“回回”：历史解释与文化表述

历来对回族族称的解释仅限于正统的历史考证的方式。本文认为 ,虽然回族族称有其历史的客观性的一面 ,但在现实发展中又逐渐显露出其非历史的主观性的一面 :即作为文化主体的回民在特定文化氛围之中对自我的阐释 ,这些阐释体现在回族民间广为流传的故事、传说及回族学者的著述之中 ,并流行不衰。从历史的考证来看 ,回族族称的获得是一个历史的偶然 ;但在作为穆斯林的回民看来 ,这里体现着来自造物主的意志 ,即历史的必然性。这是一种自我的文化表述 ,其中体现了他们对自我的认知、对自我价值的肯定、对自我文化和生活方式的思考 ,是回族文化 (说汉语的穆斯林的文化 )的起点和终点

"Huihui": Historical Explanation and Cultural Expression

In a historical or objective view, it is by accident that the Chinese-speaking Muslims gained the ethnic name as "Huihui". But in another view of Muslims themselves, the name "Huihui", which has the Chinese meaning as "return", embodies the volition of Allah. Thus the name "Huihui" shows their foreign origin and their religious end: Their longing of the holy place of Mecca and their ultimate return to the paradise of Allah. The article mainly focuses on this cultural expression of Chinese Muslims through both texts and folk tales spread wide among Hui Muslims of China.