Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T07:38:33.591Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Modular History: Identity Maintenance before Uyghur Nationalism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 August 2012

Rian Thum
Get access

Abstract

This paper investigates how a regional identity can be maintained in a nonmodern context, focusing on the case of southern Xinjiang in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The argument focuses on one aspect of this identity system, the popular historical tradition, arguing that its deployment through both manuscript technology and regional shrine pilgrimage contributed to the maintenance of Xinjiang's settled Turki identity group before the construction of the “Uyghur” identity. In the absence of a national history, separate histories of local heroes were linked together through custom anthology production and networked travel to shrines, yielding a modular historical tradition that accommodated local interests in regional narratives. Central to the operation of this system were community authorship in the manuscript tradition, the creation of a new genre for local history, and the publicly recorded circulation of pilgrims who heard performances of historical texts. This constellation of phenomena underpinned an alternative type of imagined community: a reasonably homogeneous, regional, writing-facilitated identity system flourishing in a nonmodern context.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Asian Studies , Volume 71 , Issue 3 , August 2012 , pp. 627 - 653
Copyright
Copyright © The Association for Asian Studies, Inc. 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

List of References

Abdul Vali Akhund, . 1905–10. Mazārlārgha Bārādūrghānlārnīng Ya'nī Ziyāratgāhnīng Bayānī [On those who go to shrines, that is, on places of pilgrimage]. Manuscript # Prov 207, section AV 36, Jarring Collection, Lund University Library.Google Scholar
Abū al-QĀsĪm, . 1830. Ūlūgh Ta kirah-i Bughrā-khān [The great ta kirah of the Bughrā-khān]. Manuscript in author's library, similar to manuscript # C543 in the Saint Petersburg Institute of Oriental Manuscripts.Google Scholar
Al-UzghanĪ, Aḥmad b. Sa'd al-DĪn al NamanghĀni, . 16th–17th c.a Ta kirah'i Ṣulṭān Satūq Bughrā-khān, extracted from an anonymous Turki translation of the Ta kirah'i Ūvaysīya and placed in an untitled compilation of ta kirahs. Manuscript # Prov 413, Jarring Collection, Lund University Library.Google Scholar
Al-Uzghanī, Aḥmad b. Sa'd al-Dīn al Namanghāni, . Ta kirah'i Ūvaysīya. 16th–17th c.b Manuscript # 2497, Bodleian Library, Oxford University.Google Scholar
Anderson, Benedict. 1991. Imagined Communities. London: Verso.Google Scholar
Ăzizi, Săypidin. 1987. Sutuq Bughrakhan. Beijing: Millătlăr Năshriyati.Google Scholar
Baldick, Julian. 1993. Imaginary Muslims: The Uwaysi Sufis of Central Asia. London: I. B. Taurus and Co. Ltd.Google Scholar
Barth, Frederik. 1994. “Enduring and Emerging Issues in the Analysis of Ethnicity.” In The Anthropology of Ethnicity: Beyond “Ethnic Groups and Boundaries”, eds. Vermeulen, Hans and Govers, Cora, 11–32. Amsterdam: Het Spinhuis.Google Scholar
Bellér-Hann, Ildikó. 2008. Community Matters in Xinjiang 1880–1949: Towards a Historical Anthropology of the Uyghur. Leiden: Brill.Google Scholar
Bellew, H. W. 1875. Kashmir and Kashghar: A Narrative of the Journey of the Embassy to Kashghar in 1873–4. London: Trübner & Co.Google Scholar
