Zhuang studies
Encyclopedia
Zhuang studies is an interdisciplinary intellectual field concerned with the Zhuang people – their history, anthropology, religion, politics, languages, and literature. The majority of such research is being carried out in the People's Republic of China
. Huang Xianfan
(黄现璠) is considered by many to be the father of Zhuang studies.
of Zhuang, literature
of Zhuang, art
of Zhuang, music
of Zhuang, language
of Zhuang, sociology
of Zhuang, political science of Zhuang, economics
of Zhuang, folklore
of Zhuang, and ethnomusicology of Zhuang. It may be compared to other ethnic groups studies disciplines, such as Tai studies and Yao studies. Zhuang studies is sometimes included within a broader regional area of focus including: "Lingnan
studies", "Yue people studies","South Asia
studies", or "ASEAN Studies".
Huang Xianfan may be considered as the first Zhuangologist and he did much to make Zhuang known in China. Since 1950, Huang Xianfan led the group making a largest and deepest investigation on ethnic history and traditional culture
in Guangxi
history. They had collected a lot of valuable materials and laid a foundation for further research on Zhuang ethnic social and historical culture.That was a very important beginning for later development of Zhuang ethnic research and establishment of Guangxi institute of ethnic studies. Therefore, the inception of Zhuang studies as an authentic academic discipline is thus associated with the first ethnologist Huang Xianfan de Zhuang who is considered as its founder to present day, the other early zhuang studies of note being Huang Zengqing (Huang group's member and the first archaeological researcher of the Guangxi) who in 1957 occupied the first chair for Zhuang's archaeology
studies in China and Zhou Zuoqiou, who was primarily the pioneering subject of the zhuang literature in Guangxi Normal University
.
The Bagui School (The first ethnic school in China
and pioneer is Huang Xianfan
) was particularly significant for the development of the discipline since the early 1950s with Huang Xianfan, Huang Zengqing, Ban Xiouwen, Ou Yang Ruoxiou, Qin Cailuan, Qin Naichang, Qin Shengmin, He Longqun, Yu Shijie, Qin Deqing, Pan Qixu, Huang Hanjin and Zeng Chaoxiong.
In 1957, the Guangxi government established the Guangxi institute of ethnic studies to promote Zhuang studies around China. In 1991 the Guangxi Zhuang Studies Society was established, and in April 1999 the first international Zhuang studies conference was held in Wuming with scholars from 8 different countries.
Over the last few decades in other countries the studies of the Zhuang have opened towards other disciplines, resulting in works with interdisciplinary approach. As examples of such open-minded Zhuang researcher we might mention the American
anthropologist Jeffrey Barlow, among others, who has done noted research and publications on lexical questions, about Zhuang culture and the modern history of Zhuang. Others are Japanese
anthropologist Chikadasigeyuki, Australian anthropologist David Holm, and many more.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Huang Xianfan
Huang Xianfan
Huang Xianfan was a famous Chinese historian, ethnologist and educator.A scholar with both ancient and modern knowledge, his work Brief History of Zhuang Nationality is the first systematic research on the history of Zhuang nationality in China...
(黄现璠) is considered by many to be the father of Zhuang studies.
Features
Areas commonly included under this rubric include historyHistory
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
of Zhuang, literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
of Zhuang, art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
of Zhuang, music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
of Zhuang, language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
of Zhuang, sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
of Zhuang, political science of Zhuang, economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
of Zhuang, folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
of Zhuang, and ethnomusicology of Zhuang. It may be compared to other ethnic groups studies disciplines, such as Tai studies and Yao studies. Zhuang studies is sometimes included within a broader regional area of focus including: "Lingnan
Lingnan
Lingnan is a geographic area referring to lands in the south of China's "Five Ranges" which are Tayu, Qitian, Dupang, Mengzhu, Yuecheng. The region covers the Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan and Jiangxi provinces of modern China and northern Vietnam...
studies", "Yue people studies","South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
studies", or "ASEAN Studies".
