Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Overview — Regional Ethnic Autonomy (Part 4)
Section 4 Ethnic Relations. To maintain their feudal rule, successive central dynasties applied a complex and shifting set of policies toward ethnic areas — sometimes suppression, sometimes conciliation, sometimes both — most of which were characterized by ethnic oppression, discrimination and plunder. In the Xiangxi area, the feudal ruling class long enforced the rule that "the barbarians shall not leave the region"...
This article has been compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · City Overview section). Some administrative divisions, population, socioeconomic data, and policy information may be outdated and are for reference only; for the latest situation, please refer to official releases by the local government and scenic areas.
Section 4 Ethnic Relations
To maintain their feudal rule, successive feudal central dynasties in China implemented a series of complex and ever-changing ethnic policies toward ethnic regions, sometimes focusing on suppression, sometimes on pacification, and sometimes combining benevolence and severity. Most of these policies were characterized by ethnic oppression, ethnic discrimination, and ethnic plunder. In the Xiangxi region, the feudal ruling class long pursued policies of ethnic discrimination and segregation such as "the barbarians shall not leave the territory, and outsiders shall not enter the caves" and "copper does not touch iron, and the Miao do not touch the Han," severely restricting interactions among ethnic groups. The "Miao Frontier Wall" built during the Ming and Qing dynasties became a barrier imprisoning the Miao people. More than a century of "tun rent" exploitation plunged the vast Miao people into an abyss of poverty and suffering. But in essence, among the people of all ethnic groups in Xiangxi, in jointly resisting feudal rule and foreign aggression, conducting economic and cultural exchanges, and intermarrying to form blood ties, there long persisted relations of mutual interaction, mutual absorption, and mutual dependence, which became the mainstream in the history of ethnic relations in the region.
After the founding of New China, the establishment of the socialist system eradicated the material basis for ethnic oppression and ethnic exploitation, and relations among ethnic groups basically became relations among working people of all ethnic groups. The Party and government vigorously publicized ethnic policies in Xiangxi, conducted in-depth ethnic identification, promptly implemented regional ethnic autonomy, extensively trained ethnic cadres, strived to enhance ethnic unity, and actively developed the ethnic economy and various social undertakings, rapidly establishing a new type of socialist ethnic relationship featuring equality, unity, and mutual assistance.
1. Ethnic barriers left over from history were gradually eliminated
At the beginning of the founding of New China, the shadow of ethnic barriers left over from history still existed. Only by eliminating ethnic barriers as soon as possible could a new type of socialist ethnic relationship be established on the basis of mutual understanding and mutual respect. In the 1950s, Xiangxi mainly adopted forms such as carrying out publicity and education on the Party's ethnic policies, conducting ethnic visits, and guiding and resolving historical grievances in practical work to eliminate ethnic barriers.
Publicizing the Party's ethnic policies. During the Chinese People's Liberation Army's liberation of Xiangxi and the struggle to suppress bandits, great attention was paid to publicizing and implementing ethnic policies. The people of all ethnic groups in Xiangxi received education on the Party's ethnic policies for the first time, providing a reliable mass foundation for thoroughly eliminating the bandit scourge in Xiangxi. In August 1952, after the establishment of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region, relevant materials were compiled into "Study Documents on Regional Ethnic Autonomy" and distributed to cadres throughout the region to carry out a movement of study and education on ethnic policies, criticizing both Han chauvinist thinking and local ethnic nationalist thinking in light of reality. Cadres of all ethnic groups worked together as equals and treated each other with sincerity; the masses of all ethnic groups were as close as brothers and helped one another. In the following years, inspections and supervision of the implementation of ethnic policies and further study of ethnic policies continued. Publicity and education on ethnic policies gradually became widespread and in-depth, and cadres of all ethnic groups at all levels began to learn to use ethnic policies in their work.
