Han chauvinism

Han chauvinism (Chinese: s 汉沙文主义, t 漢沙文主義, p Hàn shāwénzhǔyì) is the chauvinistic and ethnocentric viewpoint that the Han Chinese and their culture are superior to other ethnicities, particularly other ethnicities within modern China. Although historically Han-chauvinistic groups like the Ming rebels against the Yuan Dynasty and the Tongmenghui rebels against the Qing remain celebrated in Chinese culture and anti-chauvinistic activities during the Cultural Revolution are now regretted,^{[citation needed]} modern Han chauvinism is officially condemned by the governments of both the People's Republic and the Republic of China (Taiwan).

It is sometimes also known as Hanism (s 汉本位, t 漢本位, p Hàn běnwèi), or Greater Han nationalism (s 大汉族主义, t 大漢族主義, p Dàhànzúzhǔyì).

The related but distinct view that the nation and culture of China as a whole is superior to other nations and cultures is Sinocentrism.

Ancient History

Main article: Hua-Yi distinction

The modern Han ethnicity was originally known as the Huaxia as it developed around the Wei and Yellow Rivers. The differences they saw between themselves and the other peoples and cultures around them around them is now known as the Hua-Yi distinction.

Historical groups once considered "barbarous" and occasionally still referenced pejoratively in Chinese include:^{[citation needed]}

• "Nanman" — A pejorative reference to Yue and other ethnic groups in southern and southwestern China and Indochina. Like the Yue, many of these are now considered Han Chinese, following centuries or millennia of Sinification.^{[citation needed]} The term was used in Japanese (as Nanban) to refer to European traders in Japan.
• "Xirong" — Originally an ancient ethnic group, it became used to refer to all non-Han ethnic groups in northwestern China, such as the Uyghurs.^{[citation needed]}
• "Beidi" — Originally an ancient ethnic group, this term was later used to refer to all non-Han ethnic groups in northern China beyond the Great Wall, including Mongolians and the Manchu.
• "Dongyi" — Originally ancient ethnic groups who lived east of the Huaxia along the coast of modern China.

Modern History

Han chauvinism was vocal and involved in many movements against the ethnically Manchu Qing Dynasty, including the Heaven and Earth societies (also known as "Tongs" or "Triads"), the Taiping rebellion, the Nian rebellion, and the Tongmenghui. However, following the establishment of the Republic of China in 1911, a conscious effort was made to rein in these tendencies so as to be inclusive of China's other ethnicities and to avoid separatist movements that might yield Qing-held territory outside of China proper.^{[citation needed]}

After the PRC was founded, early policies on ethnic relations were guided by Joseph Stalin's 1913 Marxism and the National Question.^{[citation needed]} The Communist Party of China saw a parallel between Han chauvinism and the "Great Russian chauvinism" which was heavily debated during the early years of the Soviet Union.^{[citation needed]} Although Chinese characters and Mandarin Chinese pronunciation became standard and required for official purposes throughout China, cadres were warned against being patronizing or condescending towards minorities.^{[citation needed]} The party would recruit from many ethnic groups to create leaders who would guide their people towards socialism. On occasion, ethnic minorities could keep customs and traditions that were regarded as feudal or reactionary until the time came for them to willingly embrace socialism. The Yi people, for instance, were even allowed to maintain their slavery customs for a time.^{[citation needed]}

This policy was abandoned during the Cultural Revolution.^{[citation needed]} Red Guards attempted to destroy every vestige of traditional culture, Han or non-Han, to create a new "socialist" culture. Temples were razed. Traditional leaders and ethnographic researchers were denounced and purged.^{[citation needed]} After the fall of the Gang of Four, the government began to revert to its earlier policy, with less emphasis on Marxist-Leninist ideology.^{[citation needed]}

Accusations of continuing Han chauvinism continue to be made by some members of ethnic minority groups, including as justification for separatist movements in (e.g.) Tibet and Xinjiang.

See also

• Chinese nationalism
• Anti-Manchuism
• Hui pan-nationalism
• Xungen movement