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History of Islam in China and the distribution of the Islamic Faith in China :

ChinaReport.com at

As for the distribution of the Islamic Faith in China, the current situation

derives from the historic inter-connectiveness of Central Asian Cities and

Kingdoms through the pathways of the Silk Road and the transmission of

Islam and other Religions along this Road. Although it is unknown when

exactly the islamic religion first reached China, a most popular theory

posed by the Chinese Historian Chen Yuan holds that it was in the year 651

AD during the Reign of the Powerful and Prosperous Tang Dynasty (618 AD

- 907 AD). According to Tang Dynasty records (History of Tang) the Firstcontact came through a diplomatic visit by the envoy Sa`ad ibn Abi

Waqqas - an uncle to the deceased Prophet Muhammad, who was sent by

Uthman, the 3rd Caliph (early leaders of the Muslim nation following

Muhammad's (570 AD–632 AD) death were called "Khalifat Rasul Allah",

which means the political successor to the messenger of God (referring to

Muhammad as Prophet).

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Map 1 of the Silk Road during the early Tang Dynasty Era. Clearly depicts

the North & South Routes West of Dunhuang as well as the lost

civilizations of Loulan and Hotan.

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City + Site MapsDongSi Mosque, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Although small in size, hidden in location and not on most tour

programs,Dong Si, as one of the 11 Remaining historic Mosques in China,is one of Beijing's and China's number One Islamic Monuments !

Go to small Dong Si, Eastern Temple or read our small introduction of a

modest little corner of the DongCheng District. Dong Si was constructed

later than Niu Jie' Mosque, but is larger and serves as the Headquarters of

the Beijing Islamic association and heart of the Dongcheng Muslim

Community.

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Niu Jie' Mosque, Xuanwu District, Beijing

At Ox Street (Niu Jie) a wide but not very conspicuous main street cutting

North-South through the Xuanwu district , we find Ox Street Mosque, the

main Temple of the Hui'. The hui are China's most ancient Islamic Minority

and have a status as such. Browse around the interesting Mosque , the

main prayer hall is reserved for Muslims only. Get the ethnic feeling of the

Hui district by walking the hutong streets.

Don't forget the Hui Islamic Headquarters of China located just around the

Corner to the South ! Combined with a visit to the Fayuansi , just East ofOx street hidden in the Hutong , a visit to Niu Jie can be a joyfull change

from the usual Chinese crowds and neighborhoods.

The Most Important Mosque in China's long and rich History, a living relicof the Silk Road. Make a Full Tour of Xian's Great Mosque, established in

742 AD during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong (685-762) of the Tang

Dynasty,

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Some academics prefer to transliterate the term as Khal f) to theī Tang

Emperor Gaozong (Li Zhi). This high level cultural and diplomatic exchange

took place only 20 years after the death of the founder of the faith

Muhammad, a time during which Chang 'An, the Capital of the Tang Empire

was not only the largest but also the most international City in the World.

Through the court visit of Sa`ad ibn Abi Waqqas and his subsequent stayin the Tang Empire the Muslim call to embrace this new Faith was

diplomatically handled. Recognizing of the economic importance of the

Caliphate on the Arabian Peninsula and its rising powers, a mosque was

constructed in the southern City of Guangzhou (Canton) in current day

Guangdong Province. At Guangzhou

and their families.

The so called Great Mosque of Xi'An can be visited inside the pittoresque

Muslim Quarter inside the Walls of the Old City of Xi'An, formerly Chang'An

and now the Capital of Shaanxi Province. Although not among the oldest

four remaing mosques, the still very active Great Mosque of Xi'An ranks

high on the list of the 11 remaining historic mosques in China, furthermore

Xi'An's Great Mosque and surrounding Lanes of the Muslim Quarter, a

After its initial introduction in China in the 7Th century Islam and Muslims

played an important Role in Chinese History.

