The Religious Life Of Cross-border Myanmar Kachins

This thesis is a research on the religious life of cross-border Myanmar Kachin People migrating from Myanmar to Ruili,a border city of Yunnan Province.By observing and participating in their religious life along with in-depth interview,this research is trying to provide some references concerning relative topics on religion and mobility of cross-border minorities.The fieldwork of this research is based but not limited in a church called Ruili Pa Se Christian Church,because it can gather to the uttermost all cross-border Myanmar Kachins staying in Ruili.By engaging into the religious activities in Pa Se Christian Church,the researcher gets the chance of blending into the cross-border Kachin community.On this basis,the researcher selects and sorts out 28 sets of objects to conduct quantitative study,so as to understand the group of cross-border Myanmar Kachins as a whole.Moreover,this thesis also gives attention to the means of livelihood,the dynamics of migration,the interaction of individuals,social communications,and a case study of cross-border Myanmar Kachins other than their religious life,in order to discuss the relationship between religious life and cross-border mobility;the religious function of church for mobile Kachins;religious identity,ethnic identity,and national identity of cross-border minorities;as well as the guiding significance of religious life towards secular life.In the end,the research conclusions are as follows.Firstly,the cross-border migration of Myanmar Kachins is motivated primarily by economic rationality followed by the adaptation and adjustment of religious,social and cultural life.Secondly,for cross-border Myanmar Kachins church has dual fuctions of positivity and negativity.Besides,to live a Christian life in Ruili for cross-border Myanmar Kachins is a way to demonstrate their immigrant status and ethnic identity.Finally,daily and individual religious interactions of cross-border minorities living in different countries have little effect on their national and ethnic identity.Besides cross-border religious activities on a regular basis imply some possibilities of religious infiltration and thus may threaten our national and border security,but it can still under control by means of valid supervision and guidance.