The Zakhchin () is a subgroup of the Oirats residing in Khovd Province, Mongolia.
Zakhchin means 'Frontiersmen'. They are so called because they originated from the border garrison (mainly from Torghut, Dorbet Oirat, and Dzungar people) of the Dzungar Khanate. They originally spoke the Zakhchin dialect of the Oirat language, but actually pure Oirat language is used by elder generations, younger generations use a dialect being under a strong Khalkha influence.
History
The Zakhchins conquered by the Manchus of the
Qing dynasty in 1754 and controlled by Zasagt Khan aimag's Tsevdenjav gün, then moved to Zereg and Shar Khulsan. One Banner with 4(+1) sums were designated for them and noble Maamad (Mamuud) zaisan became the chieftain but Mamuud killed by Zungharian king Amarsanaa later and the Zakhchins revolted together with
Amursana against the Qing.
The sums were:
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Bichgiin meeren's sum (in modern Mankhan, Khovd province)
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Güüj zan's sum (in modern Altai and part of Must, Khovd province)
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Baljinnyam zahiragch sum (in modern Zereg and parts of Mankhan in Khovd province)
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Jantsandorj's sum or Hoit (North) sum (in modern Mankhan, Khovd province)
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Guniikhen (in modern Uyench, Khovd province)
Administrative center was in Hoit sum's Tögrög Hüree.
During the Bogd Khanate of Mongolia, Zakhchin was subject to Dörbet Ünen Zorigt Khan aimag. The south Banner is called Goviinkhon "people of the Gobi", while the north was called the Shiliinkhen "people of the mountain range".
Clans
Zakhchin has 16 tamga (seal) and 30 clans . Some of them are:
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Donjooniikhon
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Damjaaniikhan
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Shurdaankhan
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Baykhiinkhan
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Emchiinkhen
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Khereid
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Tsagaan Yas
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Aatiinkhan
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Dumiyenkhen
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Burd Tariachin
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Adsagiinkhan
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Tavagzaaniikhan
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Nokhoikhon
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Khotonguud
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Khurmshtiinkhan
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Mukhlainkhan
Number
The Zakhchin numbered 29,800 in 2000.
[ Хойт С.К. Последние данные по локализации и численности ойрат // Проблемы этногенеза и этнической культуры тюрко-монгольских народов. Вып. 2. Элиста: Изд-во КГУ, 2008. с. 136-157. - in Russian .]
Famous Zakhchins in modern Mongolia
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Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, who is a former President of Mongolia
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Damdingiin Demberel, who is current speaker of State Parliament
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Rinchinnyamyn Amarjargal, who is a former Prime Minister of Mongolia
Literature
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hamagmongol.narod.ru/library/khoyt_2008_r.htm
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hamagmongol.narod.ru/library/khoyt_2012_r.htm
Zakhchiny tüükh soël, öv ulamzhlal. Iadamzhav, ed. Ulaanbaatar : Soëmbo Printing KhKhK, 2014.
