What Is Home?

China has suffered from disasters from the very beginning of the year 2008, such as snow disaster in southern China, and Tibetan unrest, etc. The 5.12 earthquake has peaked the tragedy. The earthquake not only killed a large number of people but also destroyed their homeland and the local ecology seriously. Reconstruction, therefore, has become the emergency after the earthquake. What the concept of "home" from the view of local Qiang people? What is the respective role of the Government, NGO and Qiang people? This thesis aims at answering these questions.The author did her fieldwork in the village of Niuwei( Cow Tail) for two months. By participant observation and intensive interview, she draws the conclusion that the concept of "home" of the local Qiang people is not as simple as the mainstream society has thought. Form the point view of the Qiang people, "home" should include not only house, domestic animals and other material elements, but also the local ecology and the livelihood based on it. What's more important, "home" consists of social network in the neighborhood and dozens of local Gods. Consequently, the mainstream society should give it a second thought when it considers relocation of the ethic minorities.Chinese government has done a great job after the earthquake in saving people's lives and reconstructing their homes. However, the author believes that the government still has adopted a series of inappropriate measures including relocation of the ethnic minority, psychological counseling, and adoption of Qiang orphan by strange social persons. The author thinks that the government should focus on the reconstruction of the infrastructure including houses and roads, etc. It should not become the subject during the process of reconstruction. NGO has become an important part in the reconstruction, but the author has witnessed destroying of the Qiang culture by certain NGO. So the author hopes that NGO find her right role to play during the reconstruction.Instead, local Qiang people have lived in this land for thousands of years; they know thoroughly how to cope with the local ecology. In consequence, their experience as well as needs should be given enough attention. The outside interference should be excluded and sufficient room should be given to the Qiang people. Their local knowledge should be explored and promoted and their subjectivity should be respected. After all, they are the masters of the land.