Ethnonyms and Identity of the Naxi Group under Multiple Influencing Factors
This article examines the diverse self-designations and identity of the Na ethnic group inhabiting the Yunnan-Sichuan border region, including those who call themselves Naxi, Na, Naheng, and Nari—groups sharing a common origin but diverging historically. Recorded in classical Chinese texts as Moxie, Mosuo, and Moxi, these groups were classified during the PRC's ethnic identification project as Naxi or Mongolian nationalities. The author traces the historical process behind these classifications, particularly the unresolved "Nari" (Mosuo) case in Sichuan's Yanyuan and Muli counties, where political and administrative factors led to inconsistent designations as "Mongolian" rather than resolving through proper ethnic consultation. The paper argues that recent shifts toward more pluralistic self-identification reflect the interplay of primordial cultural sentiment, changing social contexts, and instrumental rationality. Rather than correcting existing official classifications, the author emphasizes the academic value of comparative research across these historically interconnected but administratively separated groups.
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