Islam in China

History of Islam in China

History Tang Dynasty Song Dynasty Yuan Dynasty Ming Dynasty Qing Dynasty 1911-Present

Architecture

Chinese mosques Niujie Mosque

Major figures

Yusuf Ma Dexin • Zheng He • Liu Zhi Haji Noor

People Groups

Hui • Salar • Uygur Kazakhs • Kyrgyz • Tatars • Bonan Uzbeks • Tibetans • Dongxiang Tajiks • Utsul

Islamic Cities/Regions

Linxia • Xinjiang Ningxia • Kashgar

Culture

Islamic Association of China Cuisine • Calligraphy • Martial arts This box: view • talk • edit

Islam in China has a rich heritage. The History of Islam in China begins just a few decades after the rise of Islam. The History of Islam in China goes back to the earliest years of Islam. The change in dynasty in China from the Tang to the dynasties that included the Song Dynasty did not greatly interrupt the trends of Muslims established during the The establishment of the Yuan Dynasty in China had dramatically benefited Islam in China in contrast to previous dynasties As the Yuan Dynasty ended many Mongols as well as the Muslims who came with them remained in China. The rise of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 made relations between the Muslims and Chinese more difficult After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, which was hostile to Muslims, there appeared to be a reason for hope as Sun Yat Sen, who led the new republic immediately proclaimed This is a list of Mosques in China. Note: When adding new mosques please update the template TemplateMosques in China. The Niujie Mosque ( is the oldest Mosque in Beijing, China. It was first built in 996 and was reconstructed as well as enlarged under the Qing Emperor Biography Hajj Ma performed the Hajj in 1841 leaving China by a circuitous route as ocean travel out of China had been disrupted by the Opium War Zheng He ( Birth name 馬三寶 / 马三宝; Arabic / Persian name حجّي محمود شمس Hajji Mahmud Shams) (1371&ndash1433 was a Hui Biography In his childhood he received instruction from his father Liu Sanjie (劉三杰 Hajji Noor Deen Mi Guangjiang (米廣江 born 1963 is an expert in Islamic calligraphy, specializing in the Sini style which originated from The Hui people ( Xiao'erjing: حُوِ ذَو) are a Chinese ethnic group, typically distinguished by their practice of Islam. The Salar people ( Salar: Salar Chinese: 撒拉族 Pinyin: Sālāzú) are one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the The Uyghur (also spelled Uygur, Uighur, Uigur, Uyghur: ئۇيغۇر) are a Turkic people of Central Asia. The Kazakhs (also spelled Kazaks, Qazaqs; Kazakh: Қазақтар qɑzɑqtɑr Russian: Казахи the English name is transliterated The Kyrgyz (also spelled Kirgiz, Kirghiz) are a Turkic Ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan. The Chinese Tatars (塔塔尔族 Tǎtǎěrzú) form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. The Bonan (also Bao'an) people (保安族 Pinyin: bǎoān zú native) are an Ethnic group living in Gansu and Qinghai The Uzbeks (Self designation sg O‘zbek, pl O‘zbeklar) are a Turkic people of Central Asia. The Tibetan Muslims, also known as the Kachee ( Kache) form a small minority in Tibet. The Dongxiang people (autonym Sarta or Santa (撒尔塔) are one of 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of Tajiks in China ( Chinese: 塔吉克族 Pinyin: Tǎjíkèzú are one of the 56 nationalities officially recognized by the People's Republic of The Utsuls are a tiny ethnic group which lives on the Chinese island of Hainan and are considered one of the People's Republic of China's undistinguished ethnic Xinjiang ( Uyghur: شىنجاڭ Shinjang;; Postal map spelling: Sinkiang; Turkish: Sincan, Sincan Uygur Özerk Ningxia ( Postal map spelling: Ningsia full name Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region ( is a Hui autonomous region of the People's Republic Kashgar or Kashi (officially transliterated as Kaxgar in Uyghur; قەشقەر/K̡ǝxk̡ǝr, is an Oasis The Islamic Association of China (中国伊斯兰教协会 Pinyin: Zhōngguó Yīsīlánjiào xiéhuì claims to represent Chinese Muslims nationwide Chinese Islamic cuisine (清真菜 or 回族菜 is the cuisine of the Hui (ethnic Chinese Muslims and other Muslims living in China. Sini is a Chinese Islamic calligraphic form for the Arabic script. Muslim Chinese martial arts have a long history in China, and many Muslims have participated at the highest level of Chinese martial arts. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National China has some of the oldest Muslim history, dating back to as early as 650, when the uncle of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Sa`ad ibn Abi Waqqas, was sent as an official envoy to Emperor Gaozong. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion Events By Place Asia The first Chinese Paper money is issued yet these banknotes will not become government-issued Muslims regard as Prophets of Islam ( Arabic: نبي) those non-divine humans chosen by Allah as Prophets IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics Sa`ad ibn Abī Waqqās ( was an early convert to Islam and one of the important companions of Muhammad. Background and life as Prince of Jin Li Zhi was born in 628 He was the ninth son of his father Emperor Taizong, and the third son of his mother Emperor Taizong's wife Throughout the history of Islam in China, Chinese Muslims have influenced the course of Chinese history. The History of Islam in China begins just a few decades after the rise of Islam. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion Chinese civilization originated in various city-states along the Yellow River ( valley in the Neolithic era

