Zakhchin
Location of the Zakhchin | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 32,845 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Mongolia | 32,845 |
| Languages | |
| Oirat language | |
| Religion | |
| Tibetan Buddhism, Mongolian shamanism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Mongols, especially Oirats | |
The Zakhchin (Mongolian: Захчин) is a subgroup of the Oirats residing in Khovd Province, Mongolia. Zakhchin means 'Border people'. They are so called because they originated from the border garrison (mainly from Torghut, Dorbet Oirat, and Dzungar) 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.