BilĀl, Nazym. [1876–7] 1880–1. Ghazāt dar mulk-i Chīn [Holy war in China]. In Voina Musul'man Protiv Kitaitsev: Tekst Nariechiia Taranchi [Muslim war against China: Taranchi language text], ed. Pantusov, Nikolai. Kazan: V Univ. Tip.Google Scholar
Bovingdon, Gardiner. 2010. The Uyghurs: Strangers in Their Own Land. New York: Columbia University Press.Google Scholar
Brophy, David. 2011. “Tending to Unite? The Origins of Uyghur Nationalism.” PhD dissertation, Harvard University.Google Scholar
ChurĀs, ShĀh Maḥmūd. [late 17th century] 1976. Khronika [Chronicle], ed. Akimushkin, O. F.. Moscow: Nauka.Google Scholar
Dautcher, Jay. 2009. Down a Narrow Road: Identity and Masculinity in a Uyghur Community in Xinjiang, China. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Asia Center.Google Scholar
Dening, Greg. 1995. The Death of William Gooch: A History's Anthropology. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press.Google Scholar
Deweese, Devin. 1996. “The Tadhkira-i Bughra-khan and the ‘Uvaysi' Sufis of Central Asia: Notes in Review of Imaginary Muslims.” Central Asiatic Journal 40(1): 87–127.Google Scholar
Dmitrieva, Liȗdmila Vasil'evna. 2002. Katalog turkskikh Rukopiseĭ Instituta vostokovedeniι̃a Rossiĭskoĭ Akademii Nauk [Catalog of the Turkish manuscripts in the Oriental Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences]. Moscow: Izdatelʹskaι̃a firma “Vostochnaι̃a literatura.”Google Scholar
Febvre, Lucien, and Martin, Henri-Jean. 1976. The Coming of the Book: The Impact of Printing 1450–1800. Translated by Gerard, David. London: NLB.Google Scholar
Fletcher, Joseph. 1978. Ch'ing Inner Asia c. 1800. In The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 10, ed. Fairbank, J. K., 35–91. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Forsyth, T. D. 1875. Report of a Mission to Yarkund in 1873. Calcutta: Foreign Department Press.Google Scholar
Gellner, Ernest. 1983. Nations and Nationalism. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press.Google Scholar
Gladney, Dru C. 1990. “The Ethnogenesis of the Uyghur.” Central Asian Survey 9(1):1–28.Google Scholar
Grenard, Fernand. 1898. “Histoire, Linguistique, Archéologie, Géographie.” [History, Linguistics, Archaeology, Geography] In Mission Scientifique dans la Haute Asie, 1890–1895. [Scientific Mission to High Asia] Vol. 3. ed. Dutreuil de Rhins, J. L.. Paris: Ernest Leroux.Google Scholar
Gursoy-Naskali, Emine. 1985. “Ashabu 'l-kahf: A Treatise in Eastern Turki.” Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran Toimituksia = Mémoires De La Société Finno-Ougrienne 192.Google Scholar
Hadji, Maqsud. [1935] 1951. “Musulmānlarning Millat Maẓhab Bayāni” [A description of the religion of the Moslems]. In Materials to the Knowledge of Eastern Turki, Vol. IV. ed. Jarring, Gunnar, 160–62. Lund: Gleerup.Google Scholar
HᑠĀjĪ, MullĀ. c. 1700–1849. Ta kirat al-Bughrā-khān (TBK), in an untitled compilation of ta kirahs. Manuscript # Prov 143, Jarring Collection, Lund University Library.Google Scholar
Hamada, Masami. 1978. “Supplement: Islamic Saints and their Mausoleums.” Acta Asiatica 34:79–105.Google Scholar
Hartmann, Martin. 1904. “Die osttürkischen Handschriften der Sammlung Hartmann” [The Eastern Turki manuscripts in the Hartmann collection]. Mitteilungen des Seminars für Orientalische Sprachen an der Königlichen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Berlin 7(2):1–21.Google Scholar
Hedin, Sven. 1903. Central Asia and Tibet. London: Hurst and Blackett.Google Scholar
