The Cultural Change of Elunchun Nationality and the Thought Provoked by the Transformation of Economy

The Elunchun nationality is one of the Chinese minorities. Statistics shows that there are only 8196 Elunchun people in 2000. This paper provides a systematic analysis on the present existence and development conditions of the Elunchun nationality and the characteristics of their hunting culture according to the author’s research data. The article reveals that the Elunchun nationality is the only pure hunting race of contemporary China. It is of great significance to research on their hunting culture no matter from the angle of China or from the angle of the hunting race of the Northern Hemisphere. However, with the worsening of ecosystem in Daxing’an Mountains, the hunting culture is on the verge of extinction. In 1996, The Elunchun people had to let go of their hunting rifles against will, starting to be engaged in the large-scale agricultural activities. Practice shows that the enunciation that “forbidding to hunt and turning to produce” is not the strong item of the Elunchun people, nor is the advantage of economic development in Daxing’an Mountains, and it is against the will of the Elunchun people. In order to protect the hunting culture, rescue the important inheritance, we should know the relation between ecosystem and culture reservation better, the will of the Elunchun people should also be taken into consideration. In a word, manifold measures should be taken to solve problems of their existence and development so as to give full play of the function of cultural inheritance. Key words: the Elunchun nationality,the transformation of economy, the hunting culture, protection and development Résumé: La nationalité Elunchun est une des plus petites minorités en Chine . Selon le statistique démographique de l’an 2000, sa population est de 8196 . En appuyant sur les documents de l’enquête menée par l’auteur , ce texte fait une analyse assez complète sur la situation actuelle de l’existence de Elunchun et sa culture de chasse . Selon cette mémoire , elle est la seule nationalité de chasse en Chine contemporaine . L’étude sur la culture de chasse de la nationalité Elunchun est significative , non seulement dans le cadre de Chine , mais aussi sous l’angle des nationalit és de chasse et de pêche dans l’hémisphère séptentrional . Pourtant , il est difficile pour la culture de chasse de subsister , en raison de la dégradation écologique de la montagne Daxinganling . En 1996 , les Elunchuniens sont obligé de laisser tomber les fusils de chasse pour s’engager dans l’agriculture . Les faits ont bien montré , que le changement de production n’est pas favorable