QOTD

QOTD: “Finally, at the heart of Great Harmony Journal’s analysis of the Manchu-Han question was its definition of China in political rather than ethnic terms. To be sure, it recognized the existence of different “races” (zu) within China, specifically five Manchus, Han, Mongol, Muslims (Hui), and Tibetans. This may seem to be no more than a restatement of the Qianlong emperor’s self image as the all encompassing ruler of these same five subject peoples, but it had been modified in one very significant way: these peoples now owed their loyalty not to the Qing empire but to China. Hengjun rejected the concept of the anti-Manchus that China ought to be based upon the Han people.” He also denied the parallel concept, attributable to the anti-Han, that “China belonged not to the Han but to the Manchus.” He insisted instead that members of all five races were “Chinese.” Whatever their ethnic differences, they were all “citizens” of China.” Manchus & Han by Edward J.M Rhoads