Han chauvinism
Encyclopedia
Han chauvinism is the chauvinistic
and ethnocentric viewpoint that the Han Chinese
and their culture are superior to other ethnicities, particularly other ethnicities within modern China
. Although historically Han-chauvinistic groups like the Ming rebels
against the Yuan Dynasty
and the Tongmenghui rebels
against the Qing
remain celebrated in Chinese culture and anti-chauvinistic activities during the Cultural Revolution
are now regretted, modern Han chauvinism is officially condemned by the governments of both the People's Republic
and the Republic of China
(Taiwan).
It is sometimes also known as Hanism (s , t , p
Hàn běnwèi), or Greater Han nationalism (s , t , p
Dàhànzúzhǔyì).
The related but distinct view that the nation and culture of China as a whole is superior to other nations and cultures is Sinocentrism
.
as it developed around the Wei
and Yellow River
s. The differences they saw between themselves and the other peoples and cultures around them around them is now known as the Hua-Yi distinction
.
Historical groups once considered "barbarous" and occasionally still referenced pejoratively in Chinese include:
Qing Dynasty
, including the Heaven and Earth societies (also known as "Tongs" or "Triads"), the Taiping rebellion
, the Nian rebellion, and the Tongmenghui
. However, following the establishment of the Republic of China
in 1911, a conscious effort was made to rein in these tendencies so as to be inclusive of China's other ethnicities and to avoid separatist movements that might yield Qing-held territory outside of China proper
.
After the PRC was founded, early policies on ethnic relations were guided by Joseph Stalin
's 1913 Marxism and the National Question. The Communist Party of China
saw a parallel between Han chauvinism and the "Great Russian chauvinism" which was heavily debated during the early years of the Soviet Union
. Although Chinese characters and Mandarin Chinese pronunciation became standard and required for official purposes throughout China, cadres were warned against being patronizing or condescending towards minorities. The party would recruit from many ethnic groups to create leaders who would guide their people towards socialism. On occasion, ethnic minorities could keep customs and traditions that were regarded as feudal or reactionary until the time came for them to willingly embrace socialism. The Yi people
, for instance, were even allowed to maintain their slavery customs for a time.
This policy was abandoned during the Cultural Revolution
. Red Guards
attempted to destroy every vestige of traditional culture, Han or non-Han, to create a new "socialist" culture. Temples were razed. Traditional leaders and ethnographic researchers were denounced and purged. After the fall of the Gang of Four
, the government began to revert to its earlier policy, with less emphasis on Marxist-Leninist ideology.
Accusations of continuing Han chauvinism continue to be made by some members of ethnic minority groups
, including as justification for separatist movements in (e.g.) Tibet
and Xinjiang
.
Chauvinism
Chauvinism, in its original and primary meaning, is an exaggerated, bellicose patriotism and a belief in national superiority and glory. It is an eponym of a possibly fictional French soldier Nicolas Chauvin who was credited with many superhuman feats in the Napoleonic wars.By extension it has come...
and ethnocentric viewpoint that the Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
and their culture are superior to other ethnicities, particularly other ethnicities within modern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Although historically Han-chauvinistic groups like the Ming rebels
Hongwu Emperor
The Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by his temple name Taizu of Ming , was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China...
against the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
and the Tongmenghui rebels
Tongmenghui
The Tongmenghui, also known as the Chinese United League, United League, Chinese Revolutionary Alliance, Chinese Alliance and United Allegiance Society, was a secret society and underground resistance movement formed when merging many Chinese revolutionary groups together by Sun Yat-sen, Song...
against the Qing
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
remain celebrated in Chinese culture and anti-chauvinistic activities during the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
are now regretted, modern Han chauvinism is officially condemned by the governments of both the People's Republic
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(Taiwan).
It is sometimes also known as Hanism (s , t , p
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
Hàn běnwèi), or Greater Han nationalism (s , t , p
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
Dàhànzúzhǔyì).
The related but distinct view that the nation and culture of China as a whole is superior to other nations and cultures is Sinocentrism
Sinocentrism
Sinocentrism is an ethnocentric perspective that regards China to be the center of civilization and superior to all other nations. The related but distinct concept of the superiority of the Han Chinese ethnicity both within and without China is known as Han chauvinism.- Overview and context...
.
Ancient History
The modern Han ethnicity was originally known as the HuaxiaHuaxia
Huaxia is a name often used to represent China or Chinese civilization.-Etymology:According to the historical record, Zuo Zhuan, the ancient Xia Dynasty of central China was a state that held propriety and justice in high esteem...
as it developed around the Wei
Wei River
The Wei River is a major river in west-central China's Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. It is the largest tributary of the Yellow River and very important in the early development of Chinese civilization....
and Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
s. The differences they saw between themselves and the other peoples and cultures around them around them is now known as the Hua-Yi distinction
Hua-Yi distinction
The distinction between Hua and Yi is an ancient Chinese conception that differentiated a culturally defined "China" from cultural or ethnic outsiders...
.
Historical groups once considered "barbarous" and occasionally still referenced pejoratively in Chinese include:
- "NanmanNanmanNanman were aboriginal tribes who lived in southwestern China. They may have been related to the Sanmiao, dated to around the 3rd century BC. The Nanman were multiple ethnic groups including the Miao, the Kinh, the Thai, and some Tibeto-Burman groups such as the Bai. There was never a single...
