The Ethnic Identity And Expression Of Scattered And Mixed Hui Nationality

The Hui's ethnic identity, as the basic problem of researches on the Hui nationality, has been a focal point of scholars to research. At present study of Hui's ethnic identity by scholars in China have focused mostly on Hui communities in the northwest areas, while comparatively fewer researched have been made on the Hui nationality in areas inhabited by many ethnic groups. As one of the most widely distributed nationalities in China,80% of population of the Hui nationality are made of scattered and mixed Hui people that live in various areas. The contacts and relationships between scattered and mixed Hui nationality and other nationalities are more direct and more often so that their ethnic emotion and ethnic sense are more sensitive. Study and researches on problems and changes in scattered and mixed Hui nationality's culture and identity are of more realistic significance if we want to understand Hui nationality better.This article sets scattered and mixed Hui nationality in Chifeng city of Inner Mongolia as study objectives. Through observing expressions of essential elements in ethnic identity such as religious activities, eating habits, languages, ethnic costumes and traditional festivals, the article tries to analyze the local ethnic identity situation there. The scattered and mixed Hui nationality, which is subordinate in economic statuses, appears protection and seeking their own economic interests when they are competing for resources with other nationalities. Hui nationality there needs to widen their identity and it is easier for them to absorb and identify cultures of other nationalities. As a result, the performance of Islamic culture is more hidden among local scattered and mixed Hui nationality.Compared with Hui nationality who lives in communities, different pictures can be seen in life of local scattered and mixed Hui nationality. The reasons of such differences are as follows:weakening of religious senses and activities, breaking of living pattern in Hui's communities, changes in Hui's education styles, eagerness for steady professions and reduction in number of vendors of Hui's traditional trades. When the identity standards, which are made according to the religion of Hui nationality living in concentrated communities, cannot include all members of Hui nationality, the Hui nationality in areas inhabited by many ethnic groups will alter their standards to adapt to such changes in ethnic culture. The identity standards have show the tendency of turning from religion identity oriented to diverse national guidelines for ethnic identity, including religion, consanguinity and household registration system.