Contents 1 History 2 People 2.1 Ethnic Groups 2.2 Number of Muslims in China 3 Religious Practice 3.1 Chinese Muslims and the Hajj 4 Representative bodies 4.1 Islamic Association of China 4.2 China Islamic Association 5 Islamic education in China 6 Culture and heritage 6.1 Islamic Architecture 6.2 Halal food in China 6.3 Calligraphy 6.3.1 Sini 6.3.2 Xiao'erjing 6.4 Martial arts 6.5 Chinese terminology for Islamic institutions 7 Famous Muslims in China 7.1 Explorers 7.2 Military 7.3 Scholars and writers 7.4 In politics 7.5 Other 8 See also 9 Notes 10 References 11 External links

History

Main article: History of Islam in China

Islam was first brought to China by an envoy sent by Uthman, the third Caliph, in 651, less than twenty years after the death of prophet Muhammad. The History of Islam in China begins just a few decades after the rise of Islam. The Great Mosque of Xi'an (西安大清真寺 located near the Drum Tower (Gu Lou on Huajue Lane of Xi'an, Shaanxi province China, is one of the A "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller privately owned mosque and the larger For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Uthman (a=عثمان|t=Othman Osman Usman Ozman is a male Arabic given name meaning "the chosen one amongst the tribe of brave and noble people" "honest" The Caliph is the Head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah Events Europe Clovis II, king of Neustria and Burgundy, marries the future Saint Bathilde. The envoy was led by Sa`d ibn Abī Waqqās, the maternal uncle of the Prophet himself. Sa`ad ibn Abī Waqqās ( was an early convert to Islam and one of the important companions of Muhammad. Yung Wei, the Tang emperor who received the envoy then ordered the construction of the Memorial mosque in Canton, the first mosque in the country. Background and life as Prince of Jin Li Zhi was born in 628 He was the ninth son of his father Emperor Taizong, and the third son of his mother Emperor Taizong's wife The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by Guangzhou ( Jyutping: Gwong²zau¹; Yale: Gwóngjàu) is the Capital and a Sub-provincial city It was during the Tang Dynasty that China had its golden day of cosmopolitan culture which helped the introduction of Islam. The first major Muslim settlements in China consisted of Arab and Persian merchants. The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding layout and formatting it should ensure no clashes with the top of the infobox ^[1] In the region, the Hui Chi tribe accepted Islam, and the name was the beginnings of the reference to the huihui or the Hui as they are known today. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. The Hui people ( Xiao'erjing: حُوِ ذَو) are a Chinese ethnic group, typically distinguished by their practice of Islam.