During the Song Dynasty Islam was already well established as one of the

main religions of the Nation, although it played a minor role in comparison

to Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism. Islam was carried to China both

through the land-bound Silk Road paths through which contacts with the

Arabian Peninsula had already been established as early as the Han

Dynasty (206 BC - 221 AD)(Reign of Hanhe Emperor), but also increasingly

through Maritime Contacts through the South-China Sea and Indian Ocean,

then from the Chinese Coast on to Chang'An the Capital. According to the

Tang Dynasty records named Zi Zhi Tong Jian ("History as a Mirror") there

were over 4000 Foreign Businesses established within the Capital of which

the majority were Arabian and Persian in origin. In fact the economic

contacts became so intense that the Tang Court at Chang 'An had to set up

a special trading department to deal with the administration of the

succesful silk roads. Diplomatic visits from Arabia and Persia during the

highpoint of the Tang Dynasty Golden Age counted no less then 37 in a 148year period. Muslims virtually dominated the import/export business in

China during Song Dynasty (960 - 1279 CE). The office of Director General

of Shipping was consistently held by a Muslim during this period.

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The Western Regions and neighboring Muslim Area's saw skirmishes

between Armed Muslim Seperatists and the Central Imperial Powers

several Times in history. The First Battles by Islamic Armies on Chinese

Soil however occured during a period of decline for the Tang Dynasty. In

the events, which was started in Fanyang (now Beijing) with a Rebellion bya powerful General, one An Lushan, the Tang Dynasty Empire was forced

to seek military support from the Persian Empire. Large portions of Hebei

Province, the Ordos Desert, Inner Mongolia and Western Regions were

temporarily lost to the Tang Empire. The Persian Empire sent its support

and helped turn the Tide for the distressed Tang Empire. Through the

Battles and subsequent allowed stays for welcomed Islamic Soldiers with

traders and Clergy on their heels, the Islamic Faith was spread throughout

these regions. Due to several factors including the prevalent nomadic

lifestyles and geographic limitations of these remote regions and political

forces within the Empire descendants of Islamic Armies kept to theirculture and grew into the Islamic Minorities of the North and West.

In the South of China Islam was spread by means of the Sea Route from the

Persian Gulf and across the Indian Ocean to reach up to Chinese Harbors

such as Guangzhou (Canton), Yangzhou and Quanzhou. Here, once more

traders and merchants from far away Persia and the Arabian Peninsula set

up shop in Chinese Cities where they kept their Islamic Faith and were

allowed to build their (Chinese Styled) Mosques. Of these Traders and

Merchants many settled in the Chinese Port cities and beyond, and their

descendants remained. They lived however in close knit communities and

did not intermingle or marry with the Chinese Han or other Ethnicities.Although regarded as a bit strict in discipline, the Muslims were fair and

most importantly law abiding citizens. Because of their lack of missionary

activity and due to their low political profile the Muslims were not perceived

as a threat to the Chinese Ruling Elite and therefor tolerated within the

Empire. This situation remained throughout the Tang Dynasty but would

start a transformation of China, which mainly took place during the years of

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the Song Dynasty (960 AD - 1279 AD) and was completed during the Yuan

Dynasty. This original period, in which Foreign Traders lived in China,

remaining loyal to their own culture and Islam is regarded as the first

period of Islamic Introduction in China.

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Currently there are 10 Islamic Ethnic groups that remain in China. Some of

these groups are very small while others count millions of members.

First and Foremost are the Uighurs, most of whom are Chinese Muslims

originating from Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region, and a minority from

Hunan and Henan Provinces. There are currently about 7.2 million Uighurs

in China.

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China Report - Map Yuan Dynasty Mongol Empire in Time 1206 AD - 1294

AD

A Schematic Map of the Mongol Empire of Genghis Khan (TeMuJin) and

descendants through its several stages of conquest in its short but

Impressive Existence in History. Timeline depicts the Mongol Conquest

starting in the Year 1206 AD, when Genghis Khan first united the Mongol-

Turkic Tribes of Mongolia and Lake BayKal becoming Great Khan. TheTimeline continues through the year 1219 AD, the year 1223 AD taking

Transoxiania, 1227 AD, 1237 AD when the Northern Jin Dynasty of China

was annihilated, 1259 AD conquering ancient China above the Jiangste

River and 1279 AD when all of China was taken and the Yuan Dynasty

Established under the Kublai Khan. Last is the Year 1294 AD when the

Mongol Empire reached its largest geographical size and Zenith, 22% of

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world land area, but through lack of central leadership and over-expansion

fragmented into 4 large parts, then imploded upon itself.

