient classical Chinese.

Hakka people are now found in the southern Chinese provinces of Guangdong, western Fujian, Jiangxi, southern Hunan, Guanhgxi, southern Guizhou, south eastern Sichuan, Hainan, and Taiwan islands. 

Hakka people are noted for their preservation of certain cultural characteristics that could be traced to pre-Qin period as expressed in the custom, foods, spoken language, etc. Among all the Chinese people, Hakkas are among the most conservative in keeping the traditions. Yet, many are willing to take risks and seek new opportunities elsewhere to establish themselves. The migratory tradition results in the distribution of Hakka in the most remote part of the world. During the last hundred years or so, Hakka people migrated to South East Asia, East Africa, Europe (Holland, United Kingdom, France, Germany..), South America (Brazil, Trinidad...) Canada, US. About 7% of the 1.2 billion Chinese clearly state their Hakka origin or heritage. There are roughly 50 million to 75 million Hakkas all over the world. Hakka Chinese probably can claim the widest coverage by a single people.

References:

http://www.asiawind.com/hakka/

http://www.asiawind.com/forums/read.php?f=3&i=137330& ; ;t=137310

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakka

Edited by flyingzone

 

     The Hakka have particular style of music referred to as Eight tone. Named after the eight materials used to make the instruments used.

this link will take you a site that explains it better and also has an Audio Sampler of 4-5 different songs.

 

                    http://club.ntu.edu.tw/~hakka/emusic/eight.htm

Edited by red clay

i am half hakka

too many errors and misconceptions in both Flyingzone and Dayanhan's posts, and some of those are clearly artificial ones.

instead of correcting you by translating articles from Hakka's own perspective, i leave them to the Chinese themselves to judge.

BTW: Dayanhan, Singaporean former prime minister Lee Kuang Yew is a Hakka, while hes also descendant of Tang emperor Taizong.

im interested, if he regard himself as "Xianbei", like his ancestor did?

but im sure you know which person Tang emperor claimed to be descendants, and who was that person's ancestor.

Just because Mongolian princess married Korean king, so Korean became a Mongolian dynasty, as same to say, JinCheng princess of Tang married Tibetan king, her child Chisongdezan then would be a Chinese rather than Tibetan king.

 

Edited by The Charioteer

Originally posted by The Charioteer too many errors and misconceptions in both Flyingzone and Dayanhan's posts, and some of those are clearly artificial ones. instead of correcting you by translating articles from Hakka's own perspective, i leave them to the Chinese themselves to judge. BTW: Dayanhan, Singaporean former prime minister Lee Kuang Yew is a Hakka, while hes also descendant of Tang emperor Taizong. im interested, if he regard himself as "Xianbei", like his ancestor did? but im sure you know which person Tang emperor claimed to be descendants, and who was that person's ancestor. Just because Mongolian princess married Korean king, so Korean became a Mongolian dynasty, as same to say, JinCheng princess of Tang married Tibetan king, her child Chisongdezan then would be a Chinese rather than Tibetan king.

 

Its not that simple as you think that "a" Non-Chinese (Tibetan or Korean) King married "a" Chinese princess.

Li Yuan's wife was clearly a Sianbi and his mother also appears to be Sianbi. Then, his son, Li Shi Min was more than a half Siabi and his wife was a Sianbi as well. Thus, Li Shi Min's sons etc are more than half Sianbi.

They were basically Sianbi.  Even assuming that they were Li Guang's descendants, Li Guang ended his life in Xiongnu country after marrying a Xiongnu Shaniyui's daugheter. 

 Further, historical data clearly state that Li Yan's ancestors entered China at the time of Sianbi Wei together with the Sianbis. This was about 450 to 500 years after Li Guang died in Xiongnu country.  By that time, even assuming there were half-Xiongnu, half-Chainese sons and daughters ( of Li Guang and his Xiongnu wife), they must have become Sianbi in the mean time over several hundred years of time.

In Sui Shu (Records of Sui State), it is also indicated that Yang Jian and Li Yuan, both of whom married Sianbi women, spoke Sianbi language rather than Chinese.

It is also recorded in Records of Han State that Li Guang left no offsprings in Han state because Emperor of Han state ordered all of Li Guang's relatives and offsping executed.

Therefore, it is more likely that Li family's claim as to Li Guang was a fabricated claim that they needed to use in order to justify or facilitate their rule in Tang state.  

 

 

 

Edited by Dayanhan

Originally posted by wefone90 "Li Guang ended his life in Xiongnu country" BY Dayinuan whatever. Too many errors and misconceptions, and some of those are clearly artificial built, so I don't think you're good enough to put that judge on other. Its not that simple as you think. First of all, Li Guang didn't died in Xiongnu country, it was Li Ling, one of (I say one of his, because he had more than just one grandson) his grandson, and Li Ling left no offsprings in Han state because Emperor of Han state ordered all of Li Ling's offspring (not relatives, no sources for that) executed, second Li Yuan had got nothing to do with Li Ling but everything to do with Li Guang.

Its my error that I put "Li Guang" instead of "Li Ling". Thus, to that extent, you are correct. However, it is clearly recorded in Biography of Li Ling in Han Shu (Records of Han State) that Emperor of Han State ordered all Li's relatives to be executed ("Yi Zu" or "Zu" in Chinese meaning "exterminate all the members of his clan"). Thus, there were  none left in Han State who were related to Li Ling and Li Guang.   

Second, historical records explicitly say that "Li Yuan"'s ancestors (supposedly Li Ling's Sianbinized offspring, physically or otherwise) "reentered" the current territory of China after several hundred years thereafter, following the Sianbi of (Northern) Wei State.  They were part of the Sianbis, not Chinese.

That's why married Sianbi people for generations even after they reentered Chinese land and until Sui was established, according to Sui Shu (Records of Sui), they used Sianbi language in Northern Qi Court and Northern Zhou Court.

Originally posted by flyingzone Hakka people are noted for their preservation of certain cultural characteristics that could be traced to pre-Qin period as expressed in the custom, foods, spoken language, etc.�Among all the Chinese people, Hakkas are among the most conservative in keeping the traditions. Yet, many are willing to take risks and seek new opportunities elsewhere to establish themselves. The migratory tradition results in the distribution of Hakka in the most remote part of the world. During the last hundred years or so, Hakka people migrated to South East Asia, East Africa, Europe (Holland, United Kingdom, France, Germany..), South America (Brazil, Trinidad...) Canada, US. About 7% of the 1.2 billion Chinese clearly state their Hakka origin or heritage. There are roughly 50 million to 75 million Hakkas all over the world. Hakka Chinese probably can claim the widest coverage by a single people.

I think that is a bit too over on the figure that you had
mentioned. Overseas Chinese accounts about 69
million throughout the world. Hakkas is widely
planted and the number are high at about 25
millions who lives outside China, not the 50-75
millions that you had mentioned.

As for why Hakka are widely scattered around the
world because they will the main exported labourers
from China. Most of them were employed as miners,
sugar cane workers, labourers and coolies by the
British And French to work on their colonial
plantations, factory and mines. During the late 19th
century, the British and French owned colonies
occupied almost 70% of the world territory.

Another group that bring Hakkas to their mines and
plantations are the Minanese (Hokkien) who are the
major dominant of South East Asia (Nanyang)
economy in which Hakka people are employed to
work at their mines, plantations and factories.

Edited by guo hua

Whatever you may pick on my error, it is unchangeable fact that Li Yuan and his descendants claimed Li Ling and his Hun mother as their ancestors.

Its not just errors that I picked up, but the basic misconceptions, that could easily seen by the other. I don't usually bother clowns, but since you insists. I would repeat myself again. No, Li Yuan had got nothing to do with Li Ling, read more book for the sake of god, before you come and challenge the debate other had given, I already said this before. Take note that I do not wish to repeat myself a second time again, Li Yuan had got nothing to do with Li Ling, and that's all I'm got to said.

Edited by wefone90

If Li Yuan has nothing to do with Li Ling, how can he (Li Yuan)�claim he was the desendant of Li Guang who was Li Ling's father? So, please read Han Shu Li Ling Zhuan (Biography of Li Ling of Han History),�Sui Shu (Records of Sui State) and Tang Shu.

How do you know, you don't even read Chinese. The fact that those Sienbi were as assimilated as the Japanese and Korean who lived in the South America and Southern California(Mexican), very much similarly the same, you won't called them Japanese when you looked at them. Li Yuan never directly claim Li Guang as his ancestor, he claims Li Gao as his ancestor, so indirectly he could be Li Guang descendant, since Li Gao was descended from Li Yu, one of the cousin of Li Ling.

Edited by wefone90

Originally posted by wefone90 If Li Yuan has nothing to do with Li Ling, how can he (Li Yuan)�claim he was the desendant of Li Guang who was Li Ling's father? So, please read Han Shu Li Ling Zhuan (Biography of Li Ling of Han History),�Sui Shu (Records of Sui State) and Tang Shu. How do you know, you don't even read Chinese. The fact that those Sienbi were as assimilated as the Japanese and Korean who lived in the South America and Southern California(Mexican), very much similarly the same, you won't called them Japanese when you looked at them. Li Yuan never directly claim Li Guang as his ancestor, he claims Li Gao as his ancestor, so indirectly he could be Li Guang descendant, since Li Gao was descended from Li Yu, one of the cousin of Li Ling.

It is indeed true that Li Gao, King of Xi Liang claimed to be the offspring of Li Ling. But, except for this bare claim, there is no records to verify the truth thereof. Further, there were two more groups claiming the same ancestry from Li Gao, including Li Yuan's family. I forgot the name of one guy (Check Sui Shu or Tang Shu).

But, both of these groups reentered "Chinese" land later than Li Gao, during (Northern) Wei of the Sianbis.  Further, it is arguable to say that Xi Liang State was located in Chinese land because Xi Liang area was located outside of traditional Chinese areas, which was former Xiongnu area. 

However, both Li Gao, Li Yuan and the other guy all attempted to use some Chinese ancestry in order to strengthen their position in Chinese land, like many so-called Chinese kings attempted to claim their ancestry from some famous guys. Thus, this makes their claims very weak.