Chengdu Dongshan's Hakka People -- The Ba-Shu Culture Series Introducing Itself to Households

Author: Xie Taofang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: The language spoken in Chengdu is standard Southwestern Mandarin. Other dialects in eastern, northern, and southern Sichuan are also largely similar to Chengdu dialect and belong to the Northern Mandarin system. However, among the residents of Chengdu, some know of the existence of a peculiar dialect with unique tones, pronunciations, and vocabulary, perhaps having heard it occasionally when rural migrants came into the city and spoke this incomprehensible local tongue. Those who speak this peculiar dialect call themselves "Guangdong people," while the Chengdu locals refer to them as "Tuguangdong" to distinguish them from Cantonese-speaking Guangdong people. These "Tuguangdong" are actually a branch of the Han ethnic group who preserved the ancient language and culture of the Han people. They are Hakka people who migrated from the mountainous areas of northern Guangdong to Sichuan during the early Qing Dynasty wave of immigration. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the Hakka people of Eastern Chengdu. It covers topics such as the origins and inheritance of Ba-Shu culture, historical and cultural heritage, ethnic and religious traditions, scientific and technological advancements, folk customs, famous cities, and renowned figures in Sichuan. The book is factually accurate, concise in writing, richly illustrated, easy to understand, and plays a positive and important role in popularizing, promoting, and spreading Ba-Shu culture.