本书为作者20多年来从事以新疆为中心的民族历史文化研究的阶段性成果总结，内容涉及以文本研究为核心的新疆古代民族的政治、经济与文化等诸多方面，以及以民族学田野调查为核心的近现代新疆民族的社会经济发展与文化变迁。其中既有宏观的理论思考，也有微观的个案分析；从方法论的层面上来讲，体现了作者在历史文本研究的基础上，尝试着将民族学的理论与方法以及田野实践经验运用于历史文本的分析与解读，以及在历史文本的情境（context）下观照田野实践的学术旨趣与追求。全书正文共13章。
This book summarizes the author's achievements in Xinjiang-centered ethnic history and culture research for more than 20 years, covering many aspects such as politics, economy and culture of the ancient ethnic groups of Xinjiang with textual research as the core, as well as the socio-economic development and cultural changes of the ethnic groups in modern and modern Xinjiang with ethnological fieldwork as the core. There are both macro theoretical thinking and micro case analysis; From the methodological level, it reflects the author's academic interest and pursuit of trying to apply ethnological theories and methods and field practice experience to the analysis and interpretation of historical texts on the basis of historical text research, as well as observing field practice under the context of historical texts. The main text of the book consists of 13 chapters.
