“56个民族的来历”并非源于民族识别——关于族别调查的认识与思考

“The Origin of the Fifty Six Nationalities”Does Not Derive From the Nationality Classification Project——Understandings and Reflections on the Nationality Classification Project

20世纪50年代个别省区开展族别调查,但民族识别从未列入(全国)民族工作的日程,只是个别省区对个别族体曾开展过族别调查。有关部门之所以开展族别调查,只是辨析族体,确认或恢复族称。这些新确认的民族仅占中国各民族数的1/4、人口的3%(1964年统计数),因而不能认为"56个民族的来历"源于民族识别。以20世纪50年代云南省的族别调查为例,其开展的族别调查是配合民族语文创制而展开。云南民族分布以北纬24°为南北界线、东经99°与东经104°为东西界线划为彝语支、壮傣语支和瓦崩语支的民族界限,新确认的少数民族是这些界线内非该语支民族或界线外的民族。傈僳族的确认与怒族的族别调查过程表明中国各少数民族是历史形成的,并非识别产生。20世纪50年代少数省区对个别族体开展调查、辨析族属、明确族称,只是对该共同体的明确,关键在于国家的确认。

The so-called 'Nationalities Classification Project'refers to differentiating the ethnic composition and ethnic names of a nationality.In other words,the purpose of the 'Nationalities Classification Projectc ' was to analyze the'ethnic composition'or 'ethnic name',determine their attribution,and to determine whether or not they are minorities based on their self-designated name,history,living area,customs,spoken and written language,and self-awareness.Huang Guangxue notes in his work that the Chinese nationalities were identified after the 'Nationality Classification Project'.He even gave a positive appraisal by promoting the 'Nationality Classification Project'as 'the origin of the 56 nationalities'of China.We think that the viewpoint that 'the 56 nationalities of China are determined through this kind of classification'does not fit with the historical reality of the Chinese nationalities going through a process of gradual formation,fusion and development.In 1950,except for Tibet,the various regions of China were liberated successively.In order to understand the various nationalities,disseminate the central government' s concern for the minorities,as well as promote minority policies found in the The Common Program( one of the CPPCC documents which functioned as a provisional constitution until the first constitution was drafted in1954),the central government organized a central( nationalities)investigation mission team.The mission was expanded from the initial Southwest Mission to the Northwest Mission,and the South Central China Mission.They,as delegates of the Central Government,visited various ethnic areas.第四卷However,according to the data about the mission,we find that the responsibility of the teams was only to do surveys,but not to do a classification of the nationalities.According to the decision of the Chinese Politburo,China ' s nationality work from 1950 to1953 was to establish nationality autonomous regions or political unions of various nationalities and social circles;ensure the rights of the nationalities;establish institutes for the nationalities for training cadres from the nationalities;consider creating writing systems for those minorities without scripts;promote patriotism and enhance the national identity;and implement land reform in those ethnic areas where economic structures were the same or similar to those of the Han Chinese.During this process,the people' s government also adopted various measures to eliminate those ethnic names or place names that historically had a discriminatory or insulting meaning.However,the relevant documents approved by the Central Government did not contain any content related to nationality classification.In addition,we cannot find any orders or mention about conducting a nationality classification in the collection documents from leaders in the tongzhanbu( the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the CPC)or the zhongyang minwei( the Central Nationality Affairs Commission).After we reviewed the main documents from the tongzhanbu and the zhongyang minwei,we found that there were no any records pertaining to the ethnic/nationality classification or any special files.This is all to say that in the documents pertaining to the ethnic minority work carried out during the early years of the New China,there was no mention of any mission to do 'Nationality Classification'During the years 1954 to 1959,in addition to the continuation of setting up and perfecting regional autonomy,developing production,improving the economy,developing culture,education and hygiene,the main ethnic work of China included the following:implementing democratic reform in some regions( i.e.peaceful consultation on land reform and 'direct transition ');conducting social surveys in various ethnic areas so as to make clear the history,social situation and economic stage of development of each group;and creating or perfecting the writing systems for some minorities.However,during this period,it is true that the social surveys made in Yunnan,Hunan,Guangxi,and Heilongjiang did include a 'zubie'( ethnic assignment)survey in which fourteen minorities with a population of 1.02 million were confirmed.However,judging from the regions involved,the number of nationalities being confirmed as well as the population,they represent only a small part of China' s minorities.At that time,this kind of 'ethnic assignment'surveys in these provinces belonged to more general ethnic affairs work.They had no special position,and,of course,were not the most important task to be solved'.Nationality classification was