During and after the Reign of Emperor Tang Wenzong (Reign 824 AD - 840

AD) a final decline of the Tang Dynasty set in. While major ruling elite clans

battled for influence and their fiefdoms within the center of the Empire (The

Five Dynasties 10 Kingdoms Period), the West and North-West fell away

from Central Control entirely.

It was in a period in which large migrations of ethnic peoples occured.

Among them were the Western Liao, the Jin, the Western Xia and a

nomadic peoples from Central Asia with Islamic beliefs the Hui Hu. In the

absence of Central Powers in the West, the Hui Hu People moved to theseWestern Regions and in conjunction with the native tribes established a

new Nomadic Empire named Karakitai. This nomadic Empire, organized as

a Khanate, was Islamic in Nature and covered large parts of current day

Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The founding of the Karakitai Khanate layed

the foundation of the later emancipation of Muslims and announced the

second period of the spread of Islam in China.

Meanwhile in the Center of the Chinese Empire, new Dynasties emerged.

The Northern Song Dynasty continued the traditions of mutual respect and

integration with the Muslims. In 996 AD, the City of Beijing (then namedYanjing) saw the construction and opening of the Niu Jie' Mosque, albeit

outside of the defensive walls of the Imperial City in the former Muslim

Minority Village of LiuHe (currently inside Xuanwu District).

In Tang and later in Song Dynasty China Muslims who had taken up

perminanent residence within the Chinese Empire were called Zhu Tang.

Zhu Tang literally means "Foreigners living in China", giving a good idea of

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how dominant the Muslims were among the many peoples who came to

China to Trade. The descendants of Muslims who married Chinese women

were dubbed the Fan Ke. As time passed on the term Fan Ke became to

mean the Muslim population of foreign descent in general. To further

themselves socially and integrate better into Chinese Society, the Fan Ke

generations gradually adopted more and more of the Chinese Culture,Customs and Teachings. In the 4Th Year of the Reign of Emperor Zhenghe

of Song onwards the Imperial System created special rules to deal with

Affairs and Laws of the Fan Ke. Among these were a heritage law, but more

importantly arrangements were included to create special schools for the

Muslim Children, the Fan Xue. At the Fan Xue, Chinese customs were

taught along with Muslim specifics, all under the guidance of the Empire

but run by Muslims themselves.

The Final Goal of the Fan Xue (Muslim Schools) was to come to a

generation of Muslims were able to

take part in the Imperial Exams and thus become fully integrated with the

Song Political System.

At the end of the first period of the spread of Islam in China integration of

the Fan Ke had reached so far that many of them had taken on Chinese

names. Names resembling the name of Mohammad, Mustafa and Massud

(The first 3 Caliphs) turned into the Chinese names Mo, Mai and Mu and

date from this early period. Similarly, in search of names Chinese

Characters resembling the original Muslim name were adopted leading to

names such as Ha for Hasan, Hu for Hussain.

The population of Muslims in China had increased greatly since the arrival

of the faith in China. First and foremost through inter-marriage (arriving

traders were exclusively Muslim Men, most single and in search of

Fortune.), but also through the Muslim habit of accepting Slaves. At the

decline of the Song Empires and with land reclamation by the feudal elite

rampant, many destitute tenant-farmers chose to escape the scorn of the

Imperial Laws and their debtors and chose instead to request slavery

within a rich Muslim Trading Family. Not only would such a deal allow them

to change their family name and gain status (or escape detection),

furthermore, under Islamic laws the slaves were liable to receive part of the

inheritance (or sometimes all) in case of the Masters Death. For starvingpeasants at the end of all options this was an

attractive offer. Joining up however meant becoming a Muslim and so the

Muslim population grew larger.

Meanwhile, especially in far western China the coming of Islam to Central

Asia caused its peoples, in

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their external relations, to focus more upon the Middle East than upon

China. The final demise of the Tang Dynasty Empire with loss of control

over what is now Xinjiang-Uyghur Autonomous Region only contributed to

the cultural shift, leaving the Muslims of Xinjiang and the Pamirs under the

Rule of local Muslim Khan's. From the tenth century AD onwards nearly all

trading and cultural relations in the Region were focused on Persia and theArabian World rather then the (Han) Chinese Culture. Then came the great

Mongol conquests.

A trans-continental Empire would emerge opening the Silk Road to

unprecedented traffic.

