The Hinterland Of China Mixed Hui Ethnic Identity

A case study was undertaken with a Hui minzu community named Xiguan, located in the Qiaocheng District of north-west Anhui Province. The dissertation focuses on the ethnicity and diversity of the Hui minzu in a non-autonomous, Han dominated, region of China and poses the following questions: How do the Hui express their ethnicity in their daily life? How do they interact with their neighbours -the majority Han? How does the state construction and policy affect the minzu and how to the Hui view themselves -how do the two fit together?As the third largest and most widely dispersed ethnic group in China, the Hui minzu requires attention. Academic studies have traditionally focused on the aspects of history and general cultural features with little emphasis on within-group variety. To be congratulated, a few scholars have recently started to concern themselves with the Hui self-identity as well as issues regarding their ethnicity. However, the understanding is still largely based on the 'typical Hui' minzu stereotype from the northwest regions of China, while ignoring the atypical Hui minzu communities located within Han-dominated areas.Furthermore, under the influence of the academic tradition that has paid special attention to religion and the historical/biological evolution, there is a tendency, when the Hui minzu is discussed, to immediately identify their intrinsic and stereotyped qualities. Thus, it has significance both for the Hui themselves and for our understanding of the ethnic group as a whole to allow the separation of religion from the traditional and nationalistic definitions of Hui minzu identity and ethnicity using anthropological theories and approaches.The first chapter introduces a review of ethnic identity theories and research findings on Hui minzu identity. Following the piesentation of past researchers' work, the aim and meaning of the current study are formulated. Chapter two, while describing the general conditions of my fieldwork place, also reveals the historical context from which the Huihave developed into the current institutionalized minzu and shows the living patterns and social contexts that allow the Hui to maintain their identity despite anthropologically problematic issues of territory and economy -to help us understand that this is their common and shared homeland with other ethnic groups. The main body of the dissertation is in Chapter 3. In this part, the author has tried to show the cultural representation and symbolic ethnic identity of the Xiguan Hui through every aspect of their daily life, in order to uncover the multiplicity and diversity of Hui minzu identity, the multidimensional ways of identity representation, and the process of negotiation (which could perhaps be analogized as like a game of chess) between the Hui minzu, the Government, and the surrounding society. In chapter four, it is analyzed the way the Xiguan Hui conduct boundary maintenance and protect their bloodlines during the daily interactions with the majority (Han minzu), while at the same time being affected and sometimes assimilated by exchanges with the other.Based on my fieldwork, with the reflection of former research findings on ethnic identity, especially theories of Hui minzu identity, the author argues that Hui identity may not only just be rigidly based upon the adherence to the Hui religion as one such ethnic identity symbol, and in fact religion even may not be the core of their identity maintenance. With the strengthening of the Hui minzu as a politically accepted and protected institution in the nation-state, the representation and expression of Hui minzu identity is developing into a multi-dimensional and multi-recognizable ethnic group. It therefore seems impossible to explain this phenomenon from a single perspective. The Hui of Xiguan, who live in many ways cut off from the center of Islam, have both current and historical bases for their ethnic identity and expression of it. Their identity is ever-changing at the level of state and society from the single principal of religion to multi-di...