Journal:Journal of Minzu University of China(Philosophy and Social Sciences)
Abstract:The article adopts the western Yunnan salt－tea ancient road as a case study，and takes theperspective of an“object”，following analysis framework of the production，transportation and management ofsalt，fully explores relative historical material focusing on ethnic exchange，communication and integrationgenerated by “salt ” in Yunlong County． It also complements some historical facts on the Han people ’sintegrating with other ethnic groups and the integration of other ethnic groups between each other． The studymakes following findings: firstly，the historical fact of people of all ethnic groups living to pursue“salt”showsthat “profit seeking”being an important driving force for ethnic exchanges and integration，and the “divisionof labor”and cooperation around the process of salt production is the mechanism of effective and continuousinteraction among multiple ethnic groups; secondly，the transportation of salt promoted the construction ofinfrastructure such as bridges and roads，activated the exchanges of materials between different ethnic groupsin Yunlong，and laid a solid foundation for the formation of local or regional ethnic diversity pattern; thirdly，after the Ming and Qing dynasties，the political unified managements of Yunlong and the cultural ritual andetiquette education enabled the people of all ethnic groups to form up cross － ethnic cultural and politicalidentity and accelerated the process of integrating the local society into the Chinese national community． Theresearch findings also provide important references for today’s ethnic work: we should pay full attention to the“objects ” in ethnic interaction， and correctly handle the interests in the process of “production ”，transportation and management of objects; we should equally distribute the profits generated from the objects todifferent ethnic groups，and we should also strengthen the construction of transportation and other infrastructurein ethnic areas，and make good efforts in fostering ethnic unity within the region．
First Author:Jiexiang Zhao
Volume:50
Issue:5
Page Number:156-166
Translation or Not:no
Date of Publication:2023-09-15