The migration of Islamic peoples eastward from the Middle East into China

had begun. During the time the Mongol hordes were ravaging Persia and

Afghanistan, between 1219 AD and 1224 AD, Chinese Muslims were

staffing the Mongol intelligence service, seeing the Imperial Yuan Dynasty

play the interests of one regional Tribe against those of another.

Four original mosques, known as the 4 historic Mosques, remain from the

First Period of the Spread of Islam in China:

1) First and Foremost is the HuaiSheng Mosque in Guangzhou (Canton), 

Guangdong Province. The HuaiSheng Mosque was constructed during the

Tang Dynasty Era. Reportedly it even dates from the year 627 AD, well

before the year 651 AD and the first Islamic Dimplomatic Visit to the Tang

Court (see above). The exact date of establishment however is unsure.

Alledgely the HuaiSheng Mosque in Canton was founded by a succesful

Arabic Trader, who is supposed to have been an Uncle to the Prophet

Mohammad. There are however reasons to doubt this claim.

The HuaiSheng Mosque today is the Cultural Center of the over 5000 strong

Muslim Community of Guangzhou. It feautures an impressive 25 Meter high

Minaret.

2) QingJing Mosque, also know as Shengyou Mosque or Masjid Al-Ashab

in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, constructed during the Song Dynasty. The

Shengyou Mosque was originally constructed in black and white marble, a

copy of an original Mosque in the (As)Syrian City of Damascus.

During the Song Dynasty the City of Quanzhou was an important trading

harbor and part of the Maritime Silk Road. At this time the city already

counted over 500.000 citizens, among them many Muslim Traders who hadbeen settling in the City since the 7Th Century AD. Testament to this early

Islamic Presence are mainly the Yisalanjiao Sheng Mu - or Islamic Holy

Graves, built on the Ling Shan, the mountain of spirits found at the Eastern

Side of Quanzhou City. The Yisalangjiao Sheng Mu are the resting places of

early Islamic Missionaries of the 7Th Century. Constructed much later in

the year 1009 AD, is the Shengyou Mosque.

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Shengyou Mosque today functions as the Museum QingJing Si, Temple of

Peace and Clarity. A small exhibit inside the Mosque with english language

descriptions gives an overview and backgrounds to the life of the once

very large Muslim Community of the City.

3) Xianhe Mosque in Yangzhou,some 70 Kilometers outside of Nanjing, the

Capital of Jiangsu Province. The Xianhe Mosque was first constructedduring the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 AD - 1279 AD). During the years of

the Yuan Dynasty Yangzhou was the home of Marco Polo, where he was

the Major of the City for several years. It is very likely, although not

recorded, that at the time Marco Polo could have visited the Mosque.

Regardless of its ancient history and

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In the period of the decline and succeeding demise of the Ming Dynasty during the 17Th Century, the Western Territories were once more lost from

Control. Due to a lack of Central Authority, local tribes were thrown back

upon their own centuries old habits and the region saw a fragmentation

into several tribal area's. Some parts of the West, in Gansu Province and

Xinjiang AR were annexed by Mongol Tribes.

The Ching Dynasty consisting of Members of the Manchu Tribes of North-

Eastern China first rose to power in Beijing. After a remarkably short period

of consolidation of Empire, the Ching would set to work re-establishing the

Old Borders of the Ming Empire. Before the 17Th Century was out the

Islamic Tribes and Regions of the West would be subjected to a bloodywar, ending with the Ching Dynasty re-asserting control over what would

henceforth be named Xin Jiang, the New Territories.

Silk Road would dock for trading with the Tang Empire, hence the choice of

location. This original Mosque, known as the Memorial Mosque has long

since disappeared although Today's City Mosque is regarded as the

historic continuance of this Mosque.

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Not many years later another Mosque was opened in the Tang Capital of

Chang 'An. This Mosque, known as the Great Mosque of Xi'An, was

originally founded in the year 742 AD, during the flourishing period of the

Tang Dynasty under the Reign of Emperor Tang Xuanzong (712 AD - 756

AD). The Tang Emperor respected the teachings of Islam and considered it

to be compatible with the teachings of Confucius. Thus it was allowed toSa`ad ibn Abi Waqqas to preach Islam, but only among his own people

(ethnic group).

