Qianjia Dong Movement and the Homeland of the Yao Ethnic Group

Author: Gong Zhibing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-05-01
Features: This book is divided into two volumes. The first volume explores the dynamic Qianjia Dong movement. In 1941, the Yao people in several counties surrounding the Dayao Mountains in Guangxi organized and launched the armed migration "Kill Back to Qianjia Dong," which was brutally suppressed by the Kuomintang army. This was a typical Qianjia Dong movement. The book categorizes the diverse Qianjia Dong movements into four types: return-seeking, cultural transmission, dance and sacrifice, and sacred site identification. Gong Zhibing argues that the Qianjia Dong movement is a global ethnic revival movement that rose in the 19th century and reached its peak in the 20th century, sharing remarkable similarities with local movements worldwide at the same time. The function of the movement is to revitalize national consciousness and character, enhance survival capabilities, and promote a passion for migration. The second volume examines the static geographical location of Qianjia Dong in the first three chapters. Gong Zhibing uses extensive field survey data, county annals, maps, toponyms, genealogies, inscriptions, and unearthed artifacts to convincingly argue that the sacred Qianjia Dong, which the Yao people have sought for generations, is located in the Dupeng Ridge area where Guangxi's Guanyang, Hunan's Jiangyong, and Dao counties meet. The book provides a detailed introduction to the geographical scope, scenic beauty, and ethnic customs of Qianjia Dong in these three counties, vividly presenting a beautiful and primitive natural and cultural landscape to readers. Confirming the geographical location and historical development of Qianjia Dong holds significant importance for exploring the origins and migration patterns of the Yao ethnic group. The fourth chapter of the second volume proposes the important view that the Lingling and Qianjia Dong regions are among the cradles of the Yao ethnic group, depicting the long migration journey of the Yao people in history. These new insights have drawn the attention of renowned anthropologists such as Fei Xiaotong and Li Yiyuan, as evidenced by the prefaces and forewords they wrote for the book. The book's features are as follows:
1. It combines anthropological field research methods with those of history and archaeology, interpreting a wealth of historical records while collecting many valuable unearthed artifacts. It also places particular emphasis on the value of folk handwritten documents and oral traditions.
2. It conducts multi-dimensional, three-dimensional research on the Qianjia Dong issue: starting from the Qianjia Dong movement, identifying its geographical location, introducing its scenic beauty and ethnic customs, and planning for Qianjia Dong tourism development. From the cradle of the Yao people, Qianjia Dong, to their migration across the seas and thousands of miles, the book delves into the subject progressively.
3. Each chapter includes a summary that elevates empirical data into rational reflection, summarizing the essence from chaotic phenomena, often providing insightful conclusions.
4. The book is richly illustrated with maps and photographs at key points, making abstract and complex issues clear at a glance and giving the entire text an intuitive, vivid, and authentic character.
The book's major contributions lie first in confirming the geographical location of Qianjia Dong. Where is the cradle of the Yao people, Qianjia Dong? The Yao people have spent generations searching for it, paying the price of blood and life. Domestic and international Yao scholars have devoted decades to arduous surveys and explorations. In the past, there were various opinions, with disputes unresolved. However, Gong Zhibing's research on Qianjia Dong is now widely recognized as convincing, earning the approval of most Yao scholars and the general public, including Zhang Youjun and Feng Henggao.
Second, Gong Zhibing employs anthropological methods from a global perspective, proposing the concept of the "Qianjia Dong movement." He argues that the Qianjia Dong movement is similar to the Ghost Dance movement of the Native Americans in the United States and the Cargo Movement of the Papuans in Australia/New Guinea, all of which belong to global local movements. This approach combines the examination of Qianjia Dong's geographical location with an analysis of the contemporary Qianjia Dong movement, bridging geography and culture and integrating history with the present.
Third, the Qianjia Dong issue is a localized one in Yao history, but its research may lead to breakthroughs in other related topics. For example, the origins of the Yao ethnic group have long been debated, with theories such as the Wuling Yi theory, the Shan Yue theory, and the multigenetic theory. Gong Zhibing proposes the "Lingling Yi theory," arguing that the Lingling Yi people in the Han Dynasty were the main ancestors of the Yao. The Southward Expedition of Emperor Shun to subdue the Sanmiao people ended with his death in Lingling and Jiuyi Mountain. Since then, the bloodlines of the Jing Yi, Lingling Yi, Mo Yao, and Yao have remained unbroken, and to this day, the region remains one of the most densely populated areas of the Yao people. The Mo Yao primarily migrated northward and eastward, while the Yao mainly moved southward and westward, with multiple crossings of the sea, including passing through Dongting Lake. These are valuable insights.
The book also holds significant practical value. Qianjia Dong boasts beautiful natural scenery, dense forests, and abundant flora and fauna resources. Currently, the three counties of Guanyang, Jiangyong, and Dao have established nature reserves and have strong intentions to develop Qianjia Dong tourism. Jiangyong County has been developing it early, with substantial investments from provincial, municipal, and county governments, yielding considerable economic benefits. Guanyang County has been vigorously developing tourism, with its development plan incorporated into the overall tourism strategy of Guilin City. Several newly developed attractions have already shown promising results. The book provides a theoretical foundation and historical positioning for Qianjia Dong tourism development. Confirming the geographical location of Qianjia Dong, examining its regional scope, acknowledging its historical status as the cradle of the Yao people, and describing its past glory are all essential for its reconstruction. The book also proposes some insightful ideas for Qianjia Dong tourism development. For instance, leveraging the unique terrain of the peak in Dupeng Ridge, a heavenly lake can be built with minimal investment. If completed, it would be the only heavenly lake in southern China, echoing the heavenly lake on Changbai Mountain in the northeast. Another creative idea is to establish Yao totem gardens, totem pole gardens, and totem gardens for all ethnic groups in China and the world within Qianjia Dong.
In summary, this book is a highly academic work on the Qianjia Dong issue and the origins of the Yao ethnic group. It represents an attempt to apply Western anthropological theories of local movements to Chinese realities and to integrate historical exploration with economic development, theoretical inquiry with readability.