The Sichuanese people or zh, c=川渝人, p=Chuānyú rén, labels=no, sometimes shortened to zh, c=川人, labels=no; Sichuanese Pinyin: ''Sicuanren''; former romanization: Szechwanese people are a

Han Chinese subgroup The Han Chinese people can be defined into ethnicity, subgroups based on linguistic, cultural, ethnic, genetic, and regional features. The terminology used in Mandarin Chinese, Mandarin to describe the groups is: "minxi" (, pronounced ), used in M ...

comprising most of the population of China's

Sichuan Sichuan is a province in Southwestern China, occupying the Sichuan Basin and Tibetan Plateau—between the Jinsha River to the west, the Daba Mountains to the north, and the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau to the south. Its capital city is Cheng ...

province and the

Chongqing ChongqingPostal Romanization, Previously romanized as Chungking ();. is a direct-administered municipality in Southwestern China. Chongqing is one of the four direct-administered municipalities under the State Council of the People's Republi ...

municipality.

History

Beginning from the 9th century BC, the Kingdom of Shu (on the Chengdu Plain) and the State of Ba (which had its first capital at Enshi City in

Hubei Hubei is a province of China, province in Central China. It has the List of Chinese provincial-level divisions by GDP, seventh-largest economy among Chinese provinces, the second-largest within Central China, and the third-largest among inland ...

and controlled part of the Han Valley) emerged as cultural and administrative centers where two rival kingdoms were established. In 316 BC, the two kingdoms were destroyed by the

State of Qin Qin (, , or ''Ch'in'') was an ancient Chinese state during the Zhou dynasty. It is traditionally dated to 897 BC. The state of Qin originated from a reconquest of western lands that had previously been lost to the Xirong. Its location at ...

. After the Qin conquest of the six warring states, the newly formed empire carried out a forced resettlement. The now-extinct Ba–Shu language was derived from Qin-era settlers and represents the earliest documented division from

Middle Chinese Middle Chinese (formerly known as Ancient Chinese) or the Qieyun system (QYS) is the historical variety of Chinese language, Chinese recorded in the ''Qieyun'', a rime dictionary first published in 601 and followed by several revised and expande ...

. South Sichuan was also inhabited by the

Dai people The Dai people ( Burmese: ရှမ်းလူမျိုး; ; ; ; , ; , ; zh, c=, p=Dǎizú) are several Tai-speaking ethnic groups living in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture and the Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture ...

who formed the

serfs Serfdom was the status of many peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to manorialism and similar systems. It was a condition of debt bondage and indentured servitude with similarities to and differences from slavery. It developed dur ...

class. They were later thoroughly sinicized, adopting the local language of speech. Large numbers of foreign merchant families from

Sogdia Sogdia () or Sogdiana was an ancient Iranian peoples, Iranian civilization between the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, and in present-day Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Sogdiana was also a province of the Achaemen ...

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

and other Central Asian countries immigrated to Sichuan. A Sogdian temple is attested in

Chengdu Chengdu; Sichuanese dialects, Sichuanese pronunciation: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: ; Chinese postal romanization, previously Romanization of Chinese, romanized as Chengtu. is the capital city of the Chinese province of Sichuan. With a ...

. During the Yuan and Ming dynasties, the population of Sichuan, Chongqing had been reduced due to immigration, deportation and flight of refugees fleeing war and plague, new or returning settlers from modern

Hunan Hunan is an inland Provinces of China, province in Central China. Located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze watershed, it borders the Administrative divisions of China, province-level divisions of Hubei to the north, Jiangxi to the east, Gu ...

Guangdong ) means "wide" or "vast", and has been associated with the region since the creation of Guang Prefecture in AD 226. The name "''Guang''" ultimately came from Guangxin ( zh, labels=no, first=t, t= , s=广信), an outpost established in Han dynasty ...

and

Jiangxi ; Gan: ) , translit_lang1_type2 = , translit_lang1_info2 = , translit_lang1_type3 = , translit_lang1_info3 = , image_map = Jiangxi in China (+all claims hatched).svg , mapsize = 275px , map_caption = Location ...

