The History and Present Condition of Ecological Migration in Ningxia

Abstract

For thousands of years, migration and development defined the two major themes of Ningxia’s history. Development through migration continues to push Ningxia forward. During the Qin (221–206 BCE) and Han (206 BCE–220 CE) dynasties, military migrants defended the Central Plain of China from foreign invasion. In the Tang (618–907) and Song (960–1279) dynasties, a tribe called the Dangxiang tribe migrated to inland China, which ultimately established a strong Western Xia Dynasty. During the Yuan (1271–1368) dynasty, a large-scale policy directed migration greatly contributed to the regional economic development. In the Qing (1644–1912) Dynasty, the politically motivated compulsory migration shaped the distribution pattern of today’s Hui nationality in the Ningxia region. As time passes, profound change has taken place in the background, form, and goal of migration. Yet, in Ningxia, migration is a historically meaningful topic, whose vitality is perennial.