The Kam people (Kam: , ), officially known in China as Dong people (), are a Kam–Sui people and one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. They live mostly in eastern Guizhou, western Hunan and northern Guangxi. Small pockets of Kam speakers are found in Tuyên Quang Province in Vietnam.Edmondson, J.A. and Gregerson, K.J. 2001, "Four Languages of the Vietnam-China Borderlands", in Papers from the Sixth Annual Meeting of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society, ed. K.L. Adams and T.J. Hudak, Tempe, Arizona, pp. 101–133. Arizona State University, Program for Southeast Asian Studies. Expand.
They are famed for their native-bred Kam Sweet Rice (), carpentry skills and unique architecture, in particular a form of covered bridge known as the "wind and rain bridge" (). The Kam people call themselves Kam, Geml, Jeml or Gaeml.
History The Kam are thought to be the modern-day descendants of the ancient Rau peoples who occupied much of southern China.D. Norman Geary, Ruth B. Geary, Ou Chaoquan, Long Yaohong, Jiang Daren, Wang Jiying (2003). The Kam People of China: Turning Nineteen. (London / New York, RoutledgeCurzon 2003). . Kam legends generally maintain that the ancestors of the Kam migrated from the east. According to the migration legends of the Southern Kam people, their ancestors came from Guangzhou, Guangdong and Wuzhou, Guangxi. The Northern Kam maintain that their ancestors fled Zhejiang and Fujian because of locust swarms. Some scholars (mainly Chinese) also believe that the Kam were a branch of the Bai Yue from the first century CE. The Bai Yue inhabited the Yangze River basin after the collapse of the Yue Kingdom around the first century CE which led to the establishment of many small chiefdoms.
The first explicit mention of the Kam (or Dong) people come from Ming dynasty sources. Many Kam rebellions took place during the Ming and Qing dynasties, but none were successful in the long run. The Qing developed extensive irrigation systems in the area and rice harvests increased significantly but this mostly benefited the local landlords. The Kam were further exploited after the first Opium War of 1840–1842 by Western forces, capitalists, landlords, usurers and Qing officials.
As a consequence of these events, many Kam helped or joined the Chinese Communists soon after its founding in 1921. They supplied food and resources to the Red Army as it passed through Guangxi during the Long March. Some Kam also allied with the People's Liberation Army through establishing guerilla units against the forces of Chiang Kai-Shek. After 1949, infrastructure was quickly developed in Kam areas. Schools, roads, small factories and more were built. Many Kam also became government officials.
Although the Kam and Han Chinese peoples generally get along well today, the history of Guizhou is marked by innumerable tensions and conflicts between the Han Chinese and non-Han minority groups. Today, many Kam are assimilating into mainstream Chinese society as rural Kam move into urban areas, resulting in intermarriage with the Han Chinese and the loss of the Kam language. However, various attempts to preserve Kam culture and language have been very successful, and improving living conditions in rural Guizhou may entice local Kam villagers to stay rather than move to major urban areas.
Language The Kam language (autonym: ) is a Tai–Kadai (Chinese: Zhuang–Dong) language. Ethnologue distinguishes three Kam varieties as separate but closely related languages: Northern Dong [doc], Southern Dong [kmc], and Cao Miao [cov]. Sui, Maonan and Mulao are the languages most closely related to Kam. Historically, Northern Kam has been influenced by Chinese much more than has Southern Kam.
The Kam language has no traditional script of its own. The Kam people sometimes use Chinese characters to represent the sounds of Kam words. A Latin alphabet was developed in 1958, but it is not much in use due to a lack of printed material and trained teachers.
Distribution
The Census of 2020 recorded 3,495,993 Kam in China.
Provincial Distribution of the Kam, from the 2020 census Province-level division Kam Population % of China's Kam Population Guizhou Province 1,650,871 47.23% Hunan Province 865,518 24.76% Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 362,580 10.37% Guangdong Province 241,790 6.92% Zhejiang Province 146,773 4.20% Fujian Province 31,784 0.91% Jiangsu Province 24,413 0.70% Shanghai Municipality 11,870 0.34% Other 160,394 4.59%
County-level distribution of the Kam
(Only includes counties or county-equivalents containing >1% of county population.) Province Prefecture/city County % Kam Kam population Total population Guizhou province(whole province)4.621,628,56835,247,695 Guizhou Tongren prefecture(whole prefecture)11.41376,8623,302,625 GuizhouTongren prefectureTongren City (Bijiang District)33.72104,051308,583 GuizhouTongren prefectureJiangkou County8.9917,011189,288 GuizhouTongren prefectureYuping Dong Autonomous County78.0998,757126,462 GuizhouTongren prefectureShiqian County30.49101,990334,508 GuizhouTongren prefectureSongtao Miao Autonomous County2.5614,025547,488 GuizhouTongren prefectureWanshan District73.4040,13054,674 GuizhouQiandongnan Miao Dong autonomous prefecture31.401,207,1973,844,697 Kaili city5.1022,099433,236 Shibing county2.533,464137,171 Sansui county48.8983193170,167 Zhenyuan county32.2371,800222,766 Cengong county32.5061,006187,734 Tianzhu county67.54235,241348,302 Jinping county49.6494,537190,429 Jianhe county34.4765,170189,085 Liping county70.85324,867458,533 Rongjiang county38.38115,295300,369 Congjiang county40.88123,270301,513 Leishan county2.082,752132,004 Danzhai county1.071,452135,400 Guangxi0.69303,13943,854,538 Guilin city1.0448,1664,614,670 Longshenggezu autonomous county26.5742,718160,796 Liuzhou prefecture6.51229,1623,522,322 Rong'an county2.938,303283,029 Sanjiang Dong autonomous county55.98170,248304,149 Rongshui Miao autonomous county11.2848,020425,608 Hubei province0.1269,94759,508,870 Enshi Tujia Miao autonomous prefecture1.7967,4403,775,190 Enshi city2.2717,187755,725 Xuan'en county13.9346,817335,984 Hunan province1.33842,12363,274,173 Suining county4.1213,973339,235 Xinning county0.05283557,120 Chengbu Miao autonomous county1.453,498241,517 Huaihua city17.42808,1554,639,738 Hecheng district2.9910,370346,522 Huitong county52.49173,947331,392 Xinhuang Dong autonomous county80.13193,678241,690 Zhijiang Dong autonomous county52.37175,030334,229 Jingzhou Miao Dong autonomous county26.0663,962245,444 Tongdao Dong autonomous county75.96156,719206,327 Hongjiang city5.4326,360485,061
Culture
The Kam people are internationally renowned for their polyphonic choir singing, called Kgal Laox in the Kam language (), which can be literally translated as Kam Grand Choir or Grand song in English. The Kam Grand Choir has been listed by UNESCO as a world-class intangible cultural heritage since 2009. Kam choral songs include nature songs, narratives, and children's songs.
