Ethnic Identification in China: The Origins of the 56 Ethnic Groups

Author: Huang Guangxue
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: This book is the research outcome of the project "Social Survey Research on China's Ethnic Minorities—China's Ethnic Identification," which was approved for implementation by the National Social Science Planning Foundation in 1990. Ethnic identification refers to the differentiation of the ethnic components and names of a group, representing a crucial ethnic task since the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Ethnic identification is a foundational work with strong theoretical, scientific, and policy implications, yet it is also highly complex. It directly relates to the implementation of the Communist Party of China's ethnic policies, the establishment and development of socialist ethnic relations, the strengthening of ethnic unity, the consolidation of national unity, and the realization of long-term stability and peace. It is particularly significant for the implementation of ethnic regional autonomy policies, the successful advancement of socialist modernization, and the common prosperity of all ethnic groups. Therefore, ethnic identification is both an extremely demanding and politically significant practical task and a scientifically valuable research endeavor. Practice has proven that the ethnic identification conducted after the establishment of the People's Republic of China has been successful, aligning with China's realities, resolving long-standing unresolved issues, achieving remarkable accomplishments, and becoming an integral part of China's socialist ethnic work and ethnic scientific research with distinct Chinese characteristics. It has played a driving role in determining the ethnic structure of the People's Republic of China, maintaining a stable and unified political situation, and fostering solidarity among all ethnic groups in building socialism. Over the past four decades, Chinese ethnic workers and ethnic researchers have conducted extensive and in-depth studies and discussions on ethnic concepts, the formation and development of ethnic groups, the complexity of China's ethnic identification issues, the theoretical basis of ethnic identification, the achievements and significance of ethnic identification, as well as the successful experiences, existing problems, and unresolved issues in China's ethnic identification work. This book provides a systematic and comprehensive review and summary of the aforementioned aspects of ethnic identification, reflecting both major achievements and successful experiences while also highlighting existing problems. It offers valuable references for further addressing unresolved issues in ethnic identification, helping a broad readership—including cadres, particularly ethnic workers and ethnic researchers—to gain a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of China's ethnic issues and ethnic work. This will contribute to strengthening ethnic unity, consolidating national unity, and collectively striving for the construction of a socialism with Chinese characteristics!