“Wild” and “Tamed” Barbarians: Why are Hui Muslims not Oppressed like the Uyghurs?

Abstract

This study explores the reasons behind China’s differing treatment of Hui Muslims and Uyghurs through an interdisciplinary lens. Despite sharing the same religion, the fact that the Hui face less repression is a significant issue within the context of China’s ethnic policies. By examining China’s historical and philosophical classification of nonHan communities as “barbarian”, along with the historical and cultural relationships these two communities have had with China, the study delves into the similarities and differences in the policies applied to Hui and Uyghurs. The findings reveal that the notion the Hui are not subjected to oppression is misleading and that, in reality, they have experienced various levels of repression both historically and contemporarily. The differences in current policies toward these two groups arise from the Chinese administration’s tendency to perceive cultural diversity as a threat, the varying degrees of integration — or “domestication” — of each community with Chinese culture, and the historical trajectory of their relations with China. This study underscores that addressing the issue within the framework of China’s cultural structure and traditional administrative mindset offers a crucial perspective for a deeper understanding of the state’s policies toward non-Han peoples.

Keywords

• Sino-Barbarian Order
• Chinese nation
• Acculturation
• Diversities
• Uyghur
• Hui

“Yabani” ve “Ehlîleştirilmiş” Barbarlar: Hui Müslümanları Niçin Uygurlar Kadar Baskı Görmüyor?

Abstract

Bu çalışma Çin’in Hui müslümanları ve Uygurlar’a yönelik farklı muamelesinin sebeplerini disiplinler arası bir yaklaşımla araştırmaktadır. Aynı dini paylaşmalarına rağmen Huiler’in daha az baskı görmesi, Çin’in etnik politikaları çerçevesinde dikkat çeken bir konudur. Çalışma Çin’in tarihsel ve felsefî perspektiflerden “barbar” olarak sınıflandırdığı Han olmayan topluluklara yönelik bakış açısını ve bu iki toplumun Çin ile olan tarihî ve kültürel ilişkilerini analiz ederek, Huiler’e ve Uygurlar’a uygulanan benzer ve farklı politikaları incelemektedir. İnceleme sonucunda elde edilen bulgular, Huiler’in baskı altında olmadığı söyleminin gerçeği yansıtmadığını, aksine hem geçmişte hem günümüzde farklı seviyelerde baskılara maruz kaldıklarını göstermektedir. Günümüzde bu iki topluma uygulanan farklı politikaların ise Çin yönetim anlayışının kültürel çeşitliliği bir tehdit olarak görme eğilimi, iki toplumun Çin kültürüne entegre olma, yani “ehlîleşme” düzeyindeki farklılıklar ve Çin ile olan ilişkisinin serüveninden kaynaklandığını ileri sürmektedir. Bu çalışma söz konusu meselenin Çin’in kültürel yapısı ve geleneksel yönetim anlayışı çerçevesinde ele alınmasının, Çin’in Han olmayanlara yönelik politikalarını daha derinlemesine anlamak açısından önemli bir perspektif sunduğunu vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

• Çinli-barbar düzeni
• Çin ulusu
• Akkültürasyon
• Farklılık
• Uygur
• Hui

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