What are the ways of ethnic integration in ancient China?

(a) Complementary and mutually beneficial inter-ethnic economic ties and national integration

Economic relations are the basic and inevitable relations between nationalities, so ethnic integration in history is dominated by the law of economic development. On the premise of obeying economic domination, ethnic integration itself has laws to follow.

Based on the diversity of ecological environment and social traditions, the traditional economic regions of all ethnic groups in China have historically been divided into three major development zones in the north and south and two major economic zones in agriculture and animal husbandry. From the north-south direction, the south of Qinhuai River is a paddy agricultural development zone dominated by Han nationality, the north of Qinhuai River to Qin Changcheng is a dry agricultural development zone dominated by Han nationality, and the north of Qin Changcheng is a nomadic hunting economic development zone dominated by northern nationalities in history. From the perspective of economic zones, the center of nomadic activities in the west and northwest is the traditional animal husbandry economic zone. The middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and its south area are developed agricultural economic zones.

Different economic types complement each other. Generally speaking, farming ethnic groups mainly plant and raise livestock, and their economy is stable, which can basically meet their own needs, but they also yearn for high-quality livestock products of nomadic ethnic groups. Nomads graze cattle and sheep on the vast grassland, and herds are the main means of production. Their products are relatively simple, and they need to be exchanged with farming people frequently in exchange for agricultural products and handicrafts to meet their needs. In particular, it should be pointed out that in any historical development period, the developed farming economy in the middle and lower reaches of the two rivers has always played a cohesive and core role for all ethnic groups in the surrounding areas, producing strong attraction and "centripetal force." The power contained in this agricultural civilization has made many ethnic groups in the Han area who entered the agricultural society integrate into the Han nationality to varying degrees.

Historically, the economic exchanges between various ethnic groups in China have been multi-faceted and multi-channel. Generally speaking, it includes at least two levels. The first level is the official level, such as immigration and reclamation, "exchange of horses and silk" and "tea-horse trade". The second level is not only cross-regional folk trade, but also mutual assistance, reciprocity and mutual benefit in people's daily life. No matter at any time, even in the era of division and war, the economic ties between the two levels to exchange needed commodities have never been interrupted. This is the economic connection between the Han nationality and the people of all ethnic groups, and it is also an important economic basis for the interdependence and integration of all ethnic groups.

(b) Ideological and cultural integration, identity and national integration

In the long history of the development of the Chinese nation, the mutual blending and recognition of ideology and culture has never stopped. In the pre-Qin period, since its birth, Chinese culture has been radiating, expanding and absorbing fresh blood, which laid the foundation for the unified cultural pattern of "one country in the world, one wind in Wan Li" in the Qin and Han dynasties. Since the Han Dynasty, Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism have merged with each other and become the spiritual strength of the Chinese nation. During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the "Hu" culture of nomadic or semi-nomadic people and the "Han" culture of farming people in the Central Plains stirred and merged in the conflict. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the rulers advocated "Han and Yi family", which provided a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere for the integration and infiltration of various ethnic cultures. During the Song, Liao, Xia, Jin and Yuan Dynasties, the cultures of all ethnic groups were further forged in the historical changes of repeated shocks. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Chinese cultural system reappeared the climax of cultural integration of all ethnic groups. In this way, after thousands of years of continuous collision and blending, China traditional culture has formed a huge system of multi-source convergence. In this eclectic and all-encompassing ideological and cultural system, the idea of unification has become the spiritual motive force of national integration, the idea and spirit with Confucian culture as the core is the foundation of national integration, and the integration of Central Plains culture and "Four Foreigners" culture is the way to realize national integration.

Throughout the ancient history of China, although there is no lack of historical truth about wars and divisions, and although feudal rulers often have the concept of "avoiding the summer from abroad" and the shackles of great nationalism, the thought of "Chinese and foreign are one" and the spirit of "harmony" and "harmony" in China culture have always been the spiritual driving force for national integration. The thought of great unification germinated and developed in the pre-Qin period, and was realized in the political practice of Qin and Han Dynasties. After the battle for orthodoxy in Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the identity of cultural thoughts in the North and South was gradually realized. After that, it entered the period of great development, and it became the concept of China in the Qing Dynasty. This ideological system is characterized by "the integration of Chinese and foreigners", "the family of Chinese and foreigners" and "the family of Xia and Yi" in the understanding and handling of ethnic relations, and it is culturally embodied in the spirit of "harmony" and "harmony", which has been put into practice through frontier ethnic policies such as "Huairou" and "Jimi". Its implementation is conducive to breaking through national boundaries and promoting the integration of the Chinese nation.