Conducting ethnic visits. In the 1950s, the people of all ethnic groups in Xiangxi received visits from two large-scale ethnic visiting delegations. One was the visit by the ethnic visiting delegation of the Central-South Military and Administrative Commission. From December 23, 1950, to March 23, 1951, the Xiangxi ethnic minority visiting delegation, headed by Pan Qi, deputy director of the Civil Affairs Department of the Central-South Military and Administrative Commission, and Ma Zigu, director of the Hunan Provincial Civil Affairs Department, as deputy head, with a total of 159 people including a cultural troupe, film team, and medical group, visited 14 counties and cities including Yongsui (now Huayuan), Qiancheng (now Jishou), Fenghuang, Baojing, Guzhang, Luxi, and other areas of Hunan Province. Through holding forums with brother ethnic groups, giving reports, performing artistic programs, showing films, treating illnesses, vaccinating, conducting surveys of typical villages, presenting gifts, and distributing publicity materials, the delegation conveyed Chairman Mao Zedong's concern for the people of all ethnic groups, publicized the Party's ethnic policies, learned about the hardships of ethnic minorities, and helped ethnic minorities solve practical problems. Wherever the delegation went, it was warmly welcomed by the people of all ethnic groups, who reciprocated with gifts. This was the first time the people of all ethnic groups in Xiangxi, especially the Miao people, had received such a high-level visit by such a large delegation, and they initially came to understand the Chinese Communist Party's ethnic policies. Another was the visit by the Hunan Provincial Xiangxi Tujia Visiting Delegation. In early 1957, after the Tujia ethnic identity was formally determined, in order to consult on the form of Tujia regional autonomy, the Hunan Provincial People's Committee and the Provincial Political Consultative Conference jointly organized a 160-member "Hunan Provincial Xiangxi Tujia Visiting Delegation," including 3 cultural work teams, 14 film teams, and 20 medical teams. Led by Vice Governor Zhang Mengxu as head, it arrived in Jishou on May 21 and, together with 389 cadres drawn from the prefecture directly and various counties, was divided into 3 sub-delegations to visit the 10 counties of the prefecture. The delegation was warmly welcomed by the people of all ethnic groups. The visit ended on July 11, lasting 50 days. The delegation extensively publicized the Party's ethnic policies, listened to the opinions and demands of the people of all ethnic groups toward the Party and the people's government, and consulted with the Tujia people on the form of regional autonomy, eliminating ideological concerns for the realization of joint autonomy of the Tujia and Miao in Xiangxi.
Eliminating ethnic barriers left over from history. Using place names to sing praises of achievements and insult ethnic minorities was a common tactic of the feudal ruling class. In order to eliminate ethnic barriers, enhance ethnic unity, and achieve ethnic equality, in 1951 the Fenghuang County People's Government changed the place name "Deshengying," which discriminated against the Miao people, to "Jixin" (a transliteration from the Miao language), and "Zongbingying" to "Bagu" (a transliteration from the Miao language, later changed to Shanjiang). In 1953, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Central People's Government, in accordance with the wishes of the people of all ethnic groups, replied agreeing to change "Suoli" to "Jishou," "Qiancheng County" to "Jishou County," and "Yongsui County" to "Huayuan County." Successive feudal ruling classes, in order to maintain and consolidate their rule, from time to time created ethnic barriers and stirred up ethnic relations. For example, after the Qing court bloodily suppressed the "Qianjia Uprising" of the Miao people in Hunan and Guizhou, it confiscated the land of the Miao families on both banks of the Wanrong River in Fenghuang and Qiancheng, drove all the Miao families on the east bank to the west bank, and made the river the boundary, prohibiting mutual contact and creating ethnic barriers. After the founding of New China, through bandit suppression and opposing local despots, the Miao and Han people on both banks raised their awareness and recognized that their common enemies were the feudal rulers and landlord despots. In the struggle to suppress bandits, the Miao and Han masses on both banks formed one body and cooperated with the People's Liberation Army in a great mountain search for bandits, finding and killing Long Yunfei, the biggest bandit leader in Fenghuang County. During land reform, the Miao and Han people in this area jointly established peasant associations and organized militia, resolving many accumulated grievances, eliminating ethnic barriers, and singing a song of ethnic unity: "A thousand years of hatred has found its root; bureaucrats and landlords are the enemy. Miao and Han have become close brothers, five fingers joined sharing one palm."
2. The political equality of all ethnic groups was increasingly consolidated
(1) The identification and restoration of ethnic composition laid the necessary political foundation for realizing the political equality of all ethnic groups
1. Identification and restoration of Tujia ethnic composition
Historically, the "Tujia" were either broadly classified among the "barbarians" and mixed with other ethnic minorities in name, or specifically referred to as "Turen," separated from the "barbarians" to distinguish them from neighboring ethnic groups. Among the people, they were disparagingly called "Tumanzi," combining "Tu" and "man," and were strictly distinguished from the local Han and Miao, but none of these formed a unified unique appellation as a single ethnic group. Nevertheless, their ethnic culture and ethnic consciousness were still tenaciously preserved from generation to generation. After the founding of New China, this ethnic sentiment was first aroused in Xiangxi, and the identification work of the Tujia also first unfolded in this region.
In December 1949, Tian Xintao, a young female teacher from Yongshun County, first introduced some information about the Tujia people to Li Kan, director of the Political Department of the 141st Division of the 47th Army. She then reported to the Xiangxi Administrative Office, the Hunan Provincial People's Government, and the Central-South Bureau on the language, customs, and settlement patterns of the Tujia people in Xiangxi. In September 1950, Tian Xintao, selected as a "Miao representative" for the "Central-South Region Ethnic Minority National Day Observance Delegation," raised a request to Lin Boqu, Secretary-General of the Central People's Government, that "the Tujia people have their own language and customs and should be a single ethnic group," which attracted the attention of Party and state leaders.
