The Study On The Transition Of The Identity Of Baxdeibs Of Miao People In Tujia-Miao Autonomous Prefecture Of Xiangxi

The purpose of this thesis is to study the process of the transition of the identityof baxdeibs of Miao people in Xiangxi region. The traditional Miao people’s villages’life is the protective shell of the inherent identity of baxbeibs. After the founding ofthe People’s Republic of China, brand-new political system and economic systemhave a significant impact on the identity of baxdeibs. This thesis consists of theintroduction, three chapters and the conclusion.The introduction of the thesis includes: the genesis of the research, the status ofthe research, the characteristics and innovations of the research, and the briefintroduction of the field.The first chapter of this thesis introduces: In ancient times, in Miao people’svillages, baxdeibs, the labouring clergymen, were endowed with triple-identity(priests, wizards, and rap artists). Their first identity (priests) was rooted in bloodgroups in Miao villages, which was the central expressive role of them. Their secondidentity (wizards) was nourished by Wunuo culture, which was an active professionalrole of them. Their third identity (rap artists) was the product of the need of thesociety of Miao people, which was the additional necessary role of them. Entrustingwith triple-identity, baxdeibs had a high social position in old times, which were theauthority on the spirit(‘the culture’), politics in Miao people’s villages.The second chapter of this thesis shows: After the founding of New China, theidentity of baxdeibs has gone down and up many times. First, in the era of ChairmanMao, their political status went down rapidly: from the advanced figures and themanagers in village life in the old society to the ‘backward roles’ andgovernment-control objects in the new society. Their authority was suppressed heavily:from the overall suppression in the Chairman Mao era to the finite control in theperiod of reform and opening up. Second, their cultural identity has been transferredperiodically: from implicit or explicit ‘working people’s artists’ to a clear culturalidentity of ‘the Intangible Cultural Heritage heirs’ and the dazzling spokesmen ofMiao culture in the tourism industry of Xiangxi.Third, their economic role takes anew look now: from the traditional self-sufficient but poor village-baxdeibs to the‘modern economic activity operators’in socialist market system.The third chapter of this thesis introduces the intrinsic reasons of the transition ofthe identity of baxdeibs: new social factors have undermined the old roles of baxdeibs,while endowing the baxdeibs’ identity with new meaning. These factors include: theestablishment of medical treatment system for public health, the development ofnational education system and the modern rural culture industry, the acceleration ofthe social mobility, and the evolution of the mentality of Miao society based on thesefactors above.The conclusion reviews the process of the transition of baxdeibs and prospectsthe tendency of the transition of the identity of baxdeibs.The process of the transition of identity of baxdeibs illustrates: Firstly, in thetransition of the structure of Miao society dominated by the government, baxdeibs’identity is under the control of the regime now. Secondly, external control from the regime and the internal transition of the structure of village community determine thedirection and the intensity of the transition of the identity of baxdeibs.Thirdly, onlyby making reasonable choices in social changes can baxdeibs achieve the goal of the‘identity reconstruction’ of their own.