A Study On The Relationship Between Hui And Han In Mengcun Hui Autonomous County

Based on sociological and ethnological theories, statistics and data obtained from on-the-spot interview, local history literatures and censuses, the thesis made comprehensive description of the Hui-Han relationship in Mengcun Hui Autonomous County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province. The thesis took local conditions into consideration, adopted Gordon’s analysis of ethnic relationship paradigm and Ma Rong’s measuring variables for ethnic relations, tried to answer such questions as what is the state of Hui-Han relationship, what are the factors beneficial for the construction of a harmonious relationship. The thesis attempted to discuss the relationship from five respects: the social structure, the ethnic consciousness, the religious culture, the ethnic intermarriage, and the national policies. Based on the previous analysis, conclusions have been drew as follows:1. From the perspective of social structure, there are no obvious ethnic stratifications. However the Han has higher level of industrialization than Hui, Han master more industrial skills. Han has advantage in education opportunity and employment. 2. Hui has a strong ethnic identity, despite of the weak religious behaviors. Hui and Han live together can promote mutual understanding and reduce prejudice. Hui and Han in settlement aera have more predudice against the orther ethnic group. Living together benefits to the ethnic relationship. The Hui and Han people all think that "religious belief is different but etiquette makes no difference ", there is no outbreak of large-scale ethnic conflict. 3. The Islamic belief has influenced Hui’s diet custom, wedding and funeral, which also affected the way of interaction between Hui and Han, and their contact degree. The local Hui will participate in the Spring Festival which is considered to be the Han’s Festival. They celebrate with Han but don’t follow their manners. Han will celebrate Corban Festival and Mawlid which is considered to be the Hui’s Festival. But this happened only in areas where Han and Hui live together. 4. The local intermarriage between Hui and Han shows a relatively low rate. Ethnic intermarriage let Hui and Han have more frequently communition and closed relationship. But the promotion effect is limited. Children’s ethnic identity is generally Hui in intermarriage families. They stay away from the Han life and establish the Hui’s consciousness from childhood.5. The implementation of ethnic policies ensured that Hui involved deeply in the process of economic and political development of the society. The local Hui and Han both have gained benefits, shared the achievements of reform and opening up, and enhanced identification to the great motherland and to the Chinese nation.