Shar Darkhad
Ethnic group
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Shar Darkhad, Dalhut,[1] or Darhut[2] (Mongolian for "Untouchables",[3] "Protected Ones"; Chinese: 达尔扈特, pinyin: Dá'ěrhùtè) are a subgroup of Mongol people living mainly in Inner Mongolia in northern China.[2]
| |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Languages | |
| Ordos Mongolian | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Tibetan Buddhism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Mongols, Mongols in China, Ordos Mongols |
In 1947, 2071 people from 462 households were eligible to be Darkhad.[4] They were liable for maintaining the Great Khan's mausoleum at their own expense prior to the erection of a permanent government-owned structure in 1954–6.[4] The Darkhad believe they are the direct descendants of the soul guards of Genghis Khan.[5]