The Study Of Non-governmental Exchanges Between Different Nationalities In Hetao Area In The Qing Dynasty

The non-governmental exchanges between different nationalities occupy a very significant position, which is the premise of the appearance of national relations, the basic approaches in actual contacts between different nationalities and consistently belongs to the normal development and existence in maintaining the ethnic relationships. In the related fields of research emerged considerably a number of works on ethnic relations, the history of ethnic relations and ethnic history theory. However, this kind of research generally always focused on the exchanges between different national regimes, and the upper-classes, placing extra emphasis and relatively concentrating on the formulation and implementation of official national policy rather than a systematic and thorough research for non-governmental exchanges between different nationalities. On the basis of that,in the perspective of non-governmental contacts between ethnics, taking Hetao area in Qing Dynasty as the object of study, this paper exerts indispensable explorations and research for non-governmental contacts between different ethnics.In the beginning of the essay, the paper discusses the value and significance of the topic, clarifies the field of study and methods of research, and current research status at home and abroad and the main problems this research is going to solve. First and foremost, it elaborates that the interactions between different ethnics are traditional forms of ancient Chinese ethnic relations. Also, it sorts out the concepts and forms of ancient ethnic relations and nongovernmental exchanges. On the basis of summarizing two states of the ancient Chinese national relations, at war or at peace, and their national communication methods, it further illustrates that non-governmental exchanges between different ethnics run through the different states of nation, endless and continuous, which occupies an irreplaceable position in the inter-ethnic integration and the changing process of ethnic relations. Second, taking the Hetao area in Qing Dynasty as an example, it focuses on various forms of inter-ethnic civil contacts. Immigration is both a main motivation of inter-ethnic communication, but also is an important form of non-governmental exchanges between different nationalities. On the basis of outlining the Mongolian situation in the early Qing Dynasty, it systematically clarifies three waves of immigration towards Hetao area in Qing Dynasty and summarizes that immigration, as one of the important forms of civil national exchanges, demonstrates a potent historical significance. After the national migration, even the immigrants’ settlement, an extensive inter-ethnic economic exchanges was carried out and became another important form of inter-ethnic civil exchanges. Regarding three waves of immigration in Hetao area of Qing Dynasty as the basis, it discussed the close contacts in different periods between the Mongolian and various ethnic groups in agricultural, handicraft products, and commercial aspects.In addition to migration and economic exchanges, national intermarriages and exchanges of different customs also became an important aspect in non-governmental exchanges between nationalities.Third, it analyzes the historical role of non-governmental exchanges between nationalities. In national non-governmental exchanges between the Mongolian and the Han in Qing Dynasty, the Mongolian economic structure, its political system and cultural life have undergone profound changes and established a new ethnic relationship patterns, taking the Economic Community of Mongolian and the Han as core. In Qing Dynasty, the immigration and its outcome, national non-governmental interactions in economy, culture promote the changes of ethnic relations between the Mongolian and the Han, and thus pushing the historical process of a divided-to-united relationship between the Mongolian and the Han, forming a correlated and inseparable national relations and enhancing the inter-ethnic cohesion. This kind of social changes and establishment of new patterns exerts an extremely important influence on formulation and implementation of the official national policy and cohesion of the Chinese nation.As the most direct and effective force in maintaining ethnic relations, non-governmental exchanges between nationalities plays an important role in promoting awareness of Chinese nation and the formation ofPluralistic Integration pattern of Chinese. An effective regulation and guide of the development of non-governmental exchanges can positively ease the ethnic conflicts, promote national integration and have practical significances.