2022 Volume 73 Issue 12 Pages 715-730
The current study investigated the residence of the Dawur, an ethnic minority group in China. The focus of the study was the Dawur raising cattle in Ewenki Autonomous Banner in Inner Mongolia. The paper aimed to examine the basic family situation, including cattle-breeding styles, sources of income, types of baishin houses, changes in baishin house layout, names and usages of the rooms, and the use of heaters.
The target families all own baishin houses. They raise domestic sheep, cattle and horses on pasture around residential areas, in cattle sheds, on town lands, gacya lands, the lands of their cattle-breeding employers, and the lands borrowed from others. Their sources of income include pensions, herdsmen salaries, allowances, and income from migrant labor and work done on dairy cow farms.
There are three main types of baishin houses according to the extensions and the positions of the entrances. In Ewenki Autonomous Banner, baishin houses are characterized by their extensions on the north, east and west sides of the original house, with most entrances facing south, north and east. Baishin houses were analyzed according to the new construction, extension and reconstruction during four different periods since the Land Allocation Policy took effect. The results showed that before the Land Allocation Policy, baishin houses had their entrances on the south side. However, most baishin houses have had their entrances and extensions on the north since the Policy started.
The study shows that rooms are named in Mongolian mostly according to their usages. Hanji and Jyoha have always been in baishin houses, while Hucyann came into use after Hanji and Nounchi were installed in baishin houses built after 2008.