Iskandarnamah: A Persian Medieval Alexander-Romance. 1978. Translated by Southgate, Minoo S.. New York: Columbia University Press.Google Scholar
Jamshidname (LuJN). Manuscript # Prov 204, Jarring Collection, Lund University Library.Google Scholar
Jarring, Gunnar. 1935. “The Ordam-Padishah System of Eastern Turkistan Shrines.” Geografiska Annaler 17, Supplement: Hyllningsskrift Tillagnad Sven Hedin: 348–54.Google Scholar
Jarring, Gunnar. 1980. Literary Texts from Kashghar. Skrifter utgivna av kungl. humanistiska vetenskapssamfundet i lund. Vol. 74. Lund: CWK Gleerup.Google Scholar
Jarring, Gunnar. 1986. Return to Kashgar: Central Asian Memoirs in the Present. Translated by Claeson, Eva. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press.Google Scholar
Jarring, Gunnar. 1997. Handwritten catalogue of the Gunnar Jarring collection of manuscripts from Eastern Turkestan in the Lund University Library.Google Scholar
KĀshgharĪ, Muḥammad ṢĀdiq. c. 1770a. Ta kīrah-i ‘Azīzān [Taẓkīrah of the noble]. Bodleian Library, Manuscript # Ms. Ind. Inst. Turk 3.Google Scholar
KĀshgharĪ, Muḥammad Ṣādiq. c. 1770b. Ta kīrah-i ‘Azīzān [Taẓkīrah of the noble]. Manuscript # Prov 313, Jarring Collection, Lund University Library.Google Scholar
KĀshgharĪ, Muḥammad ṢĀdiq (?). late 18th century. Risālah'i Hᑠaz̤rat Sulṭān Aṣḥāb al-Kahf. [The book of his holiness Sultan Aṣḥāb al-Kahf]. Mannerheim Collection, National Library of Finland, Manuscript # X.Google Scholar
Kim, Hodong. 2004. Holy War in China: The Muslim Rebellion and State in Chinese Central Asia, 1864–1877. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kochnev, B. D. 1995. “Svod Nadpiseȋ Na Karakhanidskikh Monetakh: Antroponimy i Titylatura.” [Compilation of inscriptions on Qarakhanid coins: Names and titles] Vostochnoe istoricheskoe istochnikov edenie i spet̑sial'nye istoricheskie dist̑sipliny [Oriental historical source studies and special historical disciplines] 4:201–78.Google Scholar
Mannerheim, C. G. [1940] 1969. Across Asia from West to East in 1906–1908. Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura.Google Scholar
Mukhlisov, Yusupbeg. 1957. Uyghur Klassik Ădibiyati Qolyazmilirining Katalogi [Catalog of manuscripts of Uyghur classic literature]. Shinjang yerlik muzeygha tăyarliq korush basqarmisi.Google Scholar
Newby, Laura. 2007. “‘Us and Them' in Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Xinjiang.” In Situating the Uyghurs Between China and Central Asia., eds. Bellér-Hann, Ildikó, Cesaro, M. Cristina, Harris, Rachel, and Finley, Joanne Smith, 15–29. Burlington, Vt.: Ashgate.Google Scholar
Pedersen, Johannes. 1984. The Arabic Book. Translated by French, Geoffrey. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Qadir, Zunun. 1985. Khatirilăr [Memoir]. Ürümchi: Shinjang Khălq Năshriyati.Google Scholar
Raquette, G. 1940. “Collection of Manuscripts from Eastern Turkestan. An Account of the Contents.” In Across Asia from West to East in 1906–1908, ed. Mannerheim, C. G., 3–15. Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura.Google Scholar
Rudelson, Justin. 1997. Oasis Identities: Uyghur Nationalism Along China's Silk Road. New York: Columbia University Press.Google Scholar
Minoru, Sawada. 2010. “Three Groups Tadhkira-i khwājagān: Viewed from the Chapter on Khwāja Āfāq.” In Studies on Xinjiang Historical Sources in 17th–20th Centuries, eds. Millward, James A., Yasushi, Shinmen, and Jun, Sugawara, 9–30. Tokyo: The Toyo Bunko.Google Scholar