In order to identify and confirm the ethnic composition of the Tujia, the central government and Hunan Province successively sent administrative leaders, experts, and scholars to carry out in-depth and meticulous investigations and studies over a period of six years. Important investigative activities included: in October 1950, Yang Chengzhi and Luo Changpei made a special visit to Tian Xintao in Beijing and made a preliminary identification of the Tujia language; in July 1952, Yan Xuejiong conducted an investigation in Tupo Village, Longshan County, and wrote the "Preliminary Investigation Report on the Tujia of Longshan, Hunan"; in September 1953, Wang Mingli and five others investigated 24 villages in Longshan, Baojing, and Yongshun, and wrote "An Overview of the Tujia of Xiangxi"; from 1953 to 1955, Pan Guangdan and Wang Jingru consulted a large amount of materials and devoted themselves to research, respectively publishing the articles "The 'Tujia' of Northwest Hunan and the Ancient Ba People" and "Preliminary Opinions on the Tujia Language of Xiangxi"; in May-June 1956, Pan Guangdan conducted field visits in Longshan, Yongshun, Baojing, and Guzhang, and wrote the "Report on a Visit to the 'Tujia' of Northwest Hunan"; at the same time, Xie Hedou and Xie Hua led a joint investigation team from the central, provincial, and prefectural levels to investigate in Longshan and Yongshun, and concluded that the conclusions of the experts and scholars in the previous years of investigation and research were realistic and truthful; from November 1956 to January 1957, Pan Guangdan and Xiang Da inspected Northwest Hunan, Southwest Hubei, and Southeast Sichuan, and jointly published the article "A Brother Ethnic Group of Northwest Hunan, Southwest Hubei, and Southeast Sichuan—the Tujia."
Successive investigations concluded that the Tujia of Northwest Hunan had a total population of more than three to four hundred thousand, had a common self-designation—Bizika, and retained their own ethnic language; had a fixed living territory—Northwest Hunan, Southwest Hubei, Southeast Sichuan, and even Northeast Guizhou; had a common economic way of life—farming; had a common culture—Tima culture and the Hand-waving Dance as well as customs and habits, and had a common sense of ethnic identity, and could fully be identified as a single ethnic group. On January 3, 1957, the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, sent an urgent telegram "on the question of determining the ethnic composition of the 'Tujia,'" notifying Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, and Guizhou in writing that the "Tujia" were determined to be a single ethnic minority. The Tujia, who had been obscured for thousands of years, finally gained a new life under the brilliant shine of the Chinese Communist Party's ethnic policies. According to statistics from August 1957, the Tujia in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture who self-reported and were confirmed numbered 389,300, accounting for 22.25% of the prefecture's total population. Although the expansion of the "Anti-Rightist" struggle followed, in Yongshun, Longshan, Baojing, Guzhang, Fenghuang, Jishou, Luxi, and Huayuan there were still many Tujia people who re-registered as Tujia.
However, in Sangzhi and Dayong, some people's requests to restore their Tujia ethnicity were forcibly stopped. After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the CPC, ethnic work returned to normal, and the restoration and alteration of ethnic composition was placed on the agenda. In 1982, the CPC Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture Committee, the Prefecture People's Government, and the two counties of Sangzhi and Dayong, in accordance with the demands of some people and relevant superior regulations, seriously and conscientiously carried out the declaration, registration, and approval of Tujia ethnicity. By the end of that year, 204,805 people in Sangzhi County had restored their Tujia ethnic composition; by 1987, 232,099 people in Dayong County had restored their Tujia composition.
2. Some people in Sangzhi and other places restored their Bai ethnicity
In January 1983, the Sangzhi County Government submitted to the Hunan Provincial Government the "Request for Instructions on the 'Minjia People' of Our County Being Designated as Bai." From April to June 1983, the province, prefecture, and county formed a joint investigation team to investigate the "Minjia people" of Sangzhi County and submitted to the provincial government the "Investigation Report on the Ethnic Classification Question of the 'Minjia People' of Sangzhi County." On June 27, 1984, the General Office of the Provincial Government issued a document recognizing the "Minjia people" of Sangzhi as Bai, and 93,357 Bai people were registered countywide. At the same time, Dayong County also restored the Bai composition of 4,077 people. That year, the Hunan Provincial People's Government approved seven townships in Sangzhi County—Liujiaping, Zoumaping, Ruitapu, Maidiping, Mahekou, Furongqiao, and Hongjiaguan—as Bai townships.
