Project Background研究背景

‘YInheritance’= Embracing and Understanding Yi Cultural Heritage is the title of this digital scholarship project. It is, first, about Yi children’s ethnic and cultural heritage; then, more critical questions follow: Why ethnic and cultural inheritance? What is its effect on the positive developmental well-being of Yi children? Why should we care?

This website highlights the importance of ethnic and cultural awareness in minority children by showcasing the story of Yi children in rural Chinese school settings. In 2006, an education programme for Yi children in rural China was commenced. Fu Hui Education Foundation (Fu Hui), an international philanthropic organisation serving ethnic minority children in rural regions around the world, in collaboration with the local government of the Sichuan Liangshan Prefecture, initiated the programme and the two organisers have been overseeing the education program since then. Information shared on this website are the longitudinal information obtained from Yi children in rural China schools since 2007. We hope that the findings will help Fu Hui’s ministry and the local government by shedding some light on the mechanism of improving not only Yi children’s but other ethnic minority children’s developmental well-being.

Here, we first discuss the significance of ethnic and cultural celebrations among ethnic minority group and its association with children’s positive development. The term ethnic and cultural inheritance and ethnic and cultural awareness will be used interchangeably in this site. Then, the story of Yi children will be shared, followed by a case illustration of how ethnic and cultural uniqueness can be mobilised to promote the positive outcomes of Yi children as well as cohesiveness between the Yi and Han ethnic group in the broader Chinese society.

「讓彝童識彝，傳承彝族的文化火把」，顧名思義，本項目的重點將會是彝族兒童的民族和文化傳承，但是，兩者有何價值？與兒童的健康發展有何干？與我們又有何干？

本網頁希望透過展示彝童在農村學校的故事，讓讀者明白提升少數族裔的民族和文化意識的價值。福慧教育基金會（福慧）是一家國際慈善機構，致力服務世界不同農村地區的少數族裔兒童，自2006 起，福慧和四川涼山自治區政府合作，開展對中國彝族兒童提供教育援助。本網頁上的所有數據均是福慧自2007年起收集有關彝族兒童發展的資料和數據，希望本研究的發現能夠讓我們了解如何協助福慧和當地政府的體制改善，以更有效地促進彝族甚至是其少數族裔的福祉。

我們先會討論民族和文化意識對少數族裔的價值以及與兒童健康發展的關係，而我們將會交替使用「民族和文化傳承」和「民族和文化意識」二字。其後，我們會分享彝童的故事，並以一個示例闡述如何運用獨特的民族身份和文化使彝童健康成長，並促進中國的民族共融。

The significance of Ethnic and Cultural Inheritance, and its positive effect民族身份和文化傳承的價值及其正面影響

Our research team have noticed that a stronger sense of ethnic and cultural awareness contributes to better developmental well-being, based on existing theories and empirical evidence. According to the Organisation of Economic Development in 2010, developmental improvement in children has significant policy implications as it spurs productivity and economic gains, and thus benefits the community as a whole. For disadvantaged ethnic minorities, positive developmental well-being might be particularly important as it translates into broader positive public outcomes.

Here, we highlight the importance of ethnic and cultural awareness on the positive developmental well-being of ethnic minority youths. The following shows the notion of ethnic and cultural awareness as the vocal factor promoting various aspects of positive development.

根據現有的理論和證據，本研究團隊發現良好的民族和文化意識能促進個人健康發展。良好的個人發展不但會影響社會政策，更能提升生產力和經濟效益，使整個社會受惠。根據經濟合作與發展組織於2010年的報告，對處於弱勢的少數族裔而言，正面的個人健康發展能夠帶來廣泛而正面的社會效益，因此尤其重要。

在此，我們強調民族和文化意識對少數族裔青少年正面的個人健康發展的重要性。以下的圖表顯示了民族和文化意識如何帶來不同範疇的正面發展：

According to the strength-based approach, professionals shall identify children’s positive aspects and mobilise these resources to promote their positive outcomes. In the case of ethnic minority children, we believe that their unique cultural customs and traditions are their strengths, and thus, can serve as a promoting factor for developmental wellbeing. More importantly, having a good understanding of own ethnicity in relation to other ethnic groups will lead to greater inter-cultural acceptances, thus, facilitate the overall cohesiveness of society.

