Social Function Of The Mosque

The human society is experiencing city process, so city is becoming the field that the anthropology can't avoid. Since 1980s, ethnic group has become the theme of urban anthropology. Different ethnic groups complex with each other, making a complicated multi-culture. And the conflict and harmony between ethnic groups have grown into the chief matter. In addition to the political and economic factor, identity is an increasing problem in ethnic conflict. Hui nationality is the one that based on Islam. It's traditional gathering that based on the mosque has been gradually broken in the strike of the urban multi-culture. Meanwhile, because of different education, earning, profession and age, city Hui nationality who believe in the same Islam have different benefit request. Then, how Hui nationality keep ethnic identity in such background? What is the meaning of the existence of mosques?With these issues, this dissertation offers a case study of Lanzhou mosques. By discussing the relation between mosque and Hui identity, it presents Hui's social interaction, the ebb and flow of the Islam force and ethnic identity and boundary change in the special area. This dissertation will explore the following questions:(1) In the multi-culture city, the traditional religion culture of the Jamaat will be influenced by the outside environment inevitably. Then, what part does the Islam belief as the tradition play in? And by what medium? How the Hui carry out their belief in the opening Jamaat? How do they explain their belief ? Why do they return to Islam in such increasingly developing times? And how the course goes along ?(2) The heterogeneity and fluidity of urban society leads to the Jamaat boundary's faintness, but the Hui dispersing in the city still participate in rituals of the Islam in the mosque. Then, how does the Hui's identity present in that moment? And how do they keep solidarity in their daily life ? Whether or not the boundary exists in the Hui group ?(3) As a religion organization, how does the mosque associate the state with the society? And how does it integrate the Hui's multi-identities?By depicting ethnography, having deep talk and making questionnaire investigation, this dissertation reaches three conclusions as follows:firstly, the human being's chanciness, fragility and lack of demand are the cause of the religion's existence. The belief of Qian Ding and Hou Shi in the Islam can make the Hui who are facing indefinite state transfer their problems out of their real-life, and then gain support, comfort and harmony. Besides, the common faith is the source of group coherence. In china, there are 10 nationalities believe in Islam. Despite differentiation and interest contention, the thinking that all muslim under the sun is one family will appear when muslim face non-muslim.secondly, the heterogeneity and fluidity of urban society leads to the Jamaat boundary's faintness. But based upon the similar life style and the sense of safety and reliance from familiar social network, most Hui people still hold the Jamaat consciousness. The Hui dispersed in the city take part in all kinds of rituals in mosques where their identity is shown obviously. And the identity is mostly embodied in the form of friendship, marriage and reciprocity. So, the mosque is not only the point of intercourse for muslims, it also the symbol of the Hui nationality's culture reproduction and the space of imagination for Hui community.Also, we should notice that the range of identity is changing with different others. In the mainstream society, muslim is a sign of intense coherence. But in the inner Hui group, there is insurmountable isolation because of the differentiation of sect, the different degree of piety and the distinguishing between the New Muslim and the Hui people. What the reason? It attributes to the competition for the religion resource, the different explanation for the symbolizing power and the social impact.Therefore, the ethnic identity is not only emotional-symbolism, but also instrumental-economical. We should pay attention to the relationship between them and the allocation and rule of the interest and competition.Thirdly, as a substance, the mosque is not only a symbol in the city, it also is a kind of middle-organization which associates the state with society. And during this process, the religion elite play an important part. Their ability matters the mosque's development which influences the Hui's identity. And the strong identity shows the decriminalization of the elite's authority.Another point of the relation between religion and society is about Hui people's self-identity. Because they identify with Islam, they are inclined to choose Muslim as their self-identity. And they choose the call of Hui conditionally.Based upon the above discussion, this dissertation concludes that the culture-symbol-pattern of one society is decisive to some degree. In the city, the distinct symbol of Hui nationality is the mosque which is the space of rite performance and collective memory reappearance. But while the group member build the collective identity according to some pattern, the boundary in the group is producing. Based on the social categorization, Hui nationality show their group style and homogeneity by the symbol of mosque and rite performance. But due to different point of view about Islam, historical memory and the conflict of religion interest, the differentiation also exists. In a word, mosque can integrate the Hui's diverse identities, which makes the individual identify with himself and the nationality, integrates the Islam believerhood into citizenhood, builds the meaningful groundwork for the Hui.