The confirmation of Tujia ethnic composition made the Tujia an equal member of the unified multi-ethnic family, thereby laying the necessary political foundation for safeguarding the Tujia's equal political rights. The restoration of the ethnic composition of the Tujia, Bai, and other peoples realized their rights to be masters of their own affairs and to enjoy ethnic equality and regional autonomy as conferred by the national Constitution and other laws. This was not only a great event for the Tujia and Bai peoples, but also an important milestone in the history of the development of ethnic relations in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture.
(2) Establish and improve the ethnic legal system, and legally safeguard the equal rights of ethnic minorities
Ethnic laws and policies play a major role in coordinating ethnic relations, safeguarding the equal rights of ethnic minorities, enhancing ethnic unity, maintaining the unity of the motherland, and promoting economic and social development in ethnic areas. After the promulgation and implementation of the "Constitution of the People's Republic of China" and the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional Ethnic Autonomy," in 1986 Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture formulated the "Autonomous Regulations of the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture." In 1990, the "Several Provisions of Hunan Province on Implementing the Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional Ethnic Autonomy" were promulgated and implemented. In 2002, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture completed the revision of its autonomous regulations. From 1986 to June 2006, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture successively formulated and amended a total of 14 autonomous regulations and separate regulations. In May 2005, the "Several Provisions of the State Council on Implementing the Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional Ethnic Autonomy" were promulgated and implemented. Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture made considerable efforts in publicizing and implementing ethnic laws and regulations. For example, in 2004, it extensively carried out commemorative activities for the 20th anniversary of the promulgation and implementation of the "Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy"; the Prefecture Party Committee Office and the Prefecture Government Office issued the "Notice on Carrying Out Commemorative Activities for the 20th Anniversary of the Promulgation and Implementation of the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy"; the Prefecture Party Committee and Prefecture Government designated May as the month for publicity activities on the autonomy law; prefecture and county central study groups held 18 special study sessions; the whole prefecture held 22 report meetings and symposia, ran 8 training classes, conducted 85 television and newspaper publicity activities, 53 street publicity sessions, hung 415 banners, and distributed 16,600 copies of materials; they also invited Ao Junde, former director of the Bills Office of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, to give a guidance report. The autonomy law was incorporated into the required courses of prefecture and county party school training classes and into the important content of the "Fourth Five-Year" popularization of law. Ethnic laws and regulations gradually took root in people's hearts, and people consciously used legal weapons to safeguard the equal rights of ethnic minorities.
In addition, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture vigorously trained and used ethnic cadres (see Section 2 of this chapter, "Construction of Autonomous Organs" for details). Great achievements were made in the revolutionary, younger, better-educated, and more professional development of the prefecture's ethnic cadre ranks. This not only fully safeguarded, in terms of personnel, the political rights of ethnic minorities to participate in state management and the management of their own internal affairs, but also led the people of all ethnic groups in the prefecture in reform and opening up, striving forward toward the socialist market economy.
The establishment of people's political power, the identification and restoration of ethnic composition, the implementation of regional ethnic autonomy, the establishment and improvement of ethnic laws and regulations, and the vigorous growth of ethnic cadres effectively consolidated the political equality of all ethnic groups in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture, helped safeguard the lawful rights of all ethnic groups in economic, cultural, and other fields, and further enhanced the cohesion and solidarity of all ethnic groups in the prefecture.
3. Economic mutual assistance and cooperation among all ethnic groups has been increasingly strengthened
(1) Folk economic assistance has become a common practice
Among the various ethnic groups in Xiangxi, there has always been a fine tradition of mutual help and assistance in economic matters. After the founding of New China, this tradition was spontaneously expanded.
During land reform, the land ownership situation between natural villages and hamlets in the same area was very inconsistent. Especially in areas where ethnic groups lived together, this situation manifested as inconsistency among ethnic groups in the possession of means of production. Villages and hamlets and people of various ethnic groups were able to spontaneously make adjustments and jointly distribute the fruits of victory, enabling the laboring people of all ethnic groups to receive land equally.
In the face of natural disasters, when one place was in trouble, help came from all sides. People of all ethnic groups donated money and goods and provided labor and materials to ensure the basic livelihood of disaster-affected households and rapidly restore production.
In large-scale engineering construction, people in areas that did not benefit often had their fields and land occupied in addition to organizing labor to support the project. They preferred to sacrifice personal interests to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.
At folk weddings and funerals, relatives and friends who came to offer congratulations all gave gifts, jointly helping the family hosting the major event get through economic difficulties. Usually, a person cannot remember how many gifts he has given out; when he hosts a major event, he unexpectedly receives many gifts back, jokingly called by the people "deposit in small amounts, withdraw in a lump sum."
(2) Folk economic exchanges have become increasingly close
The main channel of folk economic exchange is market trade. "When meeting people, ask about the market; count the days to buy firewood and vegetables." Famous market towns in the prefecture include Pushi, Wangcun, Liye, Chadong, and others. They were not only places for local households to exchange goods, but also, relying on water routes, connected upstream to Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Hubei and downstream to Changde, Changsha, and Hankou, becoming material distribution centers and transfer stations. After the founding of New China, especially since reform and opening up, governments at all levels in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture attached great importance to market town construction, building streets and markets, greatly facilitating people of all ethnic groups in going to market and exchanging goods, and market trade flourished. In 2000, there were 182 market fairs approved and registered by the industrial and commercial administrative departments in the prefecture, with a total transaction value of 2.9 billion yuan, accounting for 85.3% of the prefecture's total retail sales of consumer goods that year. Folk economic exchanges became increasingly close, and people of all ethnic groups gradually integrated into the great tide of the socialist economy.
(3) Poverty alleviation and tackling key problems, striving to eliminate de facto inequality
Due to historical, natural, and many other reasons, gaps in economic and social development still exist among the various ethnic groups in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture, within the same ethnic group, and especially between the prefecture and developed areas, and there is a trend toward widening. To a certain extent, this has created de facto inequality among ethnic groups. To achieve equality among all ethnic groups, development is the key and the main theme. In order to accelerate development and narrow the gap, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture seized the historical opportunities of the national "Eighth Five-Year" Poverty Alleviation Plan, Hunan Province's mobilization of the whole province's strength to support the development of ethnic minorities and ethnic areas, and entry into the Western Development campaign, and vigorously pursued poverty alleviation and tackling key problems, striving to eliminate de facto inequality.
Formulate ethnic policies and designate Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture as the main battlefield for poverty alleviation in the province. To support the economic and social development of ethnic areas, the Party and the state formulated a series of ethnic policies, and Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture implemented them without compromise. In view of the special circumstances of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture, the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and the Hunan Provincial People's Government formulated many preferential policies. In 1994, the provincial party committee and provincial government successively issued three documents, making Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture the main battlefield for poverty alleviation in the province, mobilizing the whole province's strength to support Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture in shaking off poverty and becoming prosperous, and deciding that the six provincially administered cities of Changsha, Zhuzhou, Xiangtan, Hengyang, Yueyang, and Changde would provide counterpart support to the six counties of Longshan, Luxi, Yongshun, Huayuan, Baojing, and Guzhang. After a period of implementation, by 1999 and 2000, two replacement documents were issued respectively: "Opinions of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and the Hunan Provincial People's Government on Continuing to Support Poverty Alleviation in the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture" (Xiang Fa [1999] No. 18) and "Notice of the Hunan Provincial People's Government on Several Preferential Policies for Accelerating the Social and Economic Development of Ethnic Minorities and Ethnic Areas" (Xiang Zheng Fa [2000] No. 8). On June 9, 2000, the State Council formally included Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture in the scope of Western Development, and relevant national Western Development policies were implemented by reference. In March 2001, the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and the Hunan Provincial People's Government held the Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture Development Work Conference in Jishou, striving to achieve breakthrough progress in the national economy and social undertakings of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture within 5 to 10 years, with development speed and efficiency higher than the level of neighboring areas. On April 10, 2005, Governor Zhou Bohua presided over a meeting in Jishou to specifically study support for the economic and social development of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture and the work of properly holding the 50th anniversary celebration of the prefecture. The main responsible persons of 22 provincial departments attended the meeting. At the same time, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture also formulated a series of policies and measures, formulating detailed, specific, and operable policy measures in areas such as encouraging investment industries and investment methods, taxes and fees, land, mineral resource development, financial credit, talent introduction, investment promotion, ethnic culture, tourism industry, investment services, and environmental optimization.
Targeted poverty alleviation and key poverty alleviation. In view of the fact that ethnic minority people in the prefecture lived in remote areas, far from urban economic centers, outside the development process of the prefecture's mainstream economy, and faced a large poverty scope and deep poverty, starting in 1984 Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture selected cadres from prefecture, county, and city departments to station in poor villages and carry out on-site poverty alleviation. After the 1990s, targeted poverty alleviation became an institution. Each year the whole prefecture selected more than 2,000 cadres to station in 700 poor villages, implementing unit responsibility for villages, unchanged for several years; if the designated point did not escape poverty, the unit would not be decoupled. Poverty alleviation work teams helped villages formulate development plans, raise funds and materials, support economic development, carry out infrastructure construction, conduct technical training, and do a good job in internal and external connections, basically achieving the goal that the per capita grain ration and per capita income of poverty-alleviation villages approached or reached the local average level. In 2001, on the basis of extensive investigation and research, the prefecture party committee and prefecture government designated 90 remote, extremely poor ethnic minority villages as key poverty-alleviation villages in the prefecture, arranging no less than 200,000 yuan in poverty-alleviation funds per village each year, selecting deputy township-level cadres to serve as village party branch secretaries, and selecting village science and technology deputy directors and village primary school principals. By 2005, great changes had taken place in the production and living conditions of these villages.
