Han chauvinism
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Han chauvinism (大汉族主义, 汉沙文主义) or Hanism (汉本位) is a term which is used in the Mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan, referring to people carrying ethnocentric viewpoints that favor the Han Chinese majority ethnic group in China at the expense of the other minority ethnic groups, often under the assumption of cultural or racial superiority. Han chauvinists in the People's Republic of China often construct enemies of Manchus, Mongols and members of the Han nationality that oppose a monolithic view of the nationality. Han chauvinism is also sometimes manifest as nostalgia in the expansionist exploits by past Chinese dynasties, especially those identified with the Han nationality, but in some contexts also including the Qing Dynasty, a Manchu dynasty. Actions and speech that constitute the ethnocentric and ideological aspects of Han chauvinism (such as hate speech against minorities) are illegal in the People's Republic of China and are either banned or censored.
The term, however, has been carelessly and often maliciously mislabeled onto the general Han Chinese population and on Han Chinese who show any interest or hobby toward Han Chinese culture and cultural activities (such as Han Chinese clothing and music). When used loosely and without a specific target, for example in the clause "The Han chauvinism amongst Chinese...", it implicates the general population of being racist. This consequently has made the term highly pejorative unless used specifically under the charges of racism and expansionism.
Those espousing chauvinistic attitudes often revive ancient pejorative and anachronistic terms to refer to other ethnic groups as "barbarians". In ancient times, the following terms were used by various peoples of the Zhongyuan (North China Plain) to refer to those peoples not under the political control or cultural influence of the main Chinese dynasty; however, many of these "barbarians" make up the bulk of today's Han Chinese ethnicity (hence the below terms as used historically were geographic and cultural labels, rather than racial in the modern sense). The terms below, however, were also used by the Japanese to various extents, hence diluting the claim of their links specifically to Han chauvinism.
- "Nanman" (南蛮) – literally barbarians of the South - typically referring to southern ethnic groups in present-day South China, Southwestern China and Indo-China. Most of what were considered Nanman then are now Han Chinese (for example, the inhabitants of the province of Nanyue were originally labeled as Nanman, and today represent the Cantonese and various other subgroups of Han Chinese).
- "Xirong" (西戎) – originally an ancient ethnic group (Rong), this term was later used to refer to all non-Han ethnic groups in today's Northwestern China, who were mostly nomadic horsemen,
- "Beidi" (北狄) – originally an ancient ethnic group (Di), this term was later used to refer to all non-Han ethnic groups in today's Northern China, Mongolia, and Siberia, especially those who lived beyond the Great Wall.
- "Dongyi" (东夷) – literally barbarians (or archers) of the East, referring to ancient ethnic groups who lived in today's eastern China along the coast, including groups which have now been assimilated into the Han nationality. The Dongyi are said to form the main part of the Han Chinese today. Sinologists today recognise the contributions to Chinese culture and technology made by Dongyi peoples. For example, the second dynasty of China, the Shang, began as a Dongyi tribe along the Yellow River. According to Japanese sources, the term has also been used occasionally to refer to the peoples of Manchuria, Korea, and Japan.1
In the People's Republic of China, the term Han chauvinism (大汉族主义) is also used by some members of ethnic minority groups as justification for separatist movements.
See also
References
- Note 1: Taro Yayama, "Japan Should Not Participate in China's 'East Asian Community' Conspiracy – Japan Should Learn From European Union Development Environment." Sankei Shimbun, December 24, 2005
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