Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 2021, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (04): 653-663.doi: 10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2020.0035

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Origin of the Chinese Sherpa people viewed from somatotype study

BAO Jinping1(), ZHENG Lianbin2(), YU Keli2, WANG Yaxuan2, DU Huimin2   

  1. 1. Institute of Sports Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387
    2. College of Life Science, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Animal and Plant Resistance, Tianjin 300387
  • Received:2018-10-11 Revised:2019-09-22 Online:2021-08-15 Published:2021-08-17
  • Contact: ZHENG Lianbin E-mail:balaqiang111@163.com;zhenglianbin@sina.com

Abstract:

The Chinese Sherpa are unidentified ethnic groups.The paper studied the somatotyping characteristics of the Chinese Sherpa. Comparing Sherpa with other ethnic groups in China, it provided the new evidence for the study of the Sherpa’s ethnic origin from the perspective of physical anthropology. Methods: The Sherpa’s physical data were measured.The Heath-Carter method was used to calculate the Sherpa’s somatotyping value.The principal component analysis was used to analyze the characteristics and similarity of the Sherpa and other ethnic groups. Putting forward the viewpoint of the Sherpa’s ethnic origin from the aspect of physical anthropology. Results: The males of Sherpa were Balance Mesomorph. They had moderate body fat, strong bones and muscles, and moderate linearity. The females of Sherpa were Endomorphic Mesomorph. They had lean body fat, medium bones and muscles, and moderate linearity. The somatotyping characteristics of Sherpa were close to Nu, Muya and Ersu. The body characteristics analysis didn’t support the vew that the Sherpa was a Tibetan branch. Conclusions: The somatotyping characteristics supported the view that the Sherpa originated from Tangut.

Key words: Heath-Carter method, Sherpa, Zang, Muya, Origin

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