context: The CPC has been fostering a sense of community in the Zhonghua (Chinese) nation, nurturing cultural symbols and narratives to support nation-building. This initiative counteracts Western attempts to ‘dismantle’ Chinese culture, combating separatism and reinforcing cultural security. The Junma Awards is a national-level literary award given to ethnic minority writers, hoping to evince ethnic diversity while shoring up unity. It serves as one of the mechanisms that backs Zhonghua nation-building.
This round of Junma Awards marks the first time a selection is carried out after ‘forging a sense of community in the Zhonghua (Chinese) nation’ was considered the leitmotif of all ethnic-related policies, contends Pan Yue 潘岳 State Ethnic Affairs Commission director and CUFD Central United Front Department vice director, shoring up new guidelines for review.
Xi Jinping points out that there are many elements of Zhonghua traditional culture which shapes its unique characteristics. For example, literature
- is a vital expression that embodies Zhonghua culture
- plays a major role in advancing historical and cultural confidence
- shores up ethnic cohesion
Historical literature from different PRC ethnic groups share a few major components
- literacy in the Han language script
- upheld Confucianism
- shared common values
- uphold national unity
- remain loyal and faithful
- being kind and true to one another
Western ethnic theories and cultural diversity affects the domestic cohesion of the PRC. Writers choose to focus on special cases and contradictions
- enlarged the specific experiences of particular ethnic groups
- shored up conflict between
- city and rural areas
- modern and tradition
- centre and periphery
- resulted inself-centredness and antagonism between groups
The Chinese ‘diversity in harmony’ path differs from the Western ‘cultural diversity’ path. The Zhonghua philosophical foundation allows seemingly contradicting items to remain in harmony, shoring up common political and cultural identification among different groups.
Overall, judges should uphold the following criteria when selecting outstanding work
- retain a correct historiographic value on the Zhonghua nation
- counter attempts that seek to destroy unity within
- mindful of work that attempts to shore up opposition between
- ‘Han and non-Han’
- ‘nomad and agrarian’
- ‘inner Asia and China’
- help foster a common spiritual homeland for the Chinese nation
- help shore up common Zhonghua cultural symbols
- enrich the Zhonghua story with ethnic stories
- reject works that focus on negative aspects or the historical experience of a single ethnic group
- evidence that CPC leadership and socialism are the bedrock for common development among ethnic groups