China's Farthest Southwest: The Transformation of Yunnan During the Reign of Yongzheng (r. 1722-1735)

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Date

2021-11-23

Authors

Hou, Jue

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Publisher

University of Oregon

Abstract

During the reign of Yongzheng (r. 1722-1735), the emperor initiated a radical frontier policy to consolidate and transform Yunnan, the province located in the far southwest of China that borders with the Southeast Asian countries of Vietnam, Laos, and Burma. The Qing expansion of Yunnan represented an intention to incorporate and dominate the population of Yunnan province. Shaped by the notion of cultural superiority in an area with a comparatively underdeveloped economy, the Han majority was viewed as representing the superior civilization capable of assimilating and civilizing the frontier communities. This thesis aims to challenge the myth of Han superiority by considering how ethnic communities and Han settlers equally contributed to Yunnan’s transformation. Although the tensions between the two groups were visible, they accommodated, acculturated, and influenced each other in constructing a new social order in Yunnan.

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Keywords

China's southwestern frontier, Emperor Yongzheng, indigenous studies, the Qing Dynasty

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