Work

Who Am I? Exploring the Role of Religious Beliefs in Shaping the Ethnic Identity of Tibetan Muslims: A Case Study in Hebalin, Lhasa, Tibet

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Tibetan Muslims, as a unique ethnic group, hold significant religious, anthropological, and sociological value. This article examines the social functions of Islamic beliefs through questionnaires and structured interviews, focusing on the Tibetan Muslim community in Hebalin, Lhasa, Tibet. We analyze how Islamic beliefs influence the evolution of Tibetan Muslim ethnic identity and explore the relationship between nationality and religion. The key factors discussed include the developmental history of local Tibetan Muslims, the status of their Islamic culture, their community interactions, and changes in their ethnic identity. Despite these changes, their Islamic beliefs have remained consistent, playing a crucial role in shaping their ethnic identity, which mirrors the developmental history of their beliefs.

Source: Religions

DOI: 10.3390/rel15111351

Author: Siyi Wang

Institution: Shanghai University

Language: English

Topic: China's Ethnic Minorities and Relations

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,046

Funder: National Social Science Fund of China