By the time of the Song Dynasty, Muslims had come to dominate the import/export industry. The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion ^[2] The office of Director General of Shipping was consistently held by a Muslim during this period. ^[3]In 1070, the Song emperor Shenzong invited 5,300 Muslim men from Bukhara, to settle in China in order to create a buffer zone between the Chinese and the Liao empire in the northeast. Shenzong is the Temple name of several Chinese emperors It may refer to Emperor Shenzong of Song China (reign 1067-1085 Wanli Bukhara (Buxoro Бухоро بُخارا Бухара also spelled as Bukhoro and Bokhara, from the Soghdian βuxārak ("lucky Later on these men were settled between the Sung capital of Kaifeng and Yenching (modern day Beijing). Kaifeng ( formerly known as Bianliang ( Bianjing ( Daliang ( or simply Liang ( is a Prefecture-level city in eastern ^[4] They were led by Prince Amir Sayyid "So-fei-er" (his Chinese name) who was reputed of being called the "father" of the Muslim community in China. Prior to him Islam was named by the Tang and Song Chinese as Ta-shi fa ("law of Islam"). He renamed it to Hui Hui Jiao ("the Religion of Double return"). ^[5] It was during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, (1274 - 1368), that large numbers of Muslims settled in China. The Yuan Dynasty ( Pinyin: Yuáncháo Dai Ön Ulus (Дай Юан Улс was a ruling Dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai The Mongols, a minority in China, gave Muslim immigrants an elevated status over the native Han Chinese as part of their governing strategy, thus giving Muslims a heavy influence. Han Chinese ( are an Ethnic group native to China and by most modern definitions the largest single Ethnic group in the world. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims immigrants were recruited and forcibly relocated from Western and Central Asia by the Mongols to help them administer their rapidly expanding empire. Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia (largely overlapping with the Middle East) is the southwestern portion of Asia. Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south ^[6] The Mongols used Persian, Arab and Uyghur administrators to act as officers of taxation and finance. The Uyghur (also spelled Uygur, Uighur, Uigur, Uyghur: ئۇيغۇر) are a Turkic people of Central Asia. The field of finance refers to the concepts of Time, Money and Risk and how they are interrelated Muslims headed many corporations in China in the early Yuan period. ^[7] Muslim scholars were brought to work on calendar making and astronomy. The architect Yehdardin learned from Han architecture and helped to designed the construction of the capital of the Yuan Dynasty, Khanbaliq. Khanbaliq or Cambuluc / Cambaluc, also Kaan-baligh ("Great residence of the Khan " is the ancient Mongol name for the city ^[8]

During the following Ming Dynasty, Muslims continued to be influential around government circles. The Ming Dynasty ( or Empire of the Great Ming ( was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol -led Six of Ming Dynasty founder Zhu Yuanzhang's most trusted generals were Muslim, including Lan Yu who, in 1388, led a strong imperial Ming army out of the Great Wall and won a decisive victory over the Mongols in Mongolia, effectively ending the Mongol dream to re-conquer China. Early life Zhu Yuanzhang was born in 1328 in Pei County Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province as the youngest of four sons Lan Yu (?-1393 was a general of the Ming Dynasty. The founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, employed Muslim commanders in his army Lan Yu Ding The Great Wall of China ( or ( is a series of stone and earthen Fortifications in China, built rebuilt and maintained between the 6th century BC and the 16th Additionally, the Yongle Emperor hired Zheng He, perhaps the most famous Chinese Muslim and China's foremost explorer, to lead seven expeditions to the Indian Ocean, from 1405 and 1433. The Yongle Emperor ( Wade-Giles: Yung-lo May 2, 1360 &ndash August 12, 1424) born Zhu Di ( Chu Ti Zheng He ( Birth name 馬三寶 / 马三宝; Arabic / Persian name حجّي محمود شمس Hajji Mahmud Shams) (1371&ndash1433 was a Hui The Hui people ( Xiao'erjing: حُوِ ذَو) are a Chinese ethnic group, typically distinguished by their practice of Islam. The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface However, during the Ming Dynasty, new immigration to China from Muslim countries was restricted in an increasingly isolationist nation. Isolationism is a Foreign policy which combines a non-interventionist military policy and a political policy of Economic nationalism ( Protectionism The Muslims in China who were descended from earlier immigration began to assimilate by speaking Chinese dialects and by adopting Chinese names and culture. Immigration refers to the movement of people among countries While the movement of people has existed throughout human history at various levels modern immigration implies long-term Spoken Chinese ( comprises many regional variants the largest of which are Mandarin, Wu, Cantonese, and Min. The Culture of China (traditional Chinese 中國文化 simplified Chinese 中国文化 is home to one of the world's oldest and most complex Civilizations covering a history Mosque architecture began to follow traditional Chinese architecture. Chinese architecture refers to a style of Architecture that has taken shape in Asia over the centuries This era also saw Nanjing become an important center of Islamic study. ( Chinese: 南京 Romanizations Nánjīng ( Pinyin) Nan-ching ( Wade-Giles ^[9]

