族群的文化边界与政治边界始终是不一致的,如果文化边界代表了族群的原生性,而政治边界则反映了族群实际势力的消长结果。族群政治势力的对外张力必然会不断跨越其原有的文化边界,并试图成为族际的主导力量。当民族边界趋于模糊化时,民族交融则成必然,尤其在一统体制下得以加速推广;反之亦然。青海地区是多民族生存、发展的历史舞台,多元民族文化在此交会互通。清末以来,中央政治势力的削弱使该地方族群边界趋于清晰化,族群分化与族际竞争日趋剧烈。本文从族群边界的角度入手,对近代以来该地区的民族变迁、消长问题做一探析,以期展示其互动与整合,复回至同一状态的历史过程。 Cultural boundaries and political boundaries of ethnic groups have always been inconsistent, if cultural boundaries represent the original nature of ethnic groups, and political boundaries reflect the growth and decline of the actual forces of ethnic groups. The external tension of ethnic political forces will inevitably continue to cross its original cultural boundaries and attempt to become the dominant force of inter-ethnic groups. When national boundaries tend to be blurred, national integration becomes inevitable, especially under the unified system to speed up promotion; and vice versa. The Qinghai area is the historical stage for the survival and development of many ethnic groups, and the multi-ethnic culture meets at this meeting. Since the late Qing Dynasty, the weakening of the central political forces has made the boundaries of the ethnic groups tend to be clear, ethnic differentiation and inter-ethnic competition intensified. Starting from the perspective of ethnic boundaries, this article analyzes the ethnic changes, growth and decline in the region since modern times in order to show the historical process of its interaction and integration and its return to the same state.