How can we promote ethnic and cultural awareness? Theories and research suggest positive interactions with peers and family members of the same ethnicity can enhance their ethnic and cultural awareness in minority children. External social resources embedded in the lives of ethnic minority children can also be used to facilitate their exploration of own’s ethnicity, questioning of pre-existing ethnic attitudes and search of the role that their own ethnic groups play in the larger society. Further information can be found on the conceptual model page of this website.

「以強項為本」的原則強調要發掘兒童的優點，並以之推動他們的正面發展。對少數族裔兒童而言，我們相信他們獨特的文化傳統和習俗是他們的優勢，因此我們應加以利用，使他們能健康發展。再者，認識自己民族與其他民族的關連有助提升對其他種族的接受程度，因此能夠促進社會的種族融和。

我們應如何推廣民族和文化意識？首先，我們相信與屬同一民族的朋輩和家人良好交流能夠使少數族裔兒童更了解自己的民族和文化。另外，日常生活中的外在社會資源也能讓他們探索自己的民族身份、質疑一些固有的觀念和為自己的民族在廣大社會中定位。您可以在本網頁有關「槪念模型」的頁面了解更多資訊。

The Story of Yi children: From Being at Risk to Blessed彝童的故事：由受威脅到受祝福

With a population of 8.7 million, the Yi people are the sixth largest ethnic minority group in China. For thousands of years, they live in the southwest. Today there are 4.7 million Yi people in Yunnan Province and 2.1 million in Sichuan Province. While they are a minority of the truest sense in these provinces, accounting for 11% of Yunnan's population, and 2.6% of Sichuan's, it is in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture that the Yi people are most significantly represented. 44.4% of Liangshan’s population are Yi people, 1.8 million strong.

全國彝族人口約870萬，是中國的第六大少數民族，他們長久以來都居住在中國的西南部，時至今天，雲南省和四川省分別有約470萬（佔全省人口約百份之11）和210萬（佔全省人口約百份之2.6）彝族人，儘管比例清楚顯示彝族在以上兩省只算得上是少數族裔，但在四川省的涼山彝族自治州裏，彝族人口共有180萬，佔全州人口約百份之44.4。

Total Population: 1332.81 million

全國人口: 1332.81 百萬

Ethnic and Cultural Uniqueness of Yi. The Yi ethnic group contribute much beyond expanding museum collections and enriching postcards. Notable personalities of Yi ethnicity have been making a massive impact within and without China, shining across a wide range of domains from politics to pop culture. For instance, Zhang Chong (張沖) was appointed Vice-Chairman of the 5th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a second highest ranking state official position. Internationally, Jang Ri In (born 1989 in Chengdu, Sichuan) won number one hit and multiple awards in 2006 with her first album breaking into the K-Pop scene in South Korea.

The Yi ethnic group have numerous traditions and customs. For example, they celebrate ‘Yi’s New Year’, which differs from the Lunar New Year. Yi’s New Year is celebrated in the 10th lunar month, which is normally the time after harvest. During this festival, the Yi people give thanks to their ancestors and pray for another fruitful year. Besides, the Yi people celebrate a famous ‘Torch Festival’ every year on the 24^th day of the 6^th lunar month. In villages, large torches are bound on dried pine wood, and small torches are placed at every household's door. At night the Yi people light all the torches and dance around the bonfires. With other activities such as bull-fighting, wrestling, horse-racing, they celebrate this traditional festival.

Apart from festivals, the Yi people have had a long tradition of singing and dancing. Based on their ways of living, they have developed different types of music and musical instruments, as well as dances. In recent years, there have been several bands formed by Yi natives performing traditional Yi folklores, and it has made Yi folksongs the most well-known amongst all.