"A pejorative reference to Yue and other ethnic groups in southern and southwestern ChinaNorthern and southern ChinaNorthern China and southern China are two approximate regions within China. The exact boundary between these two regions has never been precisely defined...
and IndochinaIndochinaThe Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
. Like the Yue, many of these are now considered Han Chinese, following centuries or millennia of Sinification. The term was used in Japanese (as Nanban) to refer to European tradersNanban tradeThe or the in Japanese history extends from the arrival of the first Europeans to Japan in 1543, to their near-total exclusion from the archipelago in 1614, under the promulgation of the "Sakoku" Seclusion Edicts.- Etymology :...
in Japan. - "Xirong"Originally an ancient ethnic group, it became used to refer to all non-Han ethnic groups in northwestern ChinaNorthwestern ChinaNorthwestern China includes the autonomous regions of Xinjiang and Ningxia and the provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Qinghai.-Administrative divisions:ProvincesAutonomous Regions-Outer Northwest China:...
, such as the Uyghurs. - "BeidiBeidiBeidi or Northern Di were groups of people who lived to the north of what was then China during the Zhou Dynasty. By the end of the dynasty they were mostly conquered or absorbed by the Chinese....
"Originally an ancient ethnic group, this term was later used to refer to all non-Han ethnic groups in northern ChinaNorth Chinathumb|250px|Northern [[People's Republic of China]] region.Northern China or North China is a geographical region of China. The heartland of North China is the North China Plain....
beyond the Great WallGreat Wall of ChinaThe Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups...
, including Mongolians and the ManchuManchuThe Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
. - "DongyiDongyiDongyi was a collective term for people in eastern China and in lands located to the east of ancient China. People referred to as Dongyi vary across the ages.The early Dongyi culture was one of earliest neolithic cultures in China....
"Originally ancient ethnic groups who lived east of the HuaxiaHuaxiaHuaxia is a name often used to represent China or Chinese civilization.-Etymology:According to the historical record, Zuo Zhuan, the ancient Xia Dynasty of central China was a state that held propriety and justice in high esteem...
along the coast of modern China..
Modern History
Han chauvinism was vocal and involved in many movements against the ethnically ManchuManchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
, including the Heaven and Earth societies (also known as "Tongs" or "Triads"), the Taiping rebellion
Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion was a widespread civil war in southern China from 1850 to 1864, led by heterodox Christian convert Hong Xiuquan, who, having received visions, maintained that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ, against the ruling Manchu-led Qing Dynasty...
, the Nian rebellion, and the Tongmenghui
Tongmenghui
The Tongmenghui, also known as the Chinese United League, United League, Chinese Revolutionary Alliance, Chinese Alliance and United Allegiance Society, was a secret society and underground resistance movement formed when merging many Chinese revolutionary groups together by Sun Yat-sen, Song...
. However, following the establishment of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
in 1911, a conscious effort was made to rein in these tendencies so as to be inclusive of China's other ethnicities and to avoid separatist movements that might yield Qing-held territory outside of China proper
China proper
China proper or Eighteen Provinces was a term used by Western writers on the Qing Dynasty to express a distinction between the core and frontier regions of China. There is no fixed extent for China proper, as many administrative, cultural, and linguistic shifts have occurred in Chinese history...
.
After the PRC was founded, early policies on ethnic relations were guided by Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
's 1913 Marxism and the National Question. The Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
saw a parallel between Han chauvinism and the "Great Russian chauvinism" which was heavily debated during the early years of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Although Chinese characters and Mandarin Chinese pronunciation became standard and required for official purposes throughout China, cadres were warned against being patronizing or condescending towards minorities. The party would recruit from many ethnic groups to create leaders who would guide their people towards socialism. On occasion, ethnic minorities could keep customs and traditions that were regarded as feudal or reactionary until the time came for them to willingly embrace socialism. The Yi people
Yi people
The Yi or Lolo people are an ethnic group in China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Numbering 8 million, they are the seventh largest of the 55 ethnic minority groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China...
, for instance, were even allowed to maintain their slavery customs for a time.
This policy was abandoned during the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
. Red Guards
Red Guards (China)
Red Guards were a mass movement of civilians, mostly students and other young people in the People's Republic of China , who were mobilized by Mao Zedong in 1966 and 1967, during the Cultural Revolution.-Origins:...
attempted to destroy every vestige of traditional culture, Han or non-Han, to create a new "socialist" culture. Temples were razed. Traditional leaders and ethnographic researchers were denounced and purged. After the fall of the Gang of Four
Gang of Four
The Gang of Four was the name given to a political faction composed of four Chinese Communist Party officials. They came to prominence during the Cultural Revolution and were subsequently charged with a series of treasonous crimes...
, the government began to revert to its earlier policy, with less emphasis on Marxist-Leninist ideology.
Accusations of continuing Han chauvinism continue to be made by some members of ethnic minority groups
Ethnic minorities in China
Ethnic minorities in China are the non-Han Chinese population in the People's Republic of China. The People's Republic of China officially recognizes 55 ethnic minority groups within China in addition to the Han majority. As of 2010, the combined population of officially recognised minority...
, including as justification for separatist movements in (e.g.) Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
and Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
.
See also
- SinocentrismSinocentrismSinocentrism is an ethnocentric perspective that regards China to be the center of civilization and superior to all other nations. The related but distinct concept of the superiority of the Han Chinese ethnicity both within and without China is known as Han chauvinism.- Overview and context...
- Chinese nationalismChinese nationalismChinese nationalism , sometimes synonymous with Chinese patriotism refers to cultural, historiographical, and political theories, movements and beliefs that assert the idea of a cohesive, unified Chinese people and culture in a unified country known as China...
- Anti-Manchuism
- Hui pan-nationalismHui pan-nationalismHui pan-nationalism refers to the common identity among diverse communities of Chinese-speaking Muslims ....
- Xungen movementXungen movementThe xungen movement is a cultural and literary movement in mainland China emphasizing local and minority cultures. It began in the late-1980s. Its premise is that the Cultural Revolution destroyed a pluralistic Chinese identity that had existed for centuries, and that the reconstruction of that...