The rise of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) made relations between the Muslims and Chinese more difficult. Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China The dynasty prohibited ritual slaughtering of animals, followed by forbidding the construction of new mosques and the pilgrimage to Mecca. The Hajj (حج is a pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored ^[10] The Qing rulers belonged to the Manchu, a minority in China, and employed the tactics of divide and conquer to keep the Muslims, Hans, Tibetans and Mongolians in conflict with each other. The Manchu people ( Manchu: Manju;, Mongolian: Манж Russian: Маньчжуры are a Tungusic people who originated in These repressive policies resulted in five bloody Hui rebellions, most notably the Panthay Rebellion, which occurred in Yunnan province from 1855 to 1873, and the Dungan revolt, which occurred mostly in Xinjiang, Shensi and Gansu, from 1862 to 1877. The Hui people ( Xiao'erjing: حُوِ ذَو) are a Chinese ethnic group, typically distinguished by their practice of Islam. The Panthay Rebellion (known in PRC as the Du Wenxiu Qiyi 杜文秀起义 1856&ndash1873 was a separatist movement of the Hui people and Chinese Muslims Year 1855 ( MDCCCLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year Year 1873 ( MDCCCLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Dungan Revolt was a religious war It also known as the Hui Minorities' War and the Muslim Rebellion. Xinjiang ( Uyghur: شىنجاڭ Shinjang;; Postal map spelling: Sinkiang; Turkish: Sincan, Sincan Uygur Özerk ( Postal map spelling: Shensi) is a north-central province of the People's Republic of China, and includes portions of the Loess ( is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China. Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday Year 1877 ( MDCCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, Sun Yat Sen, who established the Republic of China immediately proclaimed that the country belonged equally to the Han, Hui (Muslim), Meng (Mongol), and the Tsang (Tibetan) peoples. Sun Yat-sen ( November 12, 1866 &ndash March 12, 1925) was a Chinese Revolutionary and political leader often REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES In 1911, the provinces of Qinhai, Gansu and Ningxia fell to Muslim warlords of the family known as the Ma clique. (青海 qīnghǎi is a province of the People's Republic of China, named after Qinghai Lake. ( is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China. Ningxia ( Postal map spelling: Ningsia full name Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region ( is a Hui autonomous region of the People's Republic The Ma clique ( was a family of Warlords who ruled the Chinese provinces of Qinghai, Gansu and Ningxia from the 1910's until 1949 Conditions for the Muslims worsened during the Cultural Revolution. The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in the People’s Republic of China was a struggle for power within the Communist Party of China that manifested into The government began to relax its policies towards Muslims in 1978. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Today, Islam is experiencing a modest revival and there are now many mosques in China. There has been an upsurge in Islamic expression and many nation-wide Islamic associations have been organized to co-ordinate inter-ethnic activities among Muslims. ^[11]

People

See also: Hui people, Uyghur people, Kazak, Dongxiang, Kyrgyz, Salar, Tajik, Uzbek, Bonan, Tatar, and Tibetan Muslims

Ethnic Groups

Muslims live in many regions of China. The Hui people ( Xiao'erjing: حُوِ ذَو) are a Chinese ethnic group, typically distinguished by their practice of Islam. The Uyghur (also spelled Uygur, Uighur, Uigur, Uyghur: ئۇيغۇر) are a Turkic people of Central Asia. The Kyrgyz (also spelled Kirgiz, Kirghiz) are a Turkic Ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan. The Salar people ( Salar: Salar Chinese: 撒拉族 Pinyin: Sālāzú) are one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the The Bonan (also Bao'an) people (保安族 Pinyin: bǎoān zú native) are an Ethnic group living in Gansu and Qinghai Tatars ( Tatar: Tatarlar/Татарлар sometimes spelled Tartars, are a Turkic -speaking ethnic group or multiple ethnic groups The Tibetan Muslims, also known as the Kachee ( Kache) form a small minority in Tibet. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The highest concentrations are found in the northwest provinces of Xinjiang, Gansu, and Ningxia, with significant populations also found throughout Yunnan province in southwest China and Henan Province in central China. Xinjiang ( Uyghur: شىنجاڭ Shinjang;; Postal map spelling: Sinkiang; Turkish: Sincan, Sincan Uygur Özerk ( is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China. Ningxia ( Postal map spelling: Ningsia full name Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region ( is a Hui autonomous region of the People's Republic China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Henan ( is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Of China’s 55 officially recognized minority peoples, ten groups are predominately Muslim. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion The largest groups in descending order are Hui (9. The Hui people ( Xiao'erjing: حُوِ ذَو) are a Chinese ethnic group, typically distinguished by their practice of Islam. 8 million in year 2000 census, or 48% of the officially tabulated number of Muslims), Uyghur (8. The Uyghur (also spelled Uygur, Uighur, Uigur, Uyghur: ئۇيغۇر) are a Turkic people of Central Asia. 4 million, 41%), Kazak (1. 25 million , 6. 1%), Dongxiang (514,000, 2. 5%), Kyrgyz (161,000), Salar (105,000), Tajik (41,000), Uzbek , Bonan (17,000), and Tatar (5,000). The Kyrgyz (also spelled Kirgiz, Kirghiz) are a Turkic Ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan. The Salar people ( Salar: Salar Chinese: 撒拉族 Pinyin: Sālāzú) are one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the The Bonan (also Bao'an) people (保安族 Pinyin: bǎoān zú native) are an Ethnic group living in Gansu and Qinghai Tatars ( Tatar: Tatarlar/Татарлар sometimes spelled Tartars, are a Turkic -speaking ethnic group or multiple ethnic groups ^[12] However, individual members of traditionally Muslim ethnic groups may profess other religions or none at all. Additionally, Tibetan Muslims are officially classified along with the Tibetan people, unlike the Hui who are classified as a separate people, even though they are indistinguishable from the Han. The Tibetan Muslims, also known as the Kachee ( Kache) form a small minority in Tibet. The Tibetan people are indigenous to Tibet and surrounding areas stretching from Central Asia in the North and West to Myanmar and China Proper Han Chinese ( are an Ethnic group native to China and by most modern definitions the largest single Ethnic group in the world. ^[13] Muslims live predominantly in the areas that border Central Asia, Tibet and Mongolia, i. e Xinjiang, Ningxia, Gansu and Qinghai, which is known as the "Quran Belt". Xinjiang ( Uyghur: شىنجاڭ Shinjang;; Postal map spelling: Sinkiang; Turkish: Sincan, Sincan Uygur Özerk Ningxia ( Postal map spelling: Ningsia full name Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region ( is a Hui autonomous region of the People's Republic ( is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China. (青海 qīnghǎi is a province of the People's Republic of China, named after Qinghai Lake. ^[14]