not part of the ethnic work of the whole country.Among the 'ethnic assignment'surveys conducted in several provinces,although Yunnan was not one of the earliest to conduct these surveys,it was the most extensive and most typical province to do so.Among the 17 new minorities confirmed after 1953,seven are in Yunnan,accounting for40% of the total.Thus,in the discussion of 'nationality classification ',it is difficult to ignore Yunnan.Therefore,this article takes Yunnan as the most typical case for understanding the work of'nationality classification'.On May 15,1954,the Yunnan Research Team for Nationality Classification was organized.This team was divided into seven groups.Twenty one minorities,including the Yi,Bai,Hani,Dai,Zhuang,Miao,Lisu,Hui,Lahu,Wa,Naxi,Jingpo,Yao,Tibetan,Bulang,Achang,Nu,Pumi,Benglong( presently called De' ang),Dulong,and Mongolian,were identified and formally listed as minorities of China by the State Ethnic Affairs Commission.However,this work was not called minzu shibie( nationality classification),but zubie diaocha( nationality assignment investigation).The lead office specifically set up to conduct this survey was called the yunnansheng minzu zubie yanjiuzu( Yunnan Provincial Nationalities Assignment Research Team),but not the shibie yanjiuzu( classification research team).Although there is some relation between shibie( classification)and zubie( nationality assignment),there are also significant differences between the two.The key to'classification'is'identifying';it is to find out whether there are 'differences'through the work of 'identifying'.Nationality assignment,however,is first to understand the 'differences'of each nationality,and then to confirm the nationality classification by the government.In order to understand more deeply and comprehensively the investigations on 'nationality assignment'during that time,let us take the Lisu and Nu as cases for an analysis.Influenced by various factors,most Lisu move locations continuously.Although there are differences among the Lisu in different areas,these differences are formed due to the living needs,the change of environment,or the exchanges among various groups during the process of migration.It is only an external representation of various branches of Lisu,and not an essential difference.On the contrary,there are many common grounds among Lisu in various regions,especially their strong self-identity which is an essential representation of the nationality.Therefore,we can say that the Lisu are a unified nationality.Following a principle of giving name with the respect of the nationality' s will,as well as taking references from the history,the term 'Lisu'is confirmed as having been used continuously.Since the Ming dynasty,and due to pressure caused by the migration of the Lisu,some Nu people migrated from Weixi to the Nujiang area,and others to the south and north areas of the Nu Valley.The language,customs,costumes and religious beliefs among the Nu in these three areas differ somewhat.When the survey team came to Nujiang in 1954,they stated that 'Nu'and 'Qiu'must belong to the same nationality.However,this concept differed from the historical literature where they were taken as two different nationalities.After repeated research,through taking into consideration historical factors,and on the basis of the local people' s will,the relevant institutes,taking the Nu River and Dulong River as the borders,confirmed the Nu people who lived in the Nu River valley as belonging to the Nu nationality,and those who lived in the Dulong river valley as the Dulong nationality.And,they set up a Dulong Autonomous area.During the 1950s and 60s,the scale of the zubie( ethnic assignment)surveys was the largest,the number of ethnic groups involved the most,and the number of times the surveys were conducted in Yunnan was the most.The purpose of the zubie survey was only to clarify the ethnic families of the groups,to analyze their nationality assignment;and to offer suggestions.Only the state has the right to confirm their zubie( ethnic assignment).In China,the minorities have their own social position and political treatment;they have unique' political,economic,cultural and educational benefits;and the state must provide,protect and ensure these benefits.Therefore,the zubie( ethnic assignment)investigation was the business of the scholars,whereas the confirmation of this assignment was the right of the state.Nonetheless,the work of confirmation was the key.Through understanding of the work of'nationality classification'in Yunnan,we think that the various nationalities of China were formed through a long historical process.The work done by relevant governmental institutions after the founding of the New China is a 'confirmation',making clear minority identity,and ensuring an equal position.Therefore,it was not necessary to conduct 'exten-sive'surveys.Because only some places or only a few ethnic groups were involved in the survey,it is not correct for us to promote the work to such a high level calling it 'China' s nationality classification 'or,even to a degree where some state that it is 'the origin of the 56 nationalities'of China.