Today, a mosque still stands on this spot although the current structure

was built in the 14Th Century AD and the Yuan Dynasty. The Mosque was

intended to serve as the religious administrative and cultural center of the

Muslim Community of Chang 'An, at the Time mainly influential Persian and

Arabian Traders

Asia Report - Maps - Distribution Islamic Faith Asia, Africa , Europe

- Click Map to view Version and further Information on Locations.

Muslim Traders sailing on the emerging Maritime

After 1219 AD the Nomadic Tribes of Mongolia united under the Leadership

of Genghis Khan and his Sons started their Rise of power in Asia.

Originating from Mongolia and the regions around Lake Baikal, powerful

Mongol Armies swept South- and West repeatedly, conquering more and

more territory from the Song Dynasty, and from the Nomadic and Settled

Peoples of the West.

Among the Peoples of the West were the Western Xia who first had their

Capital at Yinchuan in Ningxia, and further West the Karakitai Khanate

which since the fall of the Tang had become unified and had become an

Islamic State by about the year 960 AD. In the melting pot of this nomad

Empire the Hui Hu were gradually mixed with other nomadic tribes as well

as with a new influx of Tribes of Turkmenic Descent. Its populationenlarged and grew into the Uighur ethnicity with a culture of its own. By

then Karakitai Khanate extended as far as Yutien (now Hetien or Hotan) in

Xinjiang AR South-East of Kashgar and extended its Trade and influence

further West to Qiemo (Cherchen or Qarqan) and Charkliq or Chakliq

(Ruoqiang) in the Western Tarim River Basin (along the South Route of the

Silk Road in the Taklamakan Desert). It was an influential culture.

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The Western Xia Tribes (Tangut) were subdued by the Mongol Armies in

1237 AD, however the Hui Hu people and the Khanate surrendered and

joined as Allies of the Mongols in the war on the Song of China.

During the subsequent advance on the remnants of Song China, the Hui Hu

and befriended Muslim Tribes, Arabs and Persians aided the Growing

Mongol Empire by organizing themselves as a large Western Army,stabilizing the Western Regions and facilitating the attacks of the Mongol 

Armies against the Song as well as a number of Southern Tribes.

During the Yuan Dynasty (1206 - 1368 AD) the Islamic Tribes and Peoples

of China were included in the Mongol Khanate of Cathay. Due to their

strong support in creating the new Mongol Empire, Islam and Muslims

gained a highly respected status. The Islamic Religion was integrated with

the other cultures in the Class System of this vast world Empire and the

Hui Hui, as Muslim People were socially accepted as the 2nd class of

citizens, after the Mongol Ethnicity. Among the rights granted to theMuslims were lower taxes and the right to participate in the Imperial

Examination System and thus through officialdom in the hierarchy of the

Empire gain influence in Political Affairs. Later integration would reach

even further.

cultural relevance the Xianhe Mosque of Yangzhou is not listed in major

travel guides and the rich Islamic History of the City has so far has been

ignored by tourists. Information on it is hard to find. More emphasis is put

on Yangzhou's Culture of High Quality Craftsmenship, Folk Art and the

historic Grand Canal on which Yangzhou was a major City during the Tang

Dynasty and Song Dynasty Era's (The Grand Canal was THE major South to

North pathway for internal trade. It was constructed during the Tang

Dynasty, further developped by the Song Dynasty, and finally modernized

and expanded to reach Beijing on orders of the Yongle Emperor of the

Ming Dynasty. The Canal was one of the major reasons for the Islamic

Presence).

4) Fenghuang Mosque in Hangzhou, Jiangsu Province, constructed during

the Yuan Dynasty and the Mongol Empire. The name of the Fenhuang

Mosque translates as Temple (Mosque) of the Feniks, which is appropriate

for its turbulent history. Originally the site of a Mosque constructed for

Arabic and Persian traders who travelled through Hangzhou and the Lakes

of Zhejiang via the Maritime Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty Golden Era,

the Mosque was destroyed and rebuilt several times in history due to

ethnic/religious and other conflicts. One of the latest destructions dates

from the early 19Th Century esotherical-christian Taiping Rebellion and the

Mosque was recently rebuilt and re-opened in 1984 AD (under the Political

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Leadership of Deng Xiaoping). The Fenghuang Mosque treasures a large

collection of ancient arabic inscriptions.

