Utsul

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Utsul
Alternative names:
Utsat, Utset, Huihui, Hui, Hainan Cham
Total population 5,000
Regions with significant populations China: southern Hainan
Language Tsat
Religion Islam
Related ethnic groups Chams, Malay people

The Utsuls are a tiny ethnic group which lives on the Chinese island of Hainan. They are thought to be descendants of Cham refugees who fled their homeland in what is now southern Vietnam to escape from Annamese invasion.

While most of the Chams who fled Champa went to neighbouring Cambodia, a small business class fled northwards. How they came to acquire the name Utsul is unknown.

Although they are culturally distinct from their neighbours, the Chinese government places them as members of the Hui nationality. They are speakers of the Tsat language, which is one of the few Malayo-Polynesian languages that is tonal.


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