, replacing the earlier spoken language with different languages they adopted from the former regions to form a new standard language off communication.

Recent history

Many migrant workers from rural Sichuan have migrated to other parts of the country, where they often face

discrimination Discrimination is the process of making unfair or prejudicial distinctions between people based on the groups, classes, or other categories to which they belong or are perceived to belong, such as race, gender, age, class, religion, or sex ...

in employment, housing etc. This is due to China's household registration policy and other parts of people from midwest China face the same problem.

Culture

The

cult Cults are social groups which have unusual, and often extreme, religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals. Extreme devotion to a particular person, object, or goal is another characteristic often ascribed to cults. The term ...

for supernatural forces and entities is a long-established tradition among the Sichuanese people, tracing its roots back to the

ancient Ancient history is a time period from the beginning of writing and recorded human history through late antiquity. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, beginning with the development of Sumerian cuneiform script. Ancient h ...

Ba– Shu era.

Taoism Taoism or Daoism (, ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao ( zh, p=dào, w=tao4). With a range of meaning in Chinese philosophy, translations of Tao include 'way', 'road', ' ...

played a major role since the late antiquity with the emergence of the Way of the Celestial Master movement.

Confucianism Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, Religious Confucianism, religion, theory of government, or way of li ...

had relatively less influence, because of Ba–Shu's remoteness from the

Zhongyuan Zhongyuan (), the Central Plain(s), also known as Zhongtu (, lit. 'central land') and Zhongzhou (, lit. 'central region'), commonly refers to the part of the North China Plain surrounding the lower and middle reaches of the Yellow River, centere ...

region and the Qilu region. The cultural characteristics of the Sichuanese people were described in the 2014 book ''All about Sichuan'' as "a 'heretical biography' that deviated from Confucian orthodoxy, a free-spirited cultural group that opposed, despised and subverted Confucian ethics and imperial autocracy."

Language

The Sichuanese once spoke their own variety of spoken Chinese called Ba–Shu Chinese, or Old Sichuanese before it became extinct during the Ming dynasty. Now most of them speak Sichuanese Mandarin. The Minjiang dialects are thought by some linguists to be a bona fide descendant of Old Sichuanese due to many characteristics of Ba–Shu Chinese phonology and vocabulary being found in the dialects,试论宋代巴蜀方言与现代四川方言的关系》">刘晓南（2009年第8卷第6期），《试论宋代巴蜀方言与现代四川方言的关系——兼谈文献考证的一个重要功用：追寻失落的方言》，语言科学 but there is no conclusive evidence whether Minjiang dialects are derived from Old Sichuanese or Southwestern Mandarin.

Cuisine

Sichuan is well known for its spicy cuisine and use of

Sichuan pepper Sichuan pepper (, also known as Sichuanese pepper, Szechuan pepper, Chinese prickly ash, Chinese pepper, Mountain pepper, and ''mala'' pepper, is a spice commonly used in Sichuan cuisine in China, Bhutan and in northeast India. It is called mej ...

s due to its more arid climate.

Notable people

Well known Sichuanese people are such as: *

Ba Jin Li Yaotang ( zh, s=李尧棠, t=李堯棠, p=Lǐ Yáotáng; 25 November 1904 – 17 October 2005), better known by his pen name Ba Jin ( zh, s=巴金, t=巴金, p=Bā Jīn) or his courtesy name Li Feigan ( zh, s=李芾甘, t=李芾甘, p=Lǐ F� ...

(1904–2005), author and political activist *

Bai Ling Bai Ling (, born October 10, 1966) is a Chinese American actress and musician. After acting in numerous Chinese productions, she played small roles in American films such as '' The Crow'' (1994) and '' Nixon'' (1995) before starring as the femal ...

