Along with the definition and advancement of theories on the "initial stage of socialism," studies on nationality theory are also entering a new and deeper stage, and a number of questions of theory need to be reconsidered and reexamined. Lexicographical works dealing with nationality matters published in China in recent years have furnished much enlightenment.

Every nationality has common mental attributes which are manifested as cultural characteristics. In the paper "On the Common Mental Attributes of Nationalities," I presented my comprehension of this basic feature of nationalities. I maintain that common mental attributes are a reflection of the characteristics of a nationality's socioeconomics, historical traditions, way of life, and geographical environment on the mental outlook of that nationality.1 By means of its own language, literature, arts, social mores, customs, and religious beliefs, as well as its (...) love for the motherland and people including its sentimental attachment to its homeland, each nationality expresses its affections, interests, abilities, qualities, character, sentiments, aesthetic values, and national consciousness and pride. All these constitute that nationality's features in the form of common mental attributes. (shrink)

Nationality and state are two different historical categories, yet the nationality community cannot be separated from the substance of the state. The existence of nationalities and national consciousness are inseparable from a given state category; the formation and sound development of national consciousness are inseparable from the nurturing by, and influence of, patriotism.

This subject was mentioned in my previous letter, but only vaguely, and my ideas were not fully conveyed.

People have been attaching increasing importance to national consciousness in recent years. Why is there a general tendency for national consciousness to become stronger in today's world? And why are even the socialist countries no exception? This is indeed an issue worth studying. My paper, "A Preliminary Analysis of ‘National Consciousness,’" was basically limited to explanation and interpretation and did not touch on the subject. In this article I intend, on the basis of the previous article, to conduct a cursory (...) analysis of the relationship between socialism and national consciousness. (shrink)

The Dai nationality, which lives in Yunnan Province, is a member of the our motherland's large multinational family. Its total population numbers over 830,000 , and its chief areas of compact-community inhabitation are located in the two autonomous prefectures of Xishuangbanna and Dehong, each of which has a population somewhat exceeding 200,000 people. The other Dai are spread along the border areas of Yunnan and in a number of counties and districts in the interior.