History
Zhuang studies is a relatively new discipline.Huang Xianfan may be considered as the first Zhuangologist and he did much to make Zhuang known in China. Since 1950, Huang Xianfan led the group making a largest and deepest investigation on ethnic history and traditional culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
in Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
history. They had collected a lot of valuable materials and laid a foundation for further research on Zhuang ethnic social and historical culture.That was a very important beginning for later development of Zhuang ethnic research and establishment of Guangxi institute of ethnic studies. Therefore, the inception of Zhuang studies as an authentic academic discipline is thus associated with the first ethnologist Huang Xianfan de Zhuang who is considered as its founder to present day, the other early zhuang studies of note being Huang Zengqing (Huang group's member and the first archaeological researcher of the Guangxi) who in 1957 occupied the first chair for Zhuang's archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
studies in China and Zhou Zuoqiou, who was primarily the pioneering subject of the zhuang literature in Guangxi Normal University
Guangxi Normal University
-External links:* * *...
.
The Bagui School (The first ethnic school in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and pioneer is Huang Xianfan
Huang Xianfan
Huang Xianfan was a famous Chinese historian, ethnologist and educator.A scholar with both ancient and modern knowledge, his work Brief History of Zhuang Nationality is the first systematic research on the history of Zhuang nationality in China...
) was particularly significant for the development of the discipline since the early 1950s with Huang Xianfan, Huang Zengqing, Ban Xiouwen, Ou Yang Ruoxiou, Qin Cailuan, Qin Naichang, Qin Shengmin, He Longqun, Yu Shijie, Qin Deqing, Pan Qixu, Huang Hanjin and Zeng Chaoxiong.
In 1957, the Guangxi government established the Guangxi institute of ethnic studies to promote Zhuang studies around China. In 1991 the Guangxi Zhuang Studies Society was established, and in April 1999 the first international Zhuang studies conference was held in Wuming with scholars from 8 different countries.
Over the last few decades in other countries the studies of the Zhuang have opened towards other disciplines, resulting in works with interdisciplinary approach. As examples of such open-minded Zhuang researcher we might mention the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
anthropologist Jeffrey Barlow, among others, who has done noted research and publications on lexical questions, about Zhuang culture and the modern history of Zhuang. Others are Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
anthropologist Chikadasigeyuki, Australian anthropologist David Holm, and many more.
Literature
- Huang Xianfan(黄现璠):《Brief History of the Zhuang》(广西壮族简史), Guangxi Peoples’s Press, 1957.
- Huang Xianfan(黄现璠):《Nong Zhi Gao》(遗著), Guangxi Peoples’s Press, 1983.
- Huang Xianfan(黄现璠等):《General History of the ZhuangGeneral History of the ZhuangGeneral History of the Zhuang is an academic book which relatively systematic and comprehensive response Zhuang history written by Chinese famous historian Huang Xianfan. The first draft completed in 1981 and after finishing by Huang Xian Fan’s students published by the Guangxi National Press in 1988...
》(壮族通史,遗著), Guangxi national Press, 1988. - 《First University Professor of Zhuang Nationality – Huang Xianfan》(第一位壮族教授 - 黄现璠), Guangxi ethnic newspaper, 1999.
- Mu Jun:《A Master of Zhuang Ethnic Studies – Huang Xianfan》(壮学之父黄现璠), Guangxi's daily, 2002.
- Chen Ji Sheng:《On Professor Huang Xian Fan’s Practice and Construction to Chinese 20th Century's New History》, Guangxi Social Sciences，1st Issue，2007.
- Huang Xianfan(黄现璠):《A Critical Biography of Wei Ba Qun》(遗作), Guangxi Normal University Press, 2008.
- Chen Ji Sheng:《On Bagui School of Chinese Ethnology》(试论中国民族学的八桂学派), Guangxi Social Sciences，7th–11th Issues， 2008.
- 金丽:《壮族历史与文化导论》(英文版,北京：民族出版社，2007年). Jin Li: Zhuang History and Culture: An Introductory Study – (Beijing, The Ethnic Publishing House, 2007). Note: This book is written in English by Professor Jin Li of Guangxi University for Nationalities. It is addressed to two groups of readers for two different purposes. First, it is hoped that Chinese students whose majors are related to Zhuang studies would by reading this book be exposed to academic writing in English on relevant subjects. Second, it may be beneficial to English-speaking people who have an interest in the Zhuang, their history and their culture.