In Central Asia, a special group from northwest China, the Dungans, have retained strong Chinese traditions after a century of wandering. Their history is not only a legacy of the turmoil of the Qing Dynasty, but also a unique witness of Chinese culture overseas. This article will explore the historical background, migration process, identity and Central Asian identity of the Dungans in depth, and analyze the cultural and emotional connections of this special group in reality.

Historical Background: From the "Shaanxi-Gansu Hui Rebellion" to Migration in Central Asia

The history of the Dungans can be traced back to a huge turmoil under the rule of the Qing Dynasty in the 19th century, the "Shaanxi-Gansu Hui Rebellion". This conflict from 1862 to 1873 involved large-scale clashes between the Han and Hui people in Shaanxi and Gansu. The causes of the Hui unrest were extremely complex, including inter-ethnic conflicts, political distrust, and the Qing Dynasty's repressive measures. Zuo Zongtang led his army to quell the rebellion, resulting in a large population reduction in Gansu and Shaanxi, and some of the Hui people who survived the conflict were eventually relocated to the western border areas by the Qing court to avoid another conflict.

Thousands of these Hui people chose to continue westward, crossing the Tianshan Mountains and eventually reaching Russian territory. The first large-scale migration began in 1877, when they crossed the Tianshan Mountains on foot during the harsh winter, and several teams eventually spread across various regions in Central Asia. Subsequently, the Treaty of St. Petersburg signed in 1881 provided these migrants with formal Russian asylum, allowing them to survive and take root in Central Asia.

The Birth and Cultural Heritage of the Dungans

The Dungans mainly live in today's Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. After World War II, the former Soviet Union officially named them "Dungans". The term "Dungans" has become the identity symbol of this ethnic group, and they still call themselves "Hui", which is the same origin as the Hui people in China. Due to historical background and cultural identity, this group of Dungans still maintains the customs and beliefs of the Qing Dynasty in modern times, forming a "Chinese village" in Central Asia, which has become a valuable resource for studying Chinese traditional culture.

The Dungans mainly believe in Islam. Their culture incorporates some Central Asian cultural elements on the basis of Hui traditions, but still maintains the northwestern Chinese dialect, traditional food and festival customs. The Dungans often communicate in the Shaanxi dialect and retain Chinese-style clothing, architectural style and handicrafts. Whether it is prayers and festivals in daily life or language inheritance in the family, the Dungans are adhering to the traditions of northwest China.

Historical trauma and cultural identity

The Dungans have a completely different historical memory of the "Shaanxi-Gansu Hui Rebellion". They regard this conflict as a self-defense counterattack by the Hui people, believing that the Qing government's suppression was too cruel and was treated unfairly at the time. Some Dungans believe that the Qing Dynasty's rebellion suppression policy led to their displacement, and that large-scale massacres were mainly initiated by the Qing army, while the Hui rebels were more for self-protection. This cognition has led them to have a different interpretation of historical events and even formed a "collective trauma" memory, but this has not diminished their feelings for China.

Like other overseas Chinese, the Dungans have a strong sense of identity with China. When Chinese embassy staff visited a Dungan village, the villagers excitedly shouted, "The court sent people to see us," showing a sense of pride and intimacy with the motherland. In addition, the Dungans also maintain marriage ties with the Hui people in China, and some Dungan families choose to send their children to China for education, strengthening this cultural bond.

Realistic Challenges: Confusion of Transnational Identity

In Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, the Dungans face a dual challenge of identity. On the one hand, they belong to a minority ethnic group in Central Asia, but in daily life they are incompatible with the surrounding ethnic groups because of their Chinese ancestry, traditions and beliefs; on the other hand, they still identify with China, but because of the lapse of a hundred years, their understanding of China is mostly stuck in traditional history. The Dungans have limited knowledge of modern China, and their views on China are more derived from family heritage and cultural memory, rather than the actual development of contemporary China.

At the same time, with the complexity of international relations and the sensitivity of some Central Asian countries to foreign cultures, the Dungans must seek a balance between preserving Chinese traditions and integrating into local society. As a minority in Central Asia, the Dungans have a sparse population in the local ethnic system and need to find a way to coexist with other ethnic groups in real life without losing their traditions.

Persistence of culture and continuation of emotions

Despite all kinds of challenges, the Dungans have always maintained their deep feelings for China in a foreign country. In his poem "To China", the Dungan poet Suo Ahong Dawu (pen name "Suo Zunshi") used sincere brushstrokes to describe his deep affection for China. Even though he has never set foot on Chinese soil, he still cares about his motherland. Suo Ahong's poems show the Dungans' attachment and imagination to their motherland, and deeply imprint the magnificent scenery of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River in their hearts, becoming an inner spiritual support.

The Dungans not only miss China in their hearts, but also continue their Chinese feelings through the inheritance of language and culture. Even in a foreign country, the Dungans still maintain their watch on Chinese culture and become the "living fossil of Chinese culture" in Central Asia. They use traditional Chinese festivals, dialect exchanges and folk stories to maintain the emotional inheritance spanning a century.

Unique value bestowed by history

The Dungans are part of Chinese culture, and they have continued the traditions of their motherland in their own unique way. Although their migration history is full of suffering and turmoil, this sense of national identity has enabled them to survive tenaciously on the land of Central Asia and form a unique ethnic identity. In today's globalized context, the existence of the Dungans not only has far-reaching historical significance, but also provides valuable research value for cross-cultural exchanges.

The Dungans in Central Asia are both witnesses of historical turmoil and disseminators of Chinese culture. Their history and identity provide us with an important perspective for understanding national identity and cross-cultural exchanges, and deserve more attention and respect.