The Manchu Formation Rethinking

Ethnic self-identity or self-ascription consciousness, which is the most important factor for the definition of ethnic in anthropology, is applied into the research of Manchu's vicissitude as community, from the ninth year of Tiancong 1635 when Manchu was nominated until the Emperor Qianlong's Reign.It is pointed out that during the above mentioned time Manchu community experienced the transition from conquering group to ethnic group. The attempt made by Jurchen tribes under the rule of Nurhaci to affiliate themselves historically with Jurchen in Jin-yuan was interrupted by Hong Taiji in the way of altering the name to Manchu and Great Qing dynast. The Manchu Eight banners around the time of entering the Shanhai Pass were tribal groups speaking Jurchen language and simply formed together by the political -military system. The ethnic consciousness of tribal group was restrained because the Qing court deliberately ignored the discrimination of Manchu and Han in inner Eight banners and even the whole nation. The Qing Dynasty saw its prosperity under the emperor Qianlong 's reign, but paralleled the rapid degradation of Manchu's traditional culture characterized with ethnic language and ride. With this background, the effort of constructing Manchu's historical root was strengthened notably, which can be manifested from the following two aspects: firstly, the history of Manchu was rooted back to Jurchen in Jin-yuan over again ; secondly, the main part of Manchu, namely Conglongruguan was molded renewedly. The new Manchu group which was constructed consciously and possessed special consanguinity and historical experiences indicates that Manchu basically succeeded in transforming into a previous morden ethnic group.