Red Diaspora
The Dungans are Chinese Muslims who call themselves Hui (回族). They are a lesser-known Chinese diaspora who have lived in China’s neighbouring states, such as Kyrgyzstan, for more than 100 years. After fleeing war and religious persecution, the Hui settled in Central Asia and built their lives here. The name “Dungan” was given to them by Russians and Central Asians. Even though they share the same religion as Central Asians, the Dungans still face discrimination from those who don’t see them as countrymen. These ethnic tensions often simmer below the surface, fuelled by jealousy of their success in business and farming, and at times give rise to violent attacks. Although it doesn’t happen often, the Dungans understand that they are not considered equal among Central Asians.
“I miss China, I still have relatives there, but my family is here. I have 10 children in Kyrgyzstan, my grandson and great-grandson are here. I have lost contact with my distant relatives. I love staying here.”
Unlike the Han, Miao (苗族) or Qiang (羌族), the Hui have not always lived on the ancient soil of China, nor are they immigrant groups that came to China from abroad like the Koreans or Russians, nor people of a border region long in close contact like the Kazakhs or the Dai. Rather, they relied on the unifying power of Islamic culture, which drew Muslims of different countries and languages into a single entity, forming a minzu (民族) from a blend of foreign elements and partly domestic inhabitants, almost as if creating a new species.