Number of Muslims in China

China is home to a large population of adherents of Islam. According to the CIA World Factbook, about 1%-2% of the total population in China are Muslims,^[15] while the US Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report shows that Muslims constitute about 1. The World Factbook ( ISSN; also known as the CIA World Factbook) is an annual publication of the Central Intelligence Agency of the 5% of the Chinese population. ^[16] Recent census counts imply that there may be up to 20 million Muslims in China. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion ^[17] However, the last three national censuses (1982, 1990, and 2000) did not include questions about religion. The number of religious believers can be inferred indirectly from census counts of the number of people who identify themselves as belonging to particular nationalities, some of whom are known to be predominantly members of certain religious groups.

The BBC gives a range of 20 million to 100 million (1. 5% to 7. 5% of the total) Muslims in China. ^[18] The figure of 100 million is based on a 1938 statistical yearbook placing the number of Muslims at 50 million, as well as census data from the 1940s, which showed roughly 48 million Muslims. ^[19] Demographers at the University of Michigan contend in contrast that the only way the Muslim population of China could be substantially higher than the 20. The University of Michigan Ann Arbor ( U of M, U-M, UM or simply Michigan) is a top-ranked Coeducational public research 3 million members of traditionally Muslim nationalities in the 2000 census is if there were a very large hidden or uncounted number of Muslims in China; but a large undercount of Muslims has not been documented and remains speculative. ^[20]

The accuracy of the religious data in China from non-census sources, such as surveys, can also be questioned. While official data estimated 100 million religious believers in China, a survey taken by Shanghai University declared a dramatically different 300 million believers. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Shanghai University (traditional Chinese 上海大學 simplified Chinese 上海大学 pinyin Shànghǎi Dàxué is a public comprehensive university located in Shanghai The survey also found that the major religions are Buddhism, Taoism, Islam and Christianity. Statistical surveys are used to collect quantitative information about items in a population A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings According to the survey, Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Christianity and Islam are the five major religions, accounting for 67. 4 percent of believers. About 200 million people are Buddhists, Taoists or worshippers of legendary figures such as the Dragon King and God of Fortune, accounting for 66. 1 per cent of all believers. ^[21][22]

Religious Practice

The vast majority of China's Muslims are Sunni Muslims. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic A notable feature of the some Muslim communities in China is the presence of female imams. ^[23]

Chinese Muslims and the Hajj

Some Chinese Muslims may have made the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca on the Arabian peninsula between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries, yet there is no written record of this prior to 1861. The Hajj (حج is a pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

Briefly during the Cultural Revolution, Chinese Muslims were not allowed to attend the Hajj,and only did so through Pakistan, but this policy was reversed in 1979. The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in the People’s Republic of China was a struggle for power within the Communist Party of China that manifested into Chinese Muslims now attend the Hajj in large numbers, typically in organized groups.

A record 9,600 Chinese Muslim pilgrims from all over the country attended the Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 2006^[24] A record 10,700 Chinese Muslim pilgrims from all over the country attended the Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 2007^[25]

Representative bodies

Islamic Association of China

Main article: Islamic Association of China

The Islamic Association of China claims to represent Chinese Muslims nationwide. The Islamic Association of China (中国伊斯兰教协会 Pinyin: Zhōngguó Yīsīlánjiào xiéhuì claims to represent Chinese Muslims nationwide At its inaugural meeting on May 11, 1953 in Beijing, representatives from 10 nationalities of the People's Republic of China were in attendance.

