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| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
 Mongolia | 12,057 (2020)[1] |
 China | 1,200 (2004)[2][needs update] |
| Languages | |
| Oirat, historicallyUyghur (Khoton) | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam (which includes elements ofBuddhism andShamanism)[3] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Uyghurs,Huis,Dörbets | |
TheKhoton orQotung[4] people (Mongolian:Хотон (ястан)) are aMongolian-speaking ethnic group in (Outer)Mongolia andInner Mongolia.[5][2] Most Mongolian Khotons live inUvs Province in western Mongolia. In China, the Khotons (often called Qotungs) live in Inner Mongolia, concentrated inAlxa League and are classified asethnic Mongols. They speak theDörbet orAlasha dialect of theOirat language.[6] According to theGreat Russian Encyclopedia, modern Khoton people are a part of the "Mongols — a group of peoples who speakMongolian languages".[7]
In Mongolia, most Khotons live inUvs Province, especially inTarialan,Naranbulag andUlaangom. There were officially about 6,100 Khotons in 1989.[8]
According to USFR 20,000Khotons residing primarily in the province ofUvs.[9]
In 2020, there were around 12,057 Khotons in Mongolia.[10]
The Khotons of Inner Mongolia reside inAlxa League, mainly inAlxa Left Banner. Some also live inBayannuur. A 2004 study reported that Khoton informants estimated their total population to be about 1,200.[2]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 2,603 | — |
| 1963 | 2,874 | +10.4% |
| 1969 | 4,056 | +41.1% |
| 1979 | 4,380 | +8.0% |
| 1989 | 6,076 | +38.7% |
| 2000 | 9,014 | +48.4% |
| 2010 | 11,304 | +25.4% |
| 2020 | 12,057 | +6.7% |
| Source: National Statistical Office of Mongolia[citation needed] | ||
Khoton,Khotong orQotung was originally a Mongol term forMuslim Uyghur andHui people, orChinese language-speaking Muslims.[8] However, while the term historically included multiple groups, modern research indicates that the Khotons are not directly related to theHui people. Instead, the Khotons have distinct origins, being primarily descendants of Turkic peoples brought to Mongolia by theOirats or who migrated there during historical conflicts, particularly during the 17th and 18th centuries.[11]
The Khotons were settled in Mongolia by theOirats when the latter conquered Xinjiang and took their city-dwelling ancestors to Mongolia. According to another version, they settled in Mongolia after 1753, when their leader, theDörbet Prince Tseren Ubashi, surrendered to theQing Dynasty.[8] The Khotons soon adapted and assimilated Mongolian or Oirat culture and speech.[8] According to some scholars, the Khotons can be considered MongolizedUyghurs as a result.[12]
The Khotons of Inner Mongolia that reside in Alxa League are considered to be descended of Turkic peoples originally fromHami, Xinjiang, who later adopted and assimilated into local Mongol culture.[2] Most scholars believe that the ancestors of the Khotons were brought to the area around the 18th century or earlier as captives from Xinjiang after the prince of theAlasha Mongols returned from fighting theDzungars.[13] According to local tradition, the ancestors of the Khotons arrived in the area in the late 17th century as merchants and eventually settled and assimilated with the Alasha Mongols.[2] Occasional later migrants from Xinjiang and someHui from nearby regions who were incorporated into the Khotons helped to maintain and increase their community.[2][13]
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.m.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion with: Better coverage of the synchronisationof Islam with Budhhism. You can help byadding missing information.(April 2025) |
Unlike most Mongolians, Khotons follow a form ofIslam that has Buddhist and traditional elements (likeTengrism).[14][8] They traditionally avoid intermarriage with other ethnic groups and tend to avoid mainstreamMongolian written culture.[8]
In Inner Mongolia, many Khotons arepastoral nomads though in recent times, an increasing amount are now settled.[2]
Khotons used to speak theKhoton language (a dialect of theUyghur language). The language became extinct around the 19th century.[15] Once settled in Mongolia, the Khotons adopted theDörbet or northern dialect ofOirat.[16][14][8] In Inner Mongolia, the Khotons speak theAlasha dialect of Oirat.[2]
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{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help)Khotong was originally the Mongol designation for Muslim oases dwellers and in Inner Mongolia designates the Hui or Chinese-speaking Muslims
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