Observation on the Development and Spread of Islam and Muslim in China under Tang, Song, and Yuan Dynasties (618-1368): A Chinese View
Open AccessIntroductionIslam has become a sensitive word in the Western world. Many people associate Islam and Muslims with negative ideas such as extremism, terrorism, and discrimination against women. Similarly, Muslims are not fully respected or socially recognized in the Western world, and many Muslims experience discrimination. However, if you go to the northwest or southwest of China, you will find an Islam that is completely different from descriptions in the Western media. In the northwest and southwest of China, where Chinese Muslims live rather densely, Muslims have their own autonomous region. Under the unified leadership of the Chinese government, the autonomous region has established its own governing departments that correspond to areas in which different ethnic minorities live. In these areas, Muslims are allowed to exercise their own rights and manage their own internal affairs. In addition, the autonomous region enjoys rights under the Constitution, the National Regional Autonomy Law, and other laws that stipulate the region’s autonomy. These laws give the Hui (Chinese Muslims) freedom to a certain extent. Moreover, in the Hui community, it is not uncommon to see people of Muslim and Han ethnic groups coexisting and living peacefully together. Western media has always failed to understand Islam as found in China. Western reporters – and even Western scholars – are unable to examine why Islam is so moderate in China and why Chinese Islam has not experienced extremism. This thesis will address this lack of understanding from the Chinese perspective. I will trace the development and spread of Islam in China in order to demonstrate to the media and the Western world that it is time to end their prejudice against Islam and Muslims. Just as in the old Chinese saying, "guo he wan dou nan mian kekepengpeng” (Pots and bowls inevitably bump into each other), some tensions are to be expected when a new religion enters a strange country. Although the development of Islam in China experienced some friction, it has, for the most part, been peaceful. The thesis will be based on an account of the spread and development of Islam in China during the Tang (618-907), Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties. I chose the Tang Dynasty, the Song Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty because the early spread of Islam in China occurred during these three dynasties. The foundation of Islamic societies in China in this period allowed for the peaceful development of the Hui people in China today. On this point, Dillon argues that, “The golden millennium of Chinese Islam began in 651 AD, the year that Islam was introduced to China by the Muslims and ended in 1644 when the Ming dynasty was replaced by the Ch’ing. During these 993 years, China was ruled by Tang (618-906), Song (960-1279), Yuan (1279-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties.”[ Dillon Michael, Islam in China: Key Papers (Folkstone: Global Oriental), P132] I hope that by reading this thesis, people can better understand Islam and Muslims. It is my intention to demonstrate how Islam has developed peacefully in China and, further, how Islam can develop peacefully in the Western world.
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