This paper reports a study on the social transformation of the silversmith village of Miao ethnic minority in southeastern Guizhou province, China. It explains how the Miao village has developed during the past three stages. It discusses how Miao minorities presented their collective and individual efficacy, and develop themselves to be aligned with the modernization of the national modernization, together with the traditional minority culture.
This study, based on a ten-month anthropological fieldwork, focuses on the dynamic relationship during village development with the national support, particularly that of the socioeconomic development and cultural evolution of the local Miao people. The findings are presented to display how the three stages were developed: 1) after the reform and opening up, the local Miao people used silversmithing skills to obtain the basis for economic development; 2) in the early 21st century, the livelihood of traditional silversmiths continued to face the challenge of the impact of modernity and the forced adjustment of development strategies; 3) in the last decade, villagers have tried to find opportunities to return to village construction and create economic value. Data shows that the intervention of state forces provides different options for village development. It suggests that how to reshape social identity and actively integrate into Chinese-style modernization development is a key issue that minority villages need to consider in the future, whilst adhering to the village status endowed by the traditional Miao culture. It contributes to the existing literature on Miao ethnic minority in China, and would develop a better understanding of multicultural society.
