How do Uyghur villages traditionally organize social life?

The Uyghur people of Xinjiang are traditionally sedentary farmers whose social organization is centered upon the village.12

These communities are primarily located within a network of oases situated in the valleys and lower slopes of mountain systems, such as the Tien Shan. Because the region is highly arid, their social and economic life has historically revolved around the practice of irrigation to manage and conserve water supplies for agriculture.2

Many important cultural forms within these village-centered communities are rooted in Islam, which serves as a significant foundation for their traditions. While the Uyghurs have historically lacked centralized political unity, the village remains the primary unit of their social structure.12