Hayes, Anna (2012) Competing historical accounts and the importance of nationalised mythology: Han Chinese 'imaginaries' and Uighur 'realities'. In: The British World: religion, memory, society, culture: refereed proceedings of the conference. pp. 341-354. From: The British World: religion, memory, society, culture, 2-5 July 2012, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

[Extract] The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is located in north-western China and was the site through which traders traversed the Silk Road. Through much of the twentieth century it was bordered by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, but since the breakup of the Soviet Union it is neighboured by Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. Xinjiang has a diverse minority nationality (shaoshu minzu) population, and is home to the Uighurs, Huis, Mongolians, Kazakhs, Xibos, Kirgiz, Uzbeks, Manchus, Tatars, Tajiks, Daghurs and Russians, along with other minority groups who have recently been migrating to the region. Its total population numbers in the vicinity of 20.5 million, of whom 60.3 percent belong to the minority nationalities. The Uighurs have long been the region's majority population and they number in the vicinity of 9.5 million. They currently account for nearly 46 percent of the region's total population. However, their majority status within the region is changing due to continued Han Chinese migration to the province. In 1949, Uyghurs accounted for 76 percent of Xinjiang's population. By 1964, this figure had dropped to 55 percent, it was 46 percent in 1986, returning to 47 percent by 1990. This demonstrates that Han migration to the region has had a significant impact on the ethnic ratios in Xinjiang. In 1949, Han Chinese constituted only 6.7 percent of the population in Xinjiang. By 1990, this figure had risen to 37.6 percent. The Han population recently reached 8.12 million and they now account for approximately 39.7 percent of the overall population in Xinjiang.

Item ID:	38660
Item Type:	Conference Item (Research - E1)
ISBN:	978-0-9874082-1-1
Keywords:	ethnic minorities; Muslims; internal migration; indigenous population
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2012 01:36
FoR Codes:	16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1608 Sociology > 160803 Race and Ethnic Relations @ 40% 21 HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY > 2103 Historical Studies > 210302 Asian History @ 60%
SEO Codes:	95 CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING > 9505 Understanding Past Societies > 950502 Understanding Asias Past @ 100%
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