One-part songs (as opposed to polyphonic, or many-part, songs) can be sung by one or many people. They include: Duo Ye songs Love songs – accompanied by the pipa or niutuiqin Drinking songs Bride's songs Mourning songs Pipa songs
Operas are highly popular among the Kam and are performed by local troupes. Two famous Kam playwrights are Wu Wencai (1798–1845), author of Mei Liangyu, and Zhang Honggan (1779–1839).
Kam oral literature contains a rich array of legends and folk tales. Many of these popular tales are about the leaders of past uprisings (Geary 2003:218). Celebrated leaders include: Xing Ni – An ancient figure, whose legend dates possibly from the Tang dynasty (618–907). Wu Mian – Leader of a 1378 rebellion during the Ming dynasty due to drought and famine. Lin Kuan – Led a 1397 rebellion but was later executed. Popular among the Northern Kam and is commemorated by an ancient tree. Wu Jinyin – Wu revolted in the 1740 to resist grain taxes, but was killed in 1741.
Popular folk tales are listed below. They can be found in The Kam People of China by D. Norman Geary. The two orphan brothers The unfriendly eldest brother Ding Lang and the dragon princess Zhu Lang and Niang Mei Shan Lang and E Mei Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai Suo Lao Mei Dao The frog and the swallow (rice agriculture tale) The dog (rice agriculture tale) The singing tree (origin of singing tale) Liang Niangni (origin of singing tale) Lou Niang (drum tower tale) Traditional medicine is still practiced among the Kam people, including practices such as acupuncture, therapeutic massage, acupressure, bloodletting, application of healing plants, and customs unique to the culture. As in other aspects of Kam life, songs relating to medicine are sung when gathering plants. Plants in the Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae, Poaceae, Liliaceae, Lamiaceae, Rutaceae, Polygonaceae and Apiaceae families are commonly used in Kam medicine. Traditionally, Kam healers serve as veterinarians as well.
Society Kam clans are known as dou and are further divided into ji, gong, and households (known as "kitchens"), respectively from largest to smallest in size. Village elders were traditionally the village leaders, although the government replaced these elders with village heads from 1911 to 1949. Kam society was also traditionally matriarchal, as can be evidenced by the cult of the goddess Sa Sui (Geary 2003:88). Before the advent of the Han Chinese, the Kam had no surnames, instead distinguishing each other by their fathers' names.
Kam common law is known as kuan and is practiced at four levels. Single village Several villages Single township / entire local rural area Multiple townships / large portion of the Kam population
Courtship and marriage Traditional courtship consists of three phases: Early meeting phase where men and women sing songs and recite poems to one another. Deepening love phase where the courtship is one-to-one and the songs are more spontaneous. Exchanging a token phase where a man gives a woman a gift, with the woman expected to make excuses to test her suitor. The token is usually a minor gift without much monetary value. However, it is highly important symbolically, as it is the equivalent of an engagement ring in Western cultures.
Weddings last three days and are first held at the bride's family's home. The bride is later sent to the groom's home, where an afternoon reception and all-night feast then ensue. The next day there is a "blocking the horse" ceremony where the hosts block the guests while singing songs. The bride typically resides at her parents' house for a few months or even years. Silver jewellery is passed onto the bride by her mother.
Birth The birth of a child is complemented by the following events: The "stepping-over-the-threshold person," the first person to enter the home where the child was born, will influence the child's future personality and success. Several fir trees are planted at the birth which are gifted at age 18 for marriage and new home. Neighbors are invited and bring food and gifts. Announcing the birth to the mother's family. Visit from the female relatives on the third day or so; gifts are brought. Homage expressed to the land god for the birth of a male child (practiced by the Northern Kam). Building a "bridge" – Three wooden planks are lined up side by side to express goodwill to passing people. Wrapping the hands – The child's hands are wrapped to help prevent him or her from stealing things later on in life. First haircut at the age of one month. First eating of fermented rice at the age of about one month. First eating of meat dipped in wine at six months old – considered a major milestone.
Funerals Like those of the Miao people, Kam funerals are highly elaborate. People who died from unnatural causes (e.g., accidents) are cremated, while those who died from natural causes are buried. Burial consists of the following phases: