Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Overview — Regional Ethnic Autonomy (Part 1)
Chapter 3 Regional Ethnic Autonomy. In the more than 50 years since Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture adopted regional ethnic autonomy, all ethnic groups in the prefecture have lived in harmony, democracy and the rule of law have gradually improved, the building of autonomous organs has steadily strengthened, and people's lives have changed enormously. Section 1 Establishment of the Autonomous Area. Xiangxi was one of the earlier areas to practice regional ethnic autonomy; in 1952...
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 Some administrative divisions, population, socioeconomic data, and policy information may be outdated and are for reference only; for the latest situation, please refer to official releases by the local government and scenic areas.
Chapter III Regional Ethnic Autonomy
For more than 50 years since the implementation of regional ethnic autonomy in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture, people of all ethnic groups in the prefecture have had harmonious relations, the building of democracy and the rule of law has gradually improved, the building of autonomous organs has gradually strengthened, and the people's lives have undergone tremendous changes.
Section I Establishment of the Autonomous Area
Xiangxi was one of the earlier areas to implement regional ethnic autonomy. In August 1952, the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was established; in April 1954, it was renamed Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture; and in September 1957, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture was established.
I. Establishment of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region
Xiangxi is the ancestral homeland of the Miao people. By the end of 1952, the total population of the six counties of Fenghuang, Qiancheng (now Jishou), Yongsui (now Huayuan), Baojing, Guzhang, and Luxi in Xiangxi was 761,815, of whom 277,205 were Miao, accounting for 36.39% of the total population of the six counties.
The issue of regional ethnic autonomy in Xiangxi had long attracted the attention of Chairman Mao Zedong. On September 16, 1950, in his comment on the issue of regional autonomy, Chairman Mao pointed out: The issue of regional autonomy involves a great deal, including Tibet, Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Gansu, Xikang, Yunnan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Xiangxi, and other places. Some require the establishment of a large regional government like Inner Mongolia, some require the establishment of a small regional government including several counties, and some are governments of one county or one district. There are many issues concerning territorial division, personnel allocation, and policy guidance, which must be coordinated as a whole. In this comment, Chairman Mao specifically mentioned "Xiangxi." It can be seen that Chairman Mao had long been thoroughly familiar with the ethnic issues in Xiangxi, especially the situation of the Miao in Xiangxi, and was very concerned about the issue of regional ethnic autonomy in Xiangxi.
When the Chinese People's Liberation Army liberated Xiangxi, it paid great attention to work among the Miao people. After the founding of New China, the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and the Provincial People's Government earnestly implemented the Party's ethnic policies, actively won over Miao upper-class figures, and vigorously selected and trained Miao cadres. In early 1952, in accordance with the Chinese Communist Party's ethnic policies and the "Implementation Outline of Regional Ethnic Autonomy of the People's Republic of China (Draft)," the Hunan Provincial People's Government held repeated consultations with representatives of all ethnic groups and personages from all walks of life. On April 21, the 56th administrative meeting decided to establish the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region, designating the six counties of Yongshui (present-day Huayuan), Fenghuang, Qiancheng (present-day Jishou), and Luxi in Yuanling Prefecture, and Guzhang and Baojing in Yongshun Prefecture as the territory of the Miao Autonomous Region. Xie Hua, Head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and Director of the Provincial Ethnic Affairs Commission, was appointed to come to Xiangxi to prepare for the establishment of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region. On May 5, the Preparatory Committee of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was established. On the 15th, the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee submitted the "Work Report on Preparing for the Establishment of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region" to the Central-South Bureau and the CPC Central Committee, which was quickly approved. The Preparatory Committee sent work teams to the above six counties to publicize the Party's ethnic policies. The six counties successively convened people's representative conferences of all walks of life, solemnly and conscientiously electing representatives to attend the First People's Representative Conference of All Walks of Life of the Autonomous Region.
From August 1 to 6, the First People's Representative Conference of All Walks of Life of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was grandly held in Suoli (present-day Jishou), with 512 delegates attending, including 312 Miao delegates. Kui Bi, member of the Ethnic Affairs Commission of the Central People's Government; Zhang Zhiyi, Secretary-General of the Central-South Military and Political Committee and Director of the Central-South Ethnic Affairs Commission; and Yuan Renyuan, Vice Chairman of the Hunan Provincial People's Government, along with 30 specially invited delegates, were invited to attend the conference. The conference was opened with a speech by Xie Hua, and leaders including Kui Bi and Zhang Zhiyi addressed the assembly. Wang Hanfu, Deputy Director of the Xiangxi Administrative Office, delivered a report on behalf of Director Yan Fusheng, and Zhou Xiaozhou, Secretary of the CPC Xiangxi Regional Committee, delivered the closing speech. On the basis of full deliberation and discussion, three regulations including the "Organizational Regulations of the People's Government of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region" were adopted, and Shi Bangzhi, an outstanding son of the Miao people, a veteran Red Army soldier, and a native of Yongshui (present-day Huayuan), was elected Chairman of the People's Government of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region. On the afternoon of the 6th, a celebration assembly for the establishment of the People's Government of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was held, with more than 20,000 people of all ethnic groups gathering to celebrate. Shi Bangzhi received the bronze seal of the "People's Government of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region" from Zhang Zhiyi and used it for the first time on a public announcement, fulfilling the Miao people's centuries-old dream of "grasping the seal of authority."
On August 6, 1952, the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was proclaimed, realizing regional ethnic autonomy. Among the 30 autonomous prefectures nationwide, the time of implementing regional ethnic autonomy ranked third, after the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Region of Sichuan Province (November 24, 1950) and the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Region of Qinghai Province (December 25, 1951).
On the 15th, the Central-South Region and the Hunan Provincial People's Government ordered the abolition of the original first-level Party and government leading bodies of Xiangxi, and the establishment of the People's Government of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region and the Zhijiang Prefectural Commissioner's Office. The Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region governed the six counties of Yongshui (present-day Huayuan), Fenghuang, Qiancheng (present-day Jishou), Guzhang, Baojing, and Luxi, and administered on behalf of the four counties of Yongshun, Longshan, Dayong, and Sangzhi. These four counties were adjacent to the autonomous region, basically identical in economic and cultural conditions, and closely related in ethnic relations. For convenience of leadership, they were formally placed under the jurisdiction of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region in December of the same year. At this point, the entire region governed 10 counties, with a total area of 21,646 square kilometers and a total population of 1,560,300.
In October 1952, Chairman Mao Zedong inscribed the masthead "Unity Daily" for the Party newspaper of the just-established Local Committee of the CPC Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region. The establishment of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was the result of Chairman Mao Zedong's affectionate concern and the shining light of the Party's ethnic policies. It fulfilled the long-cherished wish of the Miao and other ethnic minorities to be masters of their own affairs and greatly mobilized the enthusiasm of the people of all ethnic groups in Xiangxi to build socialism.
In February 1954, the Second Session of the First People's Congress of Hunan Province adopted the "Resolution on Changing the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region to the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture" and submitted it to the State Council for approval. In April, the Second Session of the First People's Congress of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region decided to rename the People's Government of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region as the People's Committee of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture.
II. Establishment of the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture
The ethnic status of the Tujia people was officially confirmed by document on January 3, 1957. Regarding the question of implementing regional ethnic autonomy for the Tujia people, there existed opinions both in favor of the Tujia establishing autonomy separately and in favor of joint autonomy with the Miao.
On December 7, 1956, the CPC Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture Prefectural Committee formulated the "Preliminary Plan for Realizing Regional Ethnic Autonomy for the Tujia," which was preliminarily discussed at the Third Plenary (Enlarged) Meeting of the First Committee of the CPPCC Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture, carrying out preliminary publicity and mobilization work for regional autonomy. In January 1957, Zhang Mengxu, Vice Governor of Hunan Province, and Xie Hua, Vice Chairman of the Provincial CPPCC, led a work team of more than 40 people to visit representative figures in the Tujia-concentrated areas of Longshan, Yongshun, and Baojing to preliminarily consult on the question of regional autonomy. On March 1, the CPC Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture Prefectural Committee reported to the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee a preliminary plan for preparing the establishment of a Miao and Tujia Autonomous Prefecture. From May 19 to July 11, the Hunan Provincial People's Committee and the CPPCC Hunan Provincial Committee organized the "Hunan Provincial Xiangxi Tujia Visiting Delegation," which focused on visiting Longshan, Yongshun, and Baojing, covering all 10 counties of Xiangxi, publicizing the Party's ethnic policies, and consulting with cadres and the masses on the form of regional ethnic autonomy. On July 19, the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee held a symposium in Changsha on the question of regional autonomy for the Tujia of Xiangxi. In July, the Hunan Provincial People's Committee submitted the "Request Report to the State Council on Establishing the Xiangxi Miao and Tujia Autonomous Prefecture," reporting on the work done by the province, prefecture, and counties to realize Tujia regional autonomy, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of "joint" versus "separate" autonomy, and holding that proceeding from the mixed habitation of various ethnic groups in Xiangxi, ethnic relations, economic development conditions, and the demands of the Miao and Tujia peoples, joint autonomy was more suited to Xiangxi's actual conditions, more conducive to ethnic unity, and more conducive to future construction. It requested the establishment of a joint Xiangxi Miao and Tujia Autonomous Prefecture. On August 6, the Hunan Provincial People's Committee held an enlarged meeting, convening more than 30 people including some Party and government leaders of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture and Tujia and Miao cadres and intellectuals to attend as non-voting participants. The meeting approved the provincial visiting delegation's "Report on the Work of Visiting the Tujia," adopted the "Resolution on Establishing the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture," and established the Preparatory Committee of the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.
From August 21 to September 4, the 10 counties of the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture successively convened people's congresses to elect delegates to the prefectural people's congress.
On September 6, the 57th Plenary Meeting of the State Council adopted the "Decision on Establishing the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Hunan Province and Abolishing the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture."
On September 15, the First Session of the First People's Congress of the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture grandly opened in Jishou, lasting six days and closing on the 20th. Of 451 delegates due to attend, 412 actually attended. Among the delegates were 142 Tujia, 127 Miao, 1 Hui, 1 Yao, and 180 Han. There were 67 non-voting participants. Liu Chun, Vice Director of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission; Tan Yubao, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee; Zhang Mengxu, Vice Governor; Yan Fusheng, Political Commissar of the Provincial Military District; Xie Hua, Vice Chairman of the Provincial CPPCC; and Tian Fuda, member of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, attended to give guidance. More than 90 guests from various places came to offer congratulations. The congress adopted the "Organizational Regulations of the People's Congress and People's Committee of the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture." On the basis of democratic consultation and full deliberation, elections were conducted by secret ballot in accordance with legally prescribed procedures, and Shi Bangzhi was elected Governor. Tan Yubao conferred upon Governor Shi Bangzhi the bronze seal of the "People's Committee of the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture" issued by the State Council, formally proclaiming the establishment of the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. On September 21, more than 30,000 people of all ethnic groups gathered in Jishou, singing and dancing, to celebrate the establishment of the autonomous prefecture. September 20 was designated as the anniversary of the establishment of the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.
After the establishment of the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, it still governed the original 10 counties. According to statistics, in August 1957, the total population of the prefecture was 1,749,900, with an ethnic minority population of 737,700, accounting for 42.16% of the total population. Among the ethnic minorities, the Tujia numbered 389,300, accounting for 22.25% of the total population; the Miao numbered 348,200, accounting for 19.90% of the total population. The Tujia, Miao, and other ethnic groups together fulfilled their long-cherished wish of being masters of their own affairs.
The confirmation of the Tujia ethnic status took six years, an arduous and meticulous process, but it simultaneously completed the preliminary publicity and mobilization preparations for the Tujia to realize regional ethnic autonomy. Once the Tujia ethnic status was formally confirmed, Tujia regional ethnic autonomy followed naturally and was realized in a timely manner. This was the result of the affectionate concern of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council for the Tujia people, the decisive decision-making of Party committees and governments at all levels, the active efforts of the Tujia people of Xiangxi, and the strong support of the Miao, Han, and other ethnic groups. It is a historical testimony to the close unity and interdependence of the Tujia, Miao, Han, and other ethnic groups.
Regional ethnic autonomy is the basic policy of the Chinese Communist Party for resolving domestic ethnic issues and an important political system of the state. In the process of resolving the question of regional ethnic autonomy for the Tujia and Miao of Xiangxi, the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and the Provincial People's Government attached importance to conducting in-depth investigation and research, adopted forms such as visits, consultations, and symposia, fully respected the wishes of the autonomous ethnic groups, and handled relevant matters strictly in accordance with the spirit of the Implementation Outline of Regional Ethnic Autonomy. This consolidated and developed the new socialist ethnic relations of "equality, unity, and mutual assistance" and was entirely correct, active, and prudent.