T'U-CHIA

Pinyin Tujia, any member of a people distributed over southwestern Hunan and southwestern Hupeh provinces in China. The T'u-chia numbered about 5,940,000 in the late 20th century. Chinese is their native language, though many also understand the language of the neighbouring Miao people, to whom they are related. Like the Miao, the T'u-chia grow corn (maize) on small terraced fields in the foothills and narrow valleys of their homeland. They also cultivate tea, tung, and galla nuts and sell tung oil and medicinal herbs. They are noted for their handicrafts, particularly their weaving and embroideries. In their distinctive traditional dances, the T'u-chia use a great variety of hand gestures to describe their daily life.