ABSTRACT

As China strengthens its links with its neighbours through its Belt and Road initiative, there is growing interest in the indigenous peoples of China’s western and southwestern borderlands. This book, based on extensive original research, considers the indigenous peoples of Yunnan province, which is a major gateway between China and the countries of south and south-east Asia. Unlike many books on China’s indigenous peoples which are written by foreigners who have lived for a while in China, this book is comprised of the work of Chinese scholars, many of them members of ethnic minorities themselves, and considers the issues from a Chinese perspective.

chapter |5 pages

Introduction

Infinite diversity and possibilities of ethnicity: Ethnic practice in Southwest China

part 1|42 pages

Ethnicity and migration

chapter 1|8 pages

Transnational migration and ethnic-group identity in the context of globalization

Issues raised by case studies from the border regions of Southwest China

chapter 2|15 pages

The cultural adaptation of the Wa floating population

A case study of Damasan village in Ximeng, Yunnan

chapter 3|10 pages

The predicament of development for those on the margins of a nation

A case study of New Naduo village in Myanmar

part 2|31 pages

Ethnicity and marriage

chapter 5|15 pages

Changing history, with an unchanged cultural root

A case study on marriage customs among Hui Muslims in Nagu town, Yunnan

chapter 6|14 pages

Interpretations of the social and cultural meanings of dowry among the Miao people

Based on the example of Bajiaoqing village in Fumin County of Yunnan Province

part 3|36 pages

Christianity

chapter 8|6 pages

From school to village

An anthropological analysis of ethnic minority cultural identity in Guangshan

part 4|33 pages

Islam

chapter 10|24 pages

Muslim diversity and localization

The Hui ethnic group in Yunnan

part 5|27 pages

Other religions

chapter 12|13 pages

Functions of magic in contemporary Sharen society

A case study on magic among the Sharen of Babao Township

chapter 13|12 pages

The custom of ‘secondary burial’ through the interaction between Tibetan Buddhism and Confucian culture

A case study of Benzilan Tibetan village in Deqin County, Diqing Prefecture, Yunnan Province