In addition, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture also implemented poverty-alleviation projects such as credit sales of "two cottons," poverty-alleviation housing construction, and work-relief, enabling poor people to directly receive benefits.
Through the above poverty-alleviation and key-problem-tackling activities, while the prefecture's economy and society developed comprehensively, the production conditions and living standards of people of all ethnic groups improved markedly. The poor population dropped from 1.56 million in 1984 to 300,000 in 2000 (not including 160,000 who returned to poverty due to disasters); in 2005, the per capita net income of farmers reached 1,766 yuan, and the low-income population was reduced by 540,000 in five years.
(4) Establish an ethnic economic system and expand opening to the outside world
Since reform and opening up, with the rapid development of the socialist market economy, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture has gradually formed an ethnic economic system with the prefecture's own characteristics. The forest and fruit, livestock and aquaculture, cash crop, and Chinese medicinal herb industries have begun to take shape; mineral product processing, tobacco and alcohol, chemicals, food and medicine, electric power, and other industries have developed relatively quickly; highlighting ethnic cultural characteristics, it has focused on building the "Mysterious Xiangxi Tour" brand, and external economic exchanges have been increasingly strengthened, forming two major characteristics: first, continuing to maintain its role as a material distribution center and transfer station on the borders of Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing, and Guizhou; second, foreign trade exports advancing by leaps and bounds. In 2004, foreign trade exports reached 149 million US dollars, ranking fifth among the province's 14 cities and prefectures. In 2005, the prefecture had 105 enterprises with self-operated import and export rights, and completed 153 million US dollars in foreign trade exports.
People of all ethnic groups in the prefecture have a long history of external economic exchanges. This not only exchanged goods, absorbed outside science and technology, but also strengthened ties with the people of all ethnic groups of the motherland and strengthened identification with the unified multi-ethnic China. Especially under the conditions of the socialist market economy, the economic ties among ethnic groups have undergone major changes in content, form, and channels. The distinct egalitarian character, enormous connective function, and competitive mechanism of the socialist market economy have powerfully promoted the comprehensive and profound development of relations between the people of all ethnic groups in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture and all ethnic groups of the motherland. The rapid economic development of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture has laid a solid economic foundation for the healthy and coordinated development of ethnic relations.
4. Cultural exchanges among all ethnic groups have become increasingly close
Xiangxi lies at the junction of the eastern and western parts of the motherland, and has always been a place where multiple cultures blend and converge. Xiangxi is also a place where ethnic minorities have long settled, and all ethnic groups have created a rich and colorful ethnic culture, integrating this culture into the great tide of the motherland's diverse cultures. After the founding of New China, the Party and the government attached great importance to protecting ethnic culture and respecting ethnic customs and habits. To respect the customs and habits of an ethnic group is to respect that ethnic group; to protect the culture of an ethnic group is to protect that ethnic group. Since the reform and opening up, with the rapid development of television and communications, cultural exchanges between different parts of the world and among different ethnic groups have been realized instantaneously. People of all ethnic groups in the prefecture, through going out for visits and study, reading, working, and various media, have continuously absorbed new ideas and new cultures. Through holding exhibitions outside, giving artistic performances, publishing books, shooting films and television programs, and setting up web pages, they have promoted Xiangxi's ethnic culture and local culture. In particular, they have focused on building the "Mysterious Xiangxi Tour" brand, which attracts millions of tourists every year to come and personally experience Xiangxi culture.
The various ethnic groups in the prefecture are in a state of large mixed settlement and small concentrated settlement, having long been neighbors to one another, being friendly to one another, and learning from one another. In terms of ethnic culture, they each have their own characteristics while also forming a situation in which each is contained within the other. After the founding of New China, it has become a common phenomenon for cadres, teachers, doctors, and technicians of one ethnic group to be assigned to work in areas of another ethnic group, further deepening exchanges and friendship among the ethnic groups. After entering the new century, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture has vigorously developed the tourism industry with ethnic culture as its essence. Tourist attractions in areas where Tujia people are relatively concentrated perform traditional Miao cultural programs, and tourist attractions in areas where Miao people are relatively concentrated perform traditional Tujia cultural programs. This not only achieves the goal of sharing ethnic culture but is also concrete evidence of cultural identity among the ethnic groups. The large-scale ethnic dance poem "Zha Hua Nü" and the large-scale ethnic drum dance sound-and-picture work "My Xiangxi," produced by the prefecture's ethnic song and dance troupe, have frequently won major awards in national performances. In both works, Tujia culture, Miao culture, and regional culture are organically combined, showcasing Xiangxi's rich and colorful distinctive culture.