SayrĀmĪ, MullĀ Mūsá. 1911. Tārikh-i Hamīdī. facsimile of a manuscript in the Library of the Nationalities Research Institute, Central University of Nationalities, Beijing.Google Scholar
SayrĀmĪ, MullĀ Mūsá. [1911] 1986. Tārikh-i HamĪdī. Peking: Millătlăr Năshriyati.Google Scholar
Skrine, C. P. 1926. Chinese Central Asia. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin.Google Scholar
Stein, M. Aurel. 1904. Sand-buried Ruins of Khotan. London: Hurst and Blackett.Google Scholar
Tăzkiră’i Ha rat Ṣulṭān Ăshabul Kăhf [Ta kirah of the companions of the cave] (SPCC). Manuscript # C562. Saint Petersburg Institute of Oriental Manuscripts.Google Scholar
Ta kirah'i Haft Muḥammadān [Ta kirah of the seven Muhamads] (LuHM), in an untitled compilation of ta kirahs. Manuscript # Prov 414, Jarring Collection, Lund University Library.Google Scholar
Ta kirah'i Khvājah Muḥammad Sharīf (HarMS), in an untitled compilation of ta kirahs. Uncatalogued manuscript in Harvard University Libraries.Google Scholar
Ta kirah'i Khvājah Muḥammad Sharīf (KhMS), in an untitled compilation of ta kirahs. Manuscript in a private collection, Khotan.Google Scholar
Ta kirah'i Khvājah Muḥammad Sharīf (MzMS), in an untitled compilation of ta kirahs. Uncatalogued, paginated manuscript in the Library of the Nationalities Research Institute, Central University of Nationalities, Beijing.Google Scholar
Ta kirah'i Khvājah Muḥammad Sharīf (LuMS), in an untitled compilation of ta kirahs. Manuscript # Prov 73, Jarring Collection, Lund University Library.Google Scholar
Ta kirah'i Türt Imām Zabiḥlar [Ta kirah of the four sacrificed imams] (MzTI), in the untitled compilation of ta kirahs containing MzMS. Uncatalogued, paginated manuscript in the Library of the Nationalities Research Institute, Central University of Nationalities, Beijing.Google Scholar
Ta kirah'i Türt Imām Zabiḥlar [Ta kirah of the four sacrificed imams], verse (MzVI), in an incomplete, untitled compilation of verse. Manuscript # T-50, Library of the Nationalities Research Institute, Central University of Nationalities, Beijing.Google Scholar
Ta kirah'i Türt Imām Zabiḥlar [Ta kirah of the four sacrificed imams] (LuTI), in an untitled compilation of ta kirahs. Manuscript # Prov 349, Jarring Collection, Lund University Library.Google Scholar
Ta kirah'i Türt Imām abiḥlar [Ta kirah of the four sacrificed imams] (LuT2), in an untitled compilation of ta kirahs. Manuscript # Prov 73, Jarring Collection, Lund University Library.Google Scholar
Thum, Rian. 2010. “The Sacred Routes of Uyghur History.” PhD dissertation, Harvard University.Google Scholar
Thum, Rian. forthcoming. “Untangling the Bughrā-khān Manuscripts.” In Mazars: Studies on Islamic Sacred Sites in Central Eurasia, ed. Sugawara, Jun. Tokyo: Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Press.Google Scholar
Vali, Qurban, ed. 1989. Uighur, Özbek, Tatar Qădimki Ăsărlăr Tizimliki [List of old Uyghur, Uzbek, and Tatar works]. Kashgar: Qăshqăr Uighur Năshriyati.Google Scholar
Xinjiang University Department of Language and Literature (XU). 1991. Uyghur Ădăbiyati Tarikhi Materiyallar Katalogi [Catalog of Uyghur literary and historical materials]. Ürümchi: Shinjang Dărslik Bölümi.Google Scholar
ZalĪlĪ, Muḥammad, c. 1718. Untitled collection of verse. Manuscript # Prov 76, Jarring Collection, Lund University Library.Google Scholar
ZalĪlĪ, Muḥammad. [c. 1718] 1985. Zălili Divani. Translated by Tursun, Imin. Beijing: Millătlăr Năshriyati.Google Scholar