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Muslim Chinese—the Hui in Rural Ningxia: Internal Migration and Ethnoreligious Identification

By (author) Xiaoming Wang

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The Hui are predominantly Muslim Chinese who claim ancestry from Persian and Arabicspeaking regions in Central Asia and the Middle East. According to the 2010 census, the Hui are the largest Muslim group in China and its third largest ethnic minority with a total population of 10.6 million. Due to their extensive geographic distribution and longterm acculturation by the atheist Han majority, the question of Hui identity is rarely raised in humanities and social sciences both in China and abroad. This book examines Hui idenÂtity in the rural area of Ningxia Hui AutoÂnoÂmous Region, while taking account of Chinaâ€™s rapid moderÂniÂsaÂtion and induÂsÂtriaÂliÂsaÂtion in the twentyfirst century. SpeciÂfiÂcally, it focuses on the massive internal migraÂtion of rural popuÂlaÂtions, which has been playing an essenÂtial role in the socioeÂcoÂnomic life of Chinese peasants in the past few decades. Based on field data collected between 2011 and 2013 among the Jahriyya Hui, the study seeks to clarify the impacts of migraÂtion on the Huiâ€™s ethnoÂreÂliÂgious idenÂtity by invesÂtiÂgaÂting three key issues: the Huiâ€™s purity concept, fasting and their belief in the afterÂworld. In relaÂtion to these refeÂrence points, reliÂgious rituals, incluÂding commeÂmoÂraÂtion cereÂmoÂnies and the Ramadan fast as well as their chanÂging forms and values, are illuÂsÂtÂrated and analysed. The thesis shows that Islam contiÂnues to play a crucial part in drawing bounÂdaÂries and mainÂtaiÂning idenÂtity for the Hui both before and after migraÂtion. However, popuÂlaÂtion moveÂments in Ningxia are resulÂting in increased interÂacÂtions between Hui and Han popuÂlaÂtions as well as between Hui from diverse â€ºmenhuanâ€¹ (Sufi paths). ConseÂquÂently, the Huiâ€™s unique â€ºmenhuanâ€¹ awareÂness is being weakened and their purity concept subjected to many queries, doubts, ambiÂguiÂties, and tensions.