The breeze of modern civilization has blown through every corner of Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture. While carrying forward their excellent traditional culture, people of all ethnic groups have opened their arms to accept new ideas and new cultures, consciously eliminated outdated customs, and abandoned bad habits, raising their own ethnic culture and customs to a new level. The cultural differences among ethnic groups have gradually narrowed, commonalities have gradually expanded, and the sense of identity has gradually strengthened.
V. Intermarriage as a Blood Tie
This is both a necessary condition and concrete content of ethnic fusion, and also a product of ethnic fusion. Because the various ethnic groups within the prefecture live in interlocking mixed settlement or live adjacent to one another, intimate relations of intermarriage have existed since ancient times. This is one of the ties that maintain the close coexistence of the various ethnic groups within the prefecture.
The feudal dynasties of successive ages imposed no prohibition on intermarriage between Tujia and Han, but there were at times obstructions to intermarriage between Miao and Han and between Miao and Tujia, mainly during the Qing Dynasty. In the fifth year of Yongzheng (1727), the Qing court for the first time proposed "requesting a ban on marriage between commoners and Miao." But the ban was difficult to enforce, and in the eighth year of Yongzheng the prohibition was relaxed. After the "Miao People's Uprising of the Qianlong and Jiaqing Reigns" was suppressed, the Qing court again reaffirmed the prohibition in the tenth year of Jiaqing (1805): "Han commoners are still not permitted to enter Miao territory without authorization and privately contract marriages." These measures directly or indirectly hindered intermarriage between Miao and other ethnic groups. But before long, intermarriage between Miao and other ethnic groups rapidly recovered and developed again. As always, it existed in every village, and this blood tie further deepened the deep affection among the ethnic groups within the prefecture.
After the founding of New China, intermarriage among all ethnic groups became free. Large numbers of Han cadres and intellectuals from other places came to the prefecture and married local minority girls or young men, treating each other with respect. In towns, in ethnically mixed areas, and in adjacent areas, when young people fell in love or parents asked matchmakers to arrange marriages, the other party's ethnic identity had long ceased to be a major concern; ethnic identity was not a required condition for love and marriage. When one spouse is a minority, their children all choose to register as ethnic minorities. Today, in a three-generation household, it is commonplace for Tujia, Miao, Han, and other ethnic minority members to live together. This is a manifestation of ethnic equality and unity and a sign of the elevated status of ethnic minorities.
VI. A Large Number of Advanced Collectives and Individuals in Ethnic Unity and Progress Have Emerged
People of all ethnic groups in the prefecture have long lived in harmony and jointly advanced the economic and social development of the entire prefecture, composing one song after another in praise of ethnic unity and progress.
The three villages of Shutouxi, Guanba, and Xiliumo in Guzhang County are located in the same mountain valley and drink from the same stream. At both ends are Tujia people, and in the middle are Miao people. The natural conditions at both ends were relatively good, and there were many landlords and rich peasants; the natural conditions in the middle were poor, with only one rich peasant household, and the Miao people made a living by carrying loads and selling firewood. Historically, ethnic estrangement was relatively deep. During land reform, the work team exercised unified organizational leadership, repeatedly publicized that farmers throughout the land are one family and that ethnic unity was needed to rise up, and jointly overthrew the landlords and local tyrants. When distributing the fruits of victory, the Tujia villages at both ends took the initiative to allocate part of the confiscated landlord land to the Miao village in the middle. The Tujia and Miao farmers of the three villages formed friendly neighbors.
The Tali Power Station in Huayuan County was a key project of the entire county. During survey and design, ethnic engineering and technical personnel of Miao, Tujia, Han, and other ethnic groups climbed over mountains and ridges together, surveying and drawing maps; after construction began, more than 3,000 workers of all ethnic groups braved severe cold and scorching heat, climbed cliffs and scaled precipices, and struggled hard for a year. In 1979, on the joyous occasion of celebrating the 30th anniversary of the founding of New China, it was successfully completed and began generating electricity.
Longshan County and Laifeng County of Hubei Province's Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture are separated by only a single river. The two counties often held friendship meetings, jointly discussed major plans for developing the border region, learned from each other's strengths to offset weaknesses, and supported each other, writing one fine story after another of "dragon and phoenix bringing auspiciousness, flying wing to wing." In 1988 and 1994, both counties consecutively won the honor of "National Advanced Collective in Ethnic Unity and Progress" for two terms.
Han cadres from outside played an exemplary role in ethnic unity. Luo Guangnan, director of the Longshan County Hospital, was from Shaodong County, Hunan Province. After graduating from Hunan Medical College in 1962, he volunteered to work in an ethnic minority area. In his work, he formed a deep friendship with the Tujia people. Once, a child suffering from diphtheria was admitted to the hospital, with third-degree respiratory obstruction and in critical condition. Regardless of everything, he bent down and sucked out the phlegm mouthful by mouthful with his own mouth, bringing the child back from danger. Another time, to save a Tujia child burned by fire, a blood transfusion was needed. There was no blood bank in the hospital, so he rolled up his sleeve and said, "I have type A blood, take mine!" The care and selfless dedication of a Han intellectual thus flowed drop by drop into the life of a Tujia child. In the Tujia mountain villages of Longshan, whenever Doctor Luo is mentioned, people all say he is a relative of the "Bizika"!