Challenges Encountered by Yi Children. However, these success stories are perhaps the exceptions that prove the challenges that are encountered by the Yi people. This ethnic minority group are often worse off when compared to the majority of people in China, those large number living in the most remote parts would find life particularly challenging. Taking participation in post-secondary education as an example, 3.78% of Yi people had a post-secondary qualification, but their Han Chinese counterpart enjoys a higher figure of 9.74%, according to the 2010 census.

As mentioned above, the mountainous Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture is an important home of the Yi people. Taking a closer look into a specific part of the prefecture, namely the Butuo County where almost 94% of the total population is Yi, according to Sichuan Statistics Bureau in 2012, will give us a clearer picture of the challenges that this ethnic group are facing.

While the Yi has a rich history of culture and traditions, their geographical disadvantages of the arid climate and mountainous region result in poverty. The Butuo County is on the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development’s list of the 592 poorest counties in China. State level government officials pledge to improve the economic well-being of the Yi group by 2020. The children of the Yi ethnic minority in the Butuo County suffered from the double jeopardy of chronic poverty and parental loss: 43% of the young Yi people were orphaned because of parental illness, accidents and abandonment (Lai, Chui, Lo, Jordan & Chan, 2017). When the father of a Yi family died, the mother would be arranged to remarry an immediate family member of her late husband or into a new family. As a result, many Yi children became orphans, and most often they were adopted by their grandparents or extended families.

獨一無二的彝族身份和文化：彝族文化的貢獻遠超於博物館館藏和明信片所能展示的。無論是在中國內外、或是在政界及音樂界，彝族人士都有出色的貢獻，舉例而言，張冲是曾擔任第五屆全國政協委員及副主席的國家級副職領導人，而張力尹（1989年於四川成都出生）則在國際樂壇上取得傑出成就，在2006年以首張專輯奪得排行冠軍及數個獎項，並成功闖進韓國的音樂界。

此外，彝族亦有自己的文化和傳統，如「彝族新年」和「火把節」。彝族人的新年和農曆新年不同，會在農曆十月舉行，亦即是剛收割的日子，彝族會在新年時祭祖並為新一年祈福。火把節是另外一個為人熟悉的彝族傳統，彝族人會在每年的農曆六月二十四日慶祝這節日，他們會在村莊裏築起營火，並在每戶的門旁放置小火把，入夜後他們就會點燃火把，圍着營火跳舞慶祝，同時亦會進行鬥牛、摔跤、賽馬等慶祝活動。

除此以外，彝族是一個擅長歌舞的民族，他們發展出不同種類的音樂、樂器和舞蹈。近年，有數個由彝族人組成的樂隊在樂壇中冒起，表演傳統的彝族民謠，使不少人認識了這民族的歌曲。

彝童面對的挑戰：以上的成功故事其實並未能如實反映彝族面對的艱苦狀況，和中國大部份人口相比，彝族人的生活是窮困的，而居住在遙遠山區的大部份彝族人更甚。以高等教育為例，根據2010年的人口普查，只有百份之3.78的彝族人持有高等教育學歷，而漢族人的比率則高達百份之9.4。

上文曾提及，涼山彝族自治州是彝族人重要的家園，根據四川省統計局2012年的數據，該州的布拖縣更是有百份之94的人口是彝族，這些數據讓我們更清楚彝族人現在所面對的挑戰。

彝族縱然擁有深厚的文化歷史和豐富的傳統，但地理限制如乾旱的氣候及多山的環境卻使該民族陷入貧窮的困境。布拖縣和另外591個縣被國務院扶貧開發領導小組列入「貧困縣」的名單，而國家級官員亦承諾在2020年前改善彝族的經濟狀況。在布拖縣，彝族兒童要同時面對長期貧困和失去雙親的威脅，其中百份之43的彝族青少年因為父母患病、遇上意外或遭到遺棄而成為孤兒（Lai et al, 2017）。在一個彝族家庭裏，若父親去世，母親很有可能會被安排改嫁予一位夫家的男性親屬或外人，故此，很多兒童會成為孤兒，而他們普遍會被祖父母或家族收養。