As can be deduced from the locations of these 4 remaining Mosques, the

majority of Muslim Communities

were formed at Harbors and in important trading cities. The especially

important role of the Maritime Routes lead to a concentration in Cities inthe South of China, in Coastal Area's and near the economically vital Grand

Canal.

close-knit community of the Hui Muslim Ethnic Minority, have been been

included in the UNESCO listing as a World Cultural Heritage Site of Islamic

Culture. Treasures of the Mosque include Caligraphy works by Mi Si dating

from the Song Dynasty and a Hall of Stele Tablets with Steles dating from

the Ming and Ching Dynasties with inscriptions in the Chinese, Arabic and

Persian Languages and more.

During the Ming Dynasty Islam in China saw a Golden Age due to a large

tolerancy for Minorities and the Islamic Faith by Han Officials and Empire.

In the Ming Period China's Muslims fully integrated into Han society by

adopting their Chinese Names and main Han customs and Cultural Aspects

while retaining their Islamic mode of dress and dietary restrictions.

With yet another large scale war sweeping China, changing the the Yuan

Dynasty for the Ming Dynasty more armies marched across the land.

Among them once again the Muslim Armies of the Hui Hui.

This Time around ..

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) had the first written record of ChineseMuslims performing the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, Islam's holiest city.

Some historians believe the famous Chinese Muslim mariner and diplomat

Zheng He (1371-1433) performed the Hajj during his voyage to Arabia.

During the Ming Dynasty the Qadi System proved no longer effective to

deal with the by then innumerous numbers of Muslims. The system was

therefor replaced by the system of "Triple Party Administration". In this

triple party there was no longer just one Qadi Imperial Court Officer in

charge of every aspect of Muslim Life, but an administrative unit composedof the Imam, the Khatib and the Mu'adhdhin. These three together could

handle the day to day affairs of the large Muslim Communities that

appeared during the Ming Dynasty. The "Triple Party Administration" of

Muslim Communities is a strictly Chinese invention and is not found in

other regions of the world.

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Pages of a 13Th-Century Koran Photographic Print

Garrett, Kenneth

Marco Polo - The True Story, a remarkable documentary revealing the likely

truth about Marco Polo's epic Journey and adventure !

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Sound Bonus: Kitaro - Journey beyond the Horizon (Silk Road Suite).

The Mongol Yuan Dynasty saw an unprecendented rise in the Muslim

Population for various reasons.

First of all there was a huge influx of muslim soldiers through the invasions

of the United Western Army against the Song during the years of the

establishment of the Yuan Dynasty. Afterwards soldiers, who had come

unmarried or at least without their wives settled in the fertile lands where

they found themselves. Many settled in the newly conquered Western lands

know part of Xinjiang Autonomous Region and Gansu Province of China,

other settled elsewhere East across the Yellow River (Ningxia and Shaanxi)

and along vital roads and communication lines, towns and villages of the

countryside, and even in the South across the Yangtse River. Muslims were

found anywhere a large troop of Muslim Soldiers of the (United) Western

Army (The Chi Ma Tan Jun) was stationed.

Secondly, due to their high social status in the Yuan Era it was not difficult

for Muslim Soldiers to inter-marry and start families. Where MuslimSoldiers settled the generations of offspring multiplied, especially under

encouragement of the Yuan Imperial Administration to settle down and

adopt methods of agriculture.

Thirdly, in the same manners as they did during the Tang and Song

Dynasty Era's, due to inter-marriage and by accepting household slaves

into the family who would then henceforth carry a Muslim name,

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households increased. Thus, the settled Muslim peoples multiplied on the

fertile land.

And fourth, as mentioned above, the religion of Islam was encouraged by

the Yuan Dynasty Rulers. After the Empire of the Mongols had been

stabilized, the Yuan Dynasty established and the dust settled the barriers

between the West and the East had been removed. Thus many CentralAsians were able to move Eastward into China and Mongolia. In the

process they carried forth their Faith of Islam and many were converted.

Islam was spread and more joined the Faith. Even some Mongol Tribes

accepted Islam as their Faith.

China Report - Map o/t Taklamakan Desert & Tarim River Basin

A Satellite Image Map of the entire Taklamakan Desert and the Tarim River

Basin in Xinjiang-Autonomous Region of Western China.