(1966–), actress *

Chang Dai-chien Chang Dai-chien or Zhang Daqian (; 10 May 1899 – 2 April 1983) was one of the best-known and most prodigious Chinese artists of the twentieth century. Originally known as a '' guohua'' (traditionalist) painter, by the 1960s he was also renowne ...

(1899–1983), artist *

Chang Qu Chang Qu (291–361), courtesy name Daojiang, was a Chinese historian of the Cheng-Han dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period and the Jin dynasty (266–420). Chang Qu is best known for his magnum opus, the '' Chronicles of Huayang'' or ''Re ...

(291–361), historian * Chang Chun (1889–1990), premier of the Republic of China * Fala Chen (1982–), actress * Chen Pokong (1963–), author, political commentator and democracy activist *

Chen Shou Chen Shou ( zh , t = 陳壽 ; 233–297), courtesy name Chengzuo (), was a Chinese historian, politician, and writer who lived during the Three Kingdoms period and Jin dynasty of China. Chen Shou is best known for his most celebrated work, the ...

(233–297), official and writer * Cheung Chung-kiu (1964–), business magnate *

Deng Xiaoping Deng Xiaoping also Romanization of Chinese, romanised as Teng Hsiao-p'ing; born Xiansheng (). (22 August 190419 February 1997) was a Chinese statesman, revolutionary, and political theorist who served as the paramount leader of the People's R ...

(1904–1997), revolutionary and paramount leader of China * GAI (1988–), rapper, singer, and songwriter *

Guo Moruo Guo Moruo (November 16, 1892 – June 12, 1978), courtesy name Dingtang, was a Chinese author, poet, historian, archaeologist, and government official. Biography Family history Guo Moruo, originally named Guo Kaizhen, was born on November 10 or ...

(1892–1978), author, poet, historian, archaeologist, and government official * Huang Jiguang (1931–1952), highly decorated soldier during the Korean War *

Jiang Zhuyun Jiang Zhuyun (; 20 August 1920 – 14 November 1949) was a Chinese communist revolutionary.Spymaster: Dai Li and the Chinese Secret Service - Page 166 Frederic E. Wakeman - 2003 "Occasionally, but only very seldom, was a woman able to shame her ...

(1920–1949), revolutionary martyr *

Li Bai Li Bai (, 701–762), Literary and colloquial readings, also pronounced Li Bo, courtesy name Taibai (), was a Chinese poet acclaimed as one of the greatest and most important poets of the Tang dynasty and in Chinese history as a whole. He and hi ...

(701–762), poet * Li Bifeng (1965–), activist, poet and Christian * Li Shou-min, better known as Huanzhulouzhu (1902–1961), novelist of the xianxia fantasy genre * Li Shunxian (–926), Persian-Sichuanese poet * Liu Yonghao (1952–), businessman * Li Yifeng (1987–), actor and singer *

Li Yuchun Li Yuchun ( zh, c=李宇春, p=Lǐ Yǔchūn; born March 10, 1984), also known by her stage name Chris Lee, is a Chinese singer, songwriter, DJ and actress. Her musical style is mainly based on electronic dance music and Chinese pop songs. She laun ...

(1984–), singer, songwriter, and actress *

Liao Yiwu Liao Yiwu ( zh, c=廖亦武 , p=Liào Yìwǔ; also known as Lao Wei ( zh, 老威); born 16 June 1958) is a Chinese author, reporter, musician, and poet. He is a critic of Communist Party of China, China's Communist Party, for which he was impri ...

(1958–), author, reporter, musician, poet, and critic of China's Communist regime *

Luo Ruiqing Luo Ruiqing (; May 31, 1906 – August 3, 1978), formerly romanized as Lo Jui-ch'ing, was a People's Republic of China, Chinese army officer and politician, general of the People's Liberation Army. As the first Ministry of Public Security ...