China Islamic Association

Main article: China Islamic Association

In April 2001, the government set up the China Islamic Association, which was described as aiming to "help the spread of the Qur'an in China and oppose religious extremism". The association is to be run by 16 Islamic religious leaders who are charged with making "a correct and authoritative interpretation" of Islamic creed and canon.

It will compile and spread inspirational speeches and help imams improve themselves, and vet sermons made by clerics around the country. This latter function is probably the key job as far as the central government is concerned. It is worried that some clerics are using their sermons to spread sedition.

Some examples of the religious concessions granted to Muslims are:

• In areas where Muslims are a majority, the breeding of pigs is not allowed, in deference to Muslim sensitivities
• Muslim communities are allowed separate cemeteries
• Muslim couples may have their marriage consecrated by an Imam
• Muslim workers are permitted holidays during major religious festivals
• Chinese Muslims are also allowed to make the Hajj to Mecca, and more than 45,000 Muslims have done so in recent years. ^[26]

Islamic education in China

Over the last twenty years a wide range of Islamic educational opportunities have been developed to meet the needs of China’s Muslim population. In addition to mosque schools, government Islamic colleges, and independent Islamic colleges, a growing number of students have gone overseas to continue their studies at international Islamic universities in Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, and Malaysia. ^[27]

Culture and heritage

Although contacts and previous conquests have occurred before, the Mongol conquest of the greater part of Eurasia in the 13th century permanently brought the extensive cultural traditions of China, central Asia and western Asia into a single empire, albeit one of separate khanates, for the first time in history. The intimate interaction that resulted is evident in the legacy of both traditions. In China, Islam influenced technology, sciences, philosophy and the arts. In terms of material culture, one finds decorative motives from central Asian Islamic architecture and calligraphy, the marked halal impact on northern Chinese cuisine and the varied influences of Islamic medical science on Chinese medicine.

Taking the Mongol Eurasian empire as a point of departure, the ethnogenesis of the Hui, or Sinophone Muslims, can also be charted through the emergence of distinctly Chinese Muslim traditions in architecture, food, epigraphy and Islamic written culture. This multifaceted cultural heritage continues to the present day. ^[28]

Islamic Architecture

Main article: Chinese mosques

The first Chinese mosque was established in the 7th century during the Tang Dynasty in Xi'an. This is a list of Mosques in China. Note: When adding new mosques please update the template TemplateMosques in China. The Niujie Mosque ( is the oldest Mosque in Beijing, China. It was first built in 996 and was reconstructed as well as enlarged under the Qing Emperor China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The 7th century is the period from 601 to 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by UserEl_C --> Xi'an ( Postal map spelling: Sian is the Capital of the Shaanxi province in the The Great Mosque of Xi'an, whose current buildings date from the Ming Dynasty, does not replicate many of the features often associated with traditional mosques. The Great Mosque of Xi'an (西安大清真寺 located near the Drum Tower (Gu Lou on Huajue Lane of Xi'an, Shaanxi province China, is one of the The Ming Dynasty ( or Empire of the Great Ming ( was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol -led Instead, it follows traditional Chinese architecture. Chinese architecture refers to a style of Architecture that has taken shape in Asia over the centuries Mosques in western China incorporate more of the elements seen in mosques in other parts of the world. Western Chinese mosques were more likely to incorporate minarets and domes while eastern Chinese mosques were more likely to look like pagodas. A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered Tower with multiple Eaves common in China, Japan, Korea ^[29]

An important feature in Chinese architecture is its emphasis on symmetry, which connotes a sense of grandeur; this applies to everything from palaces to mosques. Symmetry generally conveys two primary meanings The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically-pleasing proportionality and balance such that it reflects beauty or A palace is a grand residence especially the home of a Head of state or some other high-ranking Public figure. A "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller privately owned mosque and the larger One notable exception is in the design of gardens, which tends to be as asymmetrical as possible. A garden is a planned space usually outdoors set aside for the display cultivation and enjoyment of Plants and other forms of Nature. Like Chinese scroll paintings, the principle underlying the garden's composition is to create enduring flow; to let the patron wander and enjoy the garden without prescription, as in nature herself.

Chinese buildings may be built with either red or grey bricks, but wooden structures are the most common; these are more capable of withstanding earthquakes, but are vulnerable to fire. Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth 's crust that creates Seismic waves Earthquakes are recorded with a Seismometer Fire is the heat and light energy released during a Chemical reaction, in particular a combustion reaction. The roof of a typical Chinese building is curved; there are strict classifications of gable types, comparable with the classical orders of European columns.