Map gives explanation and backgrounds to Local Geography, the Flow of

the Tarim River from the Pamir Mountains in the West to Lop Nur (Dry) inthe East, ancient Oasis Cities of the Tarim Basin and Taklamakan Desert,

the North and South Routes of the Silk Road in this Area, Past and Current

Climate and Historic Backgrounds.

People Visiting Shrine of Hazrat Ali (Blue Mosque), Mazar-E Sharif, Afghanistan Photographic PrintVictor, Stephane

The Friday Mosque (Masjet-E Jam), Herat, Afghanistan Photographic PrintSweeney, Jane

Buy at AllPosters.com

Detail of Tilework on the Friday Mosque or Masjet-Ejam, Herat, Afghanistan Photographic PrintSweeney, JaneBuy at AllPosters.com

Islamic Ethnic Minorities in China :

Whereas during other Dynasties religious tolerance and a certain degree of

equality between the many Ethnic Groups in the Nation had benifitted the

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Muslim Ethnic Groups and Tribes, the Ching Dynasty would turn out to be

dark age for the Islamic Communities of China. The Main Regions involved

were the current day Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region which at the Time

was mainly populated by the Hui Hui (Dzungar or Oirat) Ethnic Group, and

connected parts of Western Gansu Province,North-Eastern Gansu

Province, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and as a last large Parts ofShaanxi Province.

Responsible for the conquering of the West in the Ching Dynasty Era were

the succesful first 3 Emperors: Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong (see

History of the Ching Dynasty). The latter of these three completed the task

of shaping the Chinese Territory that (roughly) remains today as the

Peoples Republic of China.

As mentioned above, the whole situation arose from the Demise of the

Ming Powers and the loss of Central Chinese Control over the WesternRegions.

Left to themselves, the local Tribes were thrown back upon their own

cultural identities, fragmenting the territories into Mongolian (Buddhist /

Shamanist) and Muslim Tribal Area's. Furthermore, the implosion of the

Ming Chinese Empire left a power-vacuum on the borders of the Nation

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All the above was a result of the positive environment enjoyed by Muslims.

At first there was the system of Jun Hu, in which militarized households

(Jun Hu) were favored by land allocations and tax exempts. Many Muslim

Families were thus stimulated.

Other favorable treatments and integration policies used by the Yuan were

the allocations of wastelands for cultivation or animal grazing, tax

exemptions on land trade and more.

Later Muslims who passed the Imperial Examinations held high positions,there was significant social and scientific progress, the Muslims integrated

in all layers of society, many new mosques were constructed in the Yuan

Dynasty Era and the Muslims of Tribes eventually amalgamated into the

Nation of Hui Hui's, the Muslims of China. Among them were the Uygurs,

those of turkmenic descent.

(Other Ethnic groups and Religions enjoyed similar favorable conditions)

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Most notably, the Yuan Dynasty was appreciative of the scientific talents of

the Hui Huis who derived their scientific foundation from advanced Arabian

and Persian traditions of mathematics, navigation, astronomy among

things. Accordingly Muslim Scientists were promoted to important

scientific positions within the Yuan Dynasty Imperial System and special

departments were established to deal with certain works.For example Guang Hui Si (department of wide welfare) was in charge of

the Hui Huis' medicine; Hui Hui Guo Zi Jian (the Imperial College of the Hui

Huis) was for training translators; and Hui Hui Si Tian Jian (astronomy

department of the

A Schematic Map of the Eurasian Trade Routes existing in the 13Th

Century (Yuan Dynasty).

Clearly depicted on the Map are the land-bound trading routes through

Central Asia known as the Silk Road (the path of Marco Polo and others)

and the Maritime Trade Routes that operated between the Arabian

Peninsula, the Indian Ocean and Coastal Cities, the Straights of Malacca

and South-China Sea's. As shown Maritime Trade to China mainly entered

through Southern Harbors, then was distributed internally by use of the

Grand Canal, the Yangzte River and the Yellow River.

- CLICK MAP TO GO TO FULL VERSION -

Hui Huis) which was in charge of the management and study of the Hui

Huis' astronomy and calendar system. Many Hui Hui experts like

astronomer Jamal al-Din and Kamal al-Din, artillery-making expert 'Ala' al-

Din and Isma'il, architect Ihteer al-Din, medical scientist Dalima, and

linguist Haluddin were placed in various institutions established by the

imperial court.

