| Acculturation is the essential form of cultural change. The causes of acculturation vary, and their influences on cultural change are different too. The development of Mongolians in Qinghai over the past seven centuries presents multi-dimensional trajectories. Among other Mongolian communities, the one entering Henan Mongolian Autonomous County (HM) gradually accepted and identified with Tibetan culture based on religious identity as a result of intersection between the state, elites, interethnic relations and environment. It has led HM to abandonment of their cultural traits on the surface whilst remaining some elements on a deep level. This thesis examines the development of Mongolian-Tibetan relations by looking at the process in which Mongolians entered Qinghai, and the related social background, important historical events. It focuses on the diffusion of Gelupa and the implementation of Meng-Qi institution among Qinghai Mongolians to scrutinize cultural change of HM under the changes on the surface and the identity insistence on a deep level. The changes on the surface are illustrated in the change of HM socio-political and economic systems, their conversion into Tibetan Buddhism, and wedding customs, dressing code, language, daily customs. The deep level of identity insistence is examined through the establishment of the HM Autonomous County, continuity of the Mongolian yurt, reinstitution of Naadam, as well as ethnic identification. The findings reveal that the majority of HM hold a strong awareness of ethnic identity in spite of their acceptance of Tibetan culture. Meanwhile, some HM show ambivalent feelings. It thus concludes that ethnic identity is a multi-dimensional presentation with reference to emotional identity, scenic identity and ambiguous psychological identity. In the process of ethnic interaction, the disappearance of some cultural traits on the surface does not imply singularity in ethnic identity. Ethnic identity always is in a fluid process of change.
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