From ‘Small’ to ‘Big’ Nationalism: National Identity Among China’s Hui Minority in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

Today China is home to 56 recognised nationalities, most of whom are geographically, religiously, linguistically, economically and culturally distinct. Yet, the People’s Republic of China, post-Mao, has been largely successful in promoting ethnic unity among its diverse population, despite facing the challenges presented by globalisation. Discourses and imaginaries of the PRC as being composed of 56 distinct yet equal ethnicities are vital to Chinese national identities and policies. The centrality of ethnicity to the Chinese national imaginary is not a new occurrence, but has been a cornerstone of Chinese nationalism since its inception. Liang Qichao’s idea of ‘small’ and ‘big’ nationalisms has been particularly important to the development of current policies; whereby ‘small’ nationalism exists among individual ethnic groups, while ‘big’ nationalism unites all ethnicities together within the nation-state. This two-fold approach to nationalism has had an impact on the ethno-nationalist identities of minority peoples in China, including the Hui. Structured in three parts, this chapter will first explore the theoretical development of Chinese nationalism, focusing on the contributions of Liang Qichao’s ‘big’ and ‘small’ nationalism to current conceptualisations. The chapter will then examine current ethnic policies affecting minorities in China. Before concluding, the lived realities of China’s two-fold nationality policy will be demonstrated, looking at how national identity, both ‘big’ and ‘small’, is performed by ethnically Hui people in Beijing through their food cultures.