TORGHUT KINSHIP AND LEGACY IN BAYANGOL
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Namjil is a Torghut farmer and herder from Har Mod village in Bayangol. Traditionally, he belongs to the Doglongin Sum. The interview contains two main themes. The first theme focuses on the tenth unit among the Torghuts, an extended kin group and the smallest social community category. As discussed in the video, there has been a resurgence in searching for old Oirat Otog, tenth, and Sums, to help younger generations understand their traditional kin categorisation and preserve old social bonds to prevent assimilation with other ethnicities. However, some believe that this movement could fragment existing social relations and be detrimental to Oirat Mongol unity. The second part of the video explores the material heritage of the Torghut Royal Palace in Hejing County. The Torghut royal palace was originally built in Har Mod village, 30 km east from the county centre. Unfortunately, the Torghuts had to relocate their palace due to the Dungan revolt, which swept over Bayangol and southern Xinjiang, causing the Torghuts to suffer greatly. Although Qing troops eventually quelled the revolt, a large number of Muslim communities settled in Bayangol, particularly around Har Mod, leading to the palace’s permanent abandonment. Today, surrounded by Uyghur farmers, the material heritage of the palace is on the verge of demolition. This is a cause of sorrow for the Torghuts living nearby.