Kirghiz

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Kyrgyz are a Turkic ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan.

There are several etymological theories on the name "Kyrgyz." First, the name Kyrgyz may mean "forty girls" (кырк + кыз), a reference to the Manas epic unifying forty small tribes against the Chinese on one side and the Muslim expansion on the other. This is symbolized by the yellow sun in the center of the flag of Kyrgyzstan, which has 40 rays referring to forty Kirghiz tribes. Next, a meaning of "forty tribes" (кырк + ууз) which makes more direct sense. Finally, a meaning with totally different word formulation (кыргыс, adj.), meaning "imperishable", "inextinguishable" or "undying". This version has an obvious popular appreciation. Historical evidence for many conflicts with other peoples also supports this theory.

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The Kirghiz in China

The Kirghiz form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. There are more than 145,000 Kirghiz in China.

They are found mainly in the Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture in the southwestern part of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with a smaller remainder found in the neighboring Wushi (Uqturpan), Aksu, Shache (Yarkand), Yingisar, Taxkorgan and Pishan (Guma), and in Tekes, Zhaosu (Monggolkure), Emin (Dorbiljin), Bole (Bortala), Jinghev (Jing) and Gonliu in northern Xinjiang.

Several hundred Kirgiz whose forefathers emigrated to Northeast China more than 200 years ago now live in Wujiazi Village in Fuyu County, Heilongjiang Province.

The Kirghiz are Muslims. Some Kyrgyz practice shamanism.

Chinese ethnic groups (classification by PRC government)

Achang - Bai - Blang - Bonan - Buyei - Dai - Daur - De'ang - Derung - Dong - Dongxiang - Evenk - Gaoshan - Gelao - Han - Hani - Hezhen - Hui - Jingpo - Jino - Kazakh - Kinh - Kirgiz - Korean - Lahu - Lhoba - Li - Lisu - Manchu - Maonan - Miao - Monba - Mongol - Mulao - Naxi - Nu - Oroqen - Pumi - Qiang - Russian - Salar - She - Shui - Tajik - Tatar - Tibetan - Tu - Tujia - Uyghur - Uzbek - Va - Xibe - Yao - Yi - Yugur - Zhuang - Undistinguished nationalities