As in all regions the Chinese Islamic architecture reflects the local architecture in its style. For the mosque in Afghanistan see Id Gah Mosque The Id Kah mosque ( is a Mosque located in Kashgar, Xinjiang China is renowned for its beautiful mosques, which resemble temples. However in western China the mosques resemble those of the middle east, with tall, slender minarets, curvy arches and dome shaped roofs. In northwest China where the Chinese Hui have built their mosques, there is a combination of east and west. The mosques have flared Chinese-style roofs set in walled courtyards entered through archways with miniature domes and minarets (see Beytullah Mosque). Minarets may refer to Minarets an architectural feature of Islamic mosques ^[30] The first mosque was the Great Mosque of Xian, or the Xian Mosque, which was created in the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by

Halal food in China

Main article: Chinese Islamic cuisine

Due to the large Muslim population in western China, many Chinese restaurants cater to Muslims or cater to the general public but are run by Muslims. ( Postal map spelling: Kiangsu) is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country Chinese Islamic cuisine (清真菜 or 回族菜 is the cuisine of the Hui (ethnic Chinese Muslims and other Muslims living in China. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National In most major cities in China, there are small Islamic restaurants or food stalls typically run by migrants from Western China (e. g. , Uyghurs), which offer inexpensive noodle soup. The Uyghur (also spelled Uygur, Uighur, Uigur, Uyghur: ئۇيغۇر) are a Turkic people of Central Asia. Lamb and mutton dishes are more commonly available than in other Chinese restaurants, due to the greater prevalence of these meats in the cuisine of western Chinese regions. Lamb, hogget, and mutton are the meat of Domestic sheep. The meat of an animal in its first year is lamb; that of an older sheep is hogget Commercially prepared food can be certified Halal by approved agencies. ^[31]

Calligraphy

Sini

Main article: Sini (script)

Sini is a Chinese Islamic calligraphic form for the Arabic script. Sini is a Chinese Islamic calligraphic form for the Arabic script. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Calligraphy (from Greek kallos "beauty" + graphẽ "writing" is the art of writing (Mediavilla 1996 17 The Arabic alphabet is the script used for writing several languages of Asia and Africa such as Arabic, Persian, and Urdu. It can refer to any type of Chinese Islamic calligraphy, but is commonly used to refer to one with thick and tapered effects, much like Chinese calligraphy. The art of Calligraphy is widely practiced and revered in the East Asian Civilizations that use or used Chinese characters. It is used extensively in mosques in eastern China, and to a lesser extent in Gansu, Ningxia, and Shaanxi. A "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller privately owned mosque and the larger ( is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China. Ningxia ( Postal map spelling: Ningsia full name Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region ( is a Hui autonomous region of the People's Republic ( Postal map spelling: Shensi) is a north-central province of the People's Republic of China, and includes portions of the Loess A famous Sini calligrapher is Hajji Noor Deen Mi Guangjiang. Hajji (الحجّي al-ḥağğī Hadžija Pilgrim) or El-Hajj, is an honorific title given to a Muslim person who has successfully completed Hajji Noor Deen Mi Guangjiang (米廣江 born 1963 is an expert in Islamic calligraphy, specializing in the Sini style which originated from

Xiao'erjing

Main article: Xiao'erjing

Xiao'erjing or Xiao'erjin (simplified Chinese: 小儿经/小儿锦; traditional Chinese: 小兒經/小兒錦; pinyin: Xiǎo'érjīng/Xiǎo'érjǐn, Xiao'erjing: شِيَوْ عَر دٍ) or, in its shortened form, Xiaojing (simplified Chinese: 小经/消经; traditional Chinese: 小經/消經; pinyin: Xiǎojīng/Xiāojīng) is the practice of writing Sinitic languages such as Mandarin (especially the Lanyin, Zhongyuan and Northeastern dialects) or the Dungan language in the Arabic script. Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use Spoken Chinese ( comprises many regional variants the largest of which are Mandarin, Wu, Cantonese, and Min. Zhongyuan Mandarin ( lit Official Language of the Central Plain is a dialect of Mandarin Chinese spoken in the central part of Shaanxi, Henan Northeastern Mandarin or Northeast China Dialect is a variety of Mandarin Chinese, known as Dongbeihua ( literally "Northeast Speech/Language" The Dungan language is a Sinitic language spoken by the Dungan of Central Asia, an ethnic group related to the Hui people of China The Arabic alphabet is the script used for writing several languages of Asia and Africa such as Arabic, Persian, and Urdu. It is used on occasion by many ethnic minorities who adhere to the Islamic faith in China (mostly the Hui, but also the Dongxiang, and the Salar), and formerly by their Dungan descendants in Central Asia. Ethnic minorities in China refer to the non- Han Chinese population in Mainland China and Taiwan. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Hui people ( Xiao'erjing: حُوِ ذَو) are a Chinese ethnic group, typically distinguished by their practice of Islam. The Dongxiang people (autonym Sarta or Santa (撒尔塔) are one of 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of The Salar people ( Salar: Salar Chinese: 撒拉族 Pinyin: Sālāzú) are one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the Dungan (Дунгане is a term used in territories of the former Soviet Union to refer to a Muslim people of Chinese origin