The typical home environment of a Yi family

彝族家庭的居住環境

Being Blessed with Schooling Opportunities. In 2006, Fu Hui Educational Foundation (Fu Hui), in collaboration with the local government, started sponsoring Yi children in Butuo County to attend local schools in their communities. In-house reports showed that the Yi children were breaking the cycle of poverty because of the support they received from Fu Hui and the local government. Research evidence also suggested that the Yi children in rural school settings were experiencing positive social skills development (Lai et al., 2017).

得到接受教育的機會：福慧教育基金會於2006年開始與當地政府合作，開始資助布拖縣的彝族兒童在當地的學校上課學習。內部報告指出這些兒童因為得到福慧和政府的支援而漸漸走出跨代貧窮，研究證據亦指出這些兒童的社交技巧在農村學校的環境中得以發展（Lai et al., 2017）。

Yi children enjoying school

正在愉快學習的彝童

Yinheritance: Embracing Ethnic Uniqueness for Successful Outcomes in the Larger Chinese Community「讓彝童識彝」：認識自己的民族特色，在社會作出更多貢獻

‘YInheritance’= Embracing and Understanding Yi Cultural Heritage.

Fu Hui’s education programme teaches the Yi children about practical knowledge and the Han language, at the same time, encourages them to understand and embrace their own Yi culture. Fu Hui emphasises the integration of art into the school curriculum, which increases the children’s exposure to traditional Yi arts and culture.

For instance, music is a culturally-rooted talent in the Yi people. In 2015, a group of sponsored Yi children won second and first prizes in art festivals in Liangshan county and Sichuan province. They were subsequently invited to perform in Shanghai and Beijing, where they were dressed in traditional Yi costumes and sang traditional Yi folklores. In the performance in Beijing, they even had the opportunity to sing in the same occasion with Dresdner Kreuzchor, a renowned German boys’ choir. Representing their ethnicity proudly in front of the larger Chinese as well as international audience and shining in such special events, these Yi children are more appreciative of themselves and more confident in their ethnicity and uniqueness. These reassuring outcomes are the very basis for positive personal developments; this is to say, if we could help them celebrate their ethnic uniqueness, they have a better chance to develop positively, break the cycle of poverty and contribute more actively to the broader Chinese community as a whole.

讓彝童識彝：傳承彝族的文化火把

福慧基金會的教育項目不但向彝童教授實用知識和漢語以促進種族融和，學校亦鼓勵彝童認識和擁抱自己的文化。福慧在學校課程中加入藝術文化元素以增加他們對彝族傳統的接觸和了解，認識自己種族並為之自豪的人會更容易接受和自己文化不同的人。舉例而言，彝族人骨子裏便具有音樂才華，在2015年，一班參與教育項目的學生分別在涼山和四川的音樂節比賽取得二等及一等獎的佳績，因此獲邀在上海和北京表演，他們身穿彝族的民族服裝，在一眾來自世界各地的觀眾前表唱起彝族民謠，跟他們同台演出的還有蜚聲國際的德累斯頓十字合唱團。得到如此表演機會，實在是一大鼓舞，亦讓他們對自己的身份和文化引以為傲，由此可見，若我們能給予他們機會表達自己獨特的一面，他們更機會正面地發展，並打破跨代貧窮的枷鎖，積極服務社會。

References: 參考資料：

Lai, A.H.Y., Chui, C.H., Lo, P.H.Y., Jordan, L. & Chan. C. L. W. (2017). The buffering effect of child-caregiver relationships: Social skills development of ethnic minority children with maladaptive behaviors in rural China. Children and Youth Services Review ,79, 333-340. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.06.038 (SJR indicator: 0.81, Q1 journal ranking in Education and Social Work)