(1906–1978), army officer and politician * Empress Dowager Ma (Southern Ming) (1578–1669), birth mother of the

Yongli Emperor The Yongli Emperor (1623–1662; reigned 24 December 1646 – 1 June 1662), personal name Zhu Youlang, was the fourth and last emperor of the Southern Ming dynasty, reigning in turbulent times when the former Ming dynasty was overthrown and the ...

, a convert to Roman Catholicism * Sanyu (painter) (1901–1966) * Song Cheng-tsi (1892–1955),

Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

bishop * Song Yonghua (1964–), scholar *

Su Shi Su Shi ( zh, t=, s=苏轼, p=Sū Shì; 8 January 1037 – 24 August 1101), courtesy name Zizhan (), art name Dongpo (), was a Chinese poet, essayist, calligrapher, painter, scholar-official, literatus, artist, pharmacologist, and gastronome wh ...

(1037–1101), writer, poet, painter, calligrapher, pharmacologist, gastronome, and statesman * Su Xun (1009–1066), writer * Su Zhe (1039–1112), politician and essayist *

Tan Weiwei Tan Weiwei (; born 8 October 1982), also known as Sitar Tan, is a Chinese singer and actress. She was the runner-up of the third season (2006) of '' Super Girl'' (), a singing contest in China. In 2015, she participated ''I Am a Singer'' (sea ...

(1982–), singer and actress * Tang Chun-i (1909–1978), philosopher and scholar * Wang Jiujiang (1957–), painter *

Wang Jianlin Wang Jianlin (; born 24 October 1954) is a Chinese business magnate, investor and philanthropist. He is the chairman, founder, and majority shareholder of the Dalian Wanda Group, one of China's foremost conglomerate companies, which is also well ...

(1954–), business magnate, investor, and philanthropist * Wang Xiaoya (1968–), television host and media personality * Wang Yi (1973–),

Calvinist Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Protestantism, Continenta ...

pastor and human rights advocate * Xu Youyu (1947–), scholar * Stephen Yang (1911–2007), surgeon, medical educator, and

Quaker Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally, others referred to them as Quakers ...

peace activist * Yang Xiong (53 BC – 18 AD), poet, philosopher, and politician *

Y. C. James Yen Y. C. James Yen ( zh, first=t, t=晏陽初, s=晏阳初, w=Yen Yang-chʽu, p=Yàn Yángchū, October 16, 1890/1893 – January 17, 1990), known to his many English speaking friends as "Jimmy," was a Chinese educator and organizer known for his wo ...

(1890/1893–1990), educator * Lucy Yi Zhenmei (1815–1862),

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

saint * Yu Jie (1973–), Calvinist democracy activist * Yue Yiqin (1914–1937), flying ace *

Zhang Lan Zhang Lan (; 1872 – February 1955), courtesy name Biaofang (表方), was a Chinese political activist best known for being the chairman of the China Democratic League from its founding in 1941 until his death in 1955. Biography Zhang was bo ...

(1872–1955), political activist * Zhang Yong (1969/1970–), Singapore's richest man in 2019 * Zhao Yiman (1905–1936), resistance fighter * Zheng Ji (1900–2010), nutritionist and pioneering biochemist *

Zhu De Zhu De; (1 December 1886 – 6 July 1976) was a Chinese general, military strategist, politician and revolutionary in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Zhu was born into poverty in 1886 in Sichuan. He was adopted by a wealthy uncle at ...

(1886–1976), ex-warlord, later revolutionary and father of the

People's Liberation Army The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the military of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People's Republic of China (PRC). It consists of four Military branch, services—People's Liberation Army Ground Force, Ground Force, People's ...

* Zhuo Wenjun (), poet * Zou Rong (1885–1905), revolutionary martyr

Notes

References

{{Han subgroups Dai people Subgroups of the Han Chinese Nakhi people Tujia people Qiang people Yi people Ethnic groups in Sichuan