Establishing ethnic unity contact points and using points to promote the cause of ethnic unity and progress across the board is a major innovation in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture's work on ethnic unity and progress. In 1998, the prefecture ethnic affairs commission and the Longshan County ethnic affairs commission established an ethnic unity contact point in Guitang Town, known as a place where "one foot steps on three provinces (municipalities)." They carried out investigations into border ethnic relations and ethnic unity, guided the town Party committee and town government in formulating an implementation plan for border ethnic unity and progress work and a border friendship system, and in December of the same year held in the town the first ethnic unity promotion meeting attended by 12 townships and towns from 10 counties and cities in the Hunan-Hubei-Chongqing border area. In October 2000, the town was rated as an advanced collective in ethnic unity and progress for the entire prefecture. Majing'ao Town in Jishou borders Morong Town in Guzhang and is a multi-ethnic mixed area. In the mid-1990s, disputes over mountain forest boundaries occurred from time to time, and there were even bloody incidents of crowds blocking traffic and mass armed fights. In 1999, the ethnic affairs commissions of the two counties and cities established an ethnic unity contact point here. By holding ethnic unity friendship meetings, establishing an ethnic unity friendship system, holding ethnic festival cultural activities, and carrying out mountain development, they strengthened contacts between the people of the two towns, deepened mutual understanding, enhanced friendship, and stabilized the border. In September 2003, a "Ethnic Unity Pavilion" was built at Hanniang'ao on the border between the two towns, inscribed with the "Ethnic Unity Convention." Other counties also established ethnic unity contact points. At the contact point of Daqiao Village, Qingshuiping Town, under the Baojing County Ethnic Affairs Bureau, the per capita net income in 2004 reached 5,200 yuan, making it a demonstration village for moderately prosperous construction in the entire prefecture. In 2005, it was commended as a model collective at the Fourth National Ethnic Unity and Progress Commendation Conference of the State Council.
Commending the advanced and setting up models. Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture's prefecture-wide ethnic unity and progress commendation activities began in December 1982. By June 2006, a total of 7 commendation conferences had been held, commending 555 advanced collectives (times) and 930 advanced individuals (times), and four prefecture Party committee ethnic work meetings were also held. From 1984 to 2005, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture had 78 advanced collectives (times) and 128 advanced individuals (times) commended by the Hunan Provincial People's Government and the State Ethnic Affairs Commission for ethnic unity and progress. From 1988 to 2005, it had 21 model collectives (times) and 21 model individuals (times) commended at the First through Fourth National Ethnic Unity and Progress Commendation Conferences of the State Council. By commending the advanced and setting up models, the main theme of ethnic unity and progress was further carried forward, and the theme of ethnic relations—common unity and progress, common prosperity and development—was highlighted.
For more than 50 years, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture has carried out work on ethnic unity and progress with great vitality, and ethnic relations have been very harmonious. The Han cannot do without the ethnic minorities, the ethnic minorities cannot do without the Han, and the various ethnic minorities also cannot do without one another—that is, the "three inseparables" have taken deep root in people's hearts, and a socialist ethnic relationship of equality, unity, mutual assistance, and harmony has been comprehensively established. This is just as the famous Tujia singer Tian Maozhong sang: "The Communist Party, sifting with a golden sieve, brings the people of all ethnic groups together, sharing sweetness and bitterness with deep affection, jointly building the flowered towers of our homeland."
After years of effort, the people of all ethnic groups in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture have achieved political equality and cultural coexistence and prosperity. Since the reform and opening up, the prefecture's economy has developed rapidly. However, due to various reasons including history and nature, the entire prefecture remains in a state of poverty or relative poverty. Jishou City is a provincial-level key poverty-alleviation city (county), and the other 7 counties are all national-level key poverty-alleviation counties. The task of completely escaping poverty and moving toward prosperity and wealth remains very arduous. In order to consolidate the socialist ethnic relationship of equality, unity, mutual assistance, and harmony and to achieve the goals of common prosperity and progress and common development and strength, Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture is striving to seize development opportunities and accelerate the construction of advantageous industries, and the pace of economic and social development has clearly accelerated. A moderately prosperous Xiangxi, a safe Xiangxi, a cultural Xiangxi, an ecological Xiangxi, a dynamic Xiangxi, and a Xiangxi with social harmony and a prosperous people and strong prefecture are beckoning to the people of all ethnic groups throughout the prefecture.