To deal with the growing affairs of Muslims in China, now amalgamated

into the Hui Hui people, the Yuan Dynasty set up the system of Qadi. The

Qadi first of all, was an official appointed by the Imperial System and thus

strictly under its influence. On the other hand the Qadi was also the Head

Preacher, Social leader and Civil and Penal Court Judge dealing

exclusively with the legal matters of Muslim Citizens. In this way the Hui

Hui were ruled by their own in ordinary every day affairs and enjoyed some

freedoms from the Imperial Rulings. Needless to say, the function of Qadi

was a very powerful one and the Qadi enjoyed high social status,

especially among their social groups. In the Yuan Era the Mosque grew into

the center of the Muslim Communities in China with the preachers under

strict control of the Imperial Administration.

At the end of the Yuan Dynasty the Qadi system was abolished in favor of

Jiao Fang, a more loose system in which one organization coordinated the

complicated affairs of the Muslims, not only in religious or legal matters,

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but also tending to education, the organization of festivals etc. Muslim

activities once more centered around the Mosque.

The Famous Historic Mosques remaining from this Era in China are : Zheng

Jiao Mosque in Hangzhou, Song Jiang Mosque in Shanghai, Nan Cheng

Mosque and Yong Nian Mosque both in Kunming, Yunnan Province, Qing

Zhen Mosque in Fuzhou in Fujian Province, Zhen Jiao Mosque in Qinzhouand the Great Southern Mosque in Jinan both in Shandong Province, the

Hua Jue (Great) Mosque of Xi'An in Shaanxi Province, Jing Jue Mosque in

Nanjing, Zhejiang Province, and the Niu Jie (Ox Street) Mosque and Dong

Si Mosque of Beijing.

The High Positions of Muslims, there social importance and the large

growth in numbers of Muslims during the Yuan Dynasty layed the

foundation for a future important role of Islam in China.

- History of Islam in China- First Period of the Spread of Islam in China- Second Period of the Spread of Islam in China- Third Period of the Spread of Islam in China- The Ching Dynasty and Islam- History of Islam in China (6) Islam under The Peoples Republic 1949 AD -Present- Famous Muslims in Chinese History- Islamic Ethnic Minorities in China Today

The second important group are the Hui. The Hui are of Arab and Persiandescent and are spread all over China. The Hui are nationally the most

found Islamic Ethnic group. The population of Hui is around 8.6 million

strong. Main concentrations can be found in Ningxia (Hui) Province, in

Qinghai and Gansu Provinces, Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region,

Shaanxi Province (Xi'An), Shandong Province, Hebei, Inner Mongolia AR 

and Yunnan Province.

After these main Islamic Ethnic Groups follow no less than 8 other groups

found in China.

The others are: The Kazakhs, the Khalkhas, the Uzbeks -found in Urumqi,Yining, Tacheng and Kashgar-, Tajiks living in the Pamir Mountains

(Tashkurkan Tajik Autonomous County) near Kashgar and The Tatars, the

latter of whom only number 5 to 6000 souls found in the Grasslands of

Western Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region, the Salas of mixed

Turkmenic and Tibetan descent some 900.000 of whom live in their own

autonomous prefecture in Qinghai Province, the Dongxiang of Linxia

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Prefecture in south-west Gansu Province and last the small group of

remaining Bao'An People. The Bao'An are also known as Bao'An Huis, to

designate their Muslim Faith, however they are a seperate ethnic group

with their own language, albeit no written version of it. All Bao'An, some

15.000 in number live in Jishishan in County of Linxia Prefecture in Gansu

Province where they live from farming and knife-making among things.

Emin Minaret (Emin Ta) Also Known as Sugongta, Turpan, China Photographic PrintWright, Alison

China Ethno-Linguistic Map / Map distribution of Languages in China !

All Language Area's in China in 1960 AD, giving a fair idea of the ethnic

minority communities dotting the provinces and autonomous regions of

The Peoples Republic of China.

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The greater majority of Chinese Muslims, if not all, fall under the Sunni

definition of Islam, its culture and its beliefs although especially the

Dongxiang practice aspects of Sufism and some sects have adopted

aspects of Buddhism as well.