The Transformation and Demise of Minority Cultures: A Case Study of Chi Zijian’s The Right Bank of the Erguna River

Abstract

As the process of digitalization continues to advance, the shadows of traditional society are gradually fading into oblivion. Amid the development and conflict between old and new cultures, the natural environment upon which people depend is also withering, and gradually forgotten are the minority groups on the periphery. In The Right Bank of the Erguna River, Chi Zijian portrays the historical development of the Evenki people to highlight the precarious situation of minority cultures amidst social and cultural transformations. This paper uses The Right Bank of the Erguna River as a case study to explore the transformation and disappearance of the Evenki culture and ways to preserve its vitality. The study reveals that the Evenki people in the depths of the Greater Khingan Mountains uphold a philosophy of “harmony between man and nature,” living in harmony with the natural world. However, as trees in the deep forests are felled to meet societal construction needs, the Evenki people’s soul falls along with them. Yet, the life of the Evenki people should not end in extinction; rather, it should progress and develop alongside the times. This is not only to save the Evenki culture but also to protect the diversity of Chinese culture and to maintain ecological balance.