The Multivariate and Integrated Hui Ethnic Group

Formation and Unique Identity of the Hui Ethnic Group

The Hui ethnic group is a distinctive and integrated community within the Chinese nation. While the Hui nationality shares similarities with other ethnic groups as a native people of China, its formation process sets it apart. Unlike other ethnic groups that evolved from specific ancient Chinese clans or tribes, the Hui nationality developed through the gradual fusion of diverse ethnicities, both domestic and foreign, united by their Islamic faith.

The Hui people do not trace their origins to any single tribe; instead, they are the result of a long-term historical process, absorbing individuals from different nationalities and ethnicities, including foreign migrants and Chinese locals. This blending of cultural, racial, and religious elements is what makes the Hui ethnic group a multivariate integration of aboriginal and non-aboriginal peoples.

Historical Development

The Hui ethnic group began to take shape during the Tang and Song dynasties and continued to evolve throughout the Yuan and Ming dynasties. The “aboriginal guests” from the Tang and Song dynasties, the “Huis” from the Yuan dynasty, and various ethnic groups from Central Asia who entered China during the Ming dynasty form the core of Hui ancestry. The name “Hui” itself traces back to the Yuan dynasty when it was adopted as a national designation.

The formation of the Hui people involved a wide range of ethnic integration, absorbing elements from Han, Uygur, Mongolian, Tibetan, and other ethnic groups. The blending of these nationalities helped shape the unique cultural and ethnic identity of the Hui people.

Influence of Foreign Communities: Jews and Filipinos

In addition to absorbing elements from domestic Chinese ethnic groups, the Hui also incorporated foreign communities such as Jews and Filipinos. Jewish immigrants arrived in China during the Song dynasty and were referred to as “Shuhu Huis” during the Yuan dynasty due to their religious customs, which included Judaism, circumcision, synagogue attendance, and the prohibition of pork. Their religious practices shared similarities with those of the Hui, and their pale blue scarves worn during religious ceremonies earned them the name “blue hat Huis” or “pale blue Huis” in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Through self-recognition, religious commonalities, and intermarriage, many of these Jewish communities were integrated into the broader Hui nationality. Similarly, Filipino immigrants who settled in Dezhou, Shandong, during the early 15th century were also absorbed into the Hui ethnic group.

Conclusion

The Hui ethnic group is a unique example of multivariate integration, where ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity converged to form a new community. Their history is marked by the blending of Chinese and foreign elements, resulting in a rich and complex cultural identity that continues to shape their place within the broader Chinese nation.