Martial arts

Main article: Muslim Chinese martial arts

Muslim development and participation at the highest level of Chinese wushu has a long history. Muslim Chinese martial arts have a long history in China, and many Muslims have participated at the highest level of Chinese martial arts. Many of its roots lie in the Qing Dynasty persecution of Muslims. Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China The Hui started and adapted many of the styles of wushu such as bajiquan, piguazhang, and liuhequan. Bājíquán ( 八極拳 Hakkyokuken) is a Chinese martial art that features explosive short range power and is famous for its elbow strikes. Xingyiquan ( is one of the major "internal" ( Nèijiā) Chinese martial arts. There were specific areas that were known to be centers of Muslim wushu, such as Cang County in Hebei Province. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion ( Postal map spelling: Hopeh) is a northern province of the People's Republic of China. These traditional Hui martial arts were very distinct from the Turkic styles practiced in Xinjiang. Xinjiang ( Uyghur: شىنجاڭ Shinjang;; Postal map spelling: Sinkiang; Turkish: Sincan, Sincan Uygur Özerk ^[32]

Chinese terminology for Islamic institutions

Qīngzhēn (清真) is the Chinese term for certain Islamic institutions. Its literal meaning is "pure truth. "

In Chinese, halal is called qīngzhēn cài (清真菜) or "pure truth food. Halal (حلال ḥalāl, halaal) is an Arabic term meaning permissible. " A mosque is called qīngzhēn sì (清真寺) or "pure truth temple. "

Famous Muslims in China

Explorers

• Zheng He, mariner and explorer
• Fei Xin, Zheng He's translator
• Ma Huan, a companion of Zheng He

Military

• Founding generals of the Ming dynasty: Hu Dahai,Lan Yu, Mu Ying
• The leaders of the Panthay Rebellion: Du Wenxiu, Ma Hualong
• The Ma clique of warlords during the Republic of China era: Ma Bufang, Ma Chung-ying, Ma Fuxiang, Ma Hongkui, Ma Hongbin, Ma Lin, Ma Qi, Ma Hun-shan
• Bai Chongxi, general in the Republic of China army

Scholars and writers

• Bai Shouyi, historian
• Tohti Tunyaz, historian
• Yusuf Ma Dexin, first translator of the Qur'an into Chinese
• Muhammad Ma Jian, author of the most popular Chinese translation of the Qur'an
• Liu Zhi, Qing Dynasty author
• Wang Daiyu, Master Supervisor of the Imperial Observatory during the Ming Dynasty
• Zhang Chengzhi, contemporary author

In politics

• Hui Liangyu, vice premier in charge of agriculture in the People's Republic of China
• Huseyincan Celil, Uyghur imam imprisoned in China
• Xabib Yunic, Education Minister of the Second East Turkistan Republic
• Muhammad Amin Bughra, Vice-Chief of the Second East Turkistan Republic

Other

• Noor Deen Mi Guangjiang, calligrapher
• Ma Xianda, martial artist
• Ma Menta, organiser of Russia's Wushu Tongbei Federation

See also

• Islam by country
• Religion in China
• Demographics of the People's Republic of China
• Islamic Association of China
• Tibetan Muslims
• Christianity in China
• Hui people

Notes

References

• Reischauer, Edwin O. Edwin Oldfather Reischauer ( Tokyo, October 15, 1910 – September 1, 1990) was the leading U and Fairbank, John K. , East Asia: The Great Tradition
• http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/HI06Ad01.html
• http://www.asiaquarterly.com/content/view/166/43

External links

• Islam in China
• Quran in Chinese
• Chinese Muslims forge isolated path
• Islam in China
• Photos of "Islam in China" by Photojournalist Sean Gallagher
• The New York times
• islamawareness.net
• www.islamcn.net
• Islamic Chinese Art (Dru C. Gladney's photo album on Flickr. com)

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