Pluralistic Unity: The Social Life of Duoyuan yiti in China

Wei, Xiaoshi

Abstract

This essay examines the term duoyuan yiti, ‘pluralistic unity’, in cultural and artistic contexts in China and its use in everyday speech in the form of cultural metaphors. It briefly introduces the history of this term and provides examples of its use in political speech, academic writing and grassroots communication. The article also analyses discourses, phrases and ideas that have been constructed around duoyuan yiti, noting their profound impact on social life in China, particularly in its ‘minority’ regions. The article seeks to fill in the gap between, on the one hand, research into the term in Chinese in line with China’s official views and, on the other hand, policy-focused critical approaches in English-language academic writing. Through examining a cluster of derivative terms and slogans, I illustrate how, in public discourse, ‘diversity’ is performed and articulated as subsidiary to ‘unity’ in contemporary China.

Citation

Wei, X. (2023). Pluralistic Unity: The Social Life of Duoyuan yiti in China. Inner Asia, 25(1), 23-38. https://doi.org/10.1163/22105018-02501003

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: May 2, 2023
• Deposit Date: May 15, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: May 15, 2023
• Journal: Inner Asia
• Print ISSN: 1464-8172
• Electronic ISSN: 2210-5018
• Publisher: Brill Academic Publishers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 23-38
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/22105018-02501003
• Keywords: pluralistic unity, Chinese nation, ethnic relations, common consciousness, Chinese academic writing, Chinese minority music research
• Publisher URL: https://brill.com/view/journals/inas/25/1/article-p23_3.xml