Han Kitab
Collection of Chinese texts synthesizing Islam and Confucianism
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The Han Kitab (simplified Chinese: 汉克塔布; traditional Chinese: 漢克塔布; pinyin: Hàn kètǎbù; Arabic: هان کتاب) are a collection of Chinese Islamic texts, written by Chinese Muslims, which explains Islam through Confucian terminology. Its name reflects this utilization: Han is the Chinese word for Chinese and kitab means book in Arabic.[1][2] They were written in the early 18th century during the Qing dynasty by various Chinese Muslim authors. The Han Kitab were widely read and approved of by later Chinese Muslims such as Ma Qixi, Ma Fuxiang, and Hu Songshan.[3][4][5]
History
The origins of Han Kitab literature can be traced back to the establishment of the scripture hall education (jingtang jiaoyu) system created by scholar Hu Dengzhou in the 16th century. After studying abroad in the Islamic world for years, Hu returned to China and formed the educational system, which incorporated the use of authoritative Islamic texts and foreign language lessons mixed with Chinese.[6] Initially the Han Kitab was composed of Chinese translations of Sufi texts originally written in Persian. Around the mid-17th century, Chinese Muslim scholars began writing original texts that synthesized Islamic and Classical Chinese thought.[7] Within a few generations, the instructional system spread throughout China, and subsequent scholars began writing Islamic literature within a Chinese cultural context.[6]
21st century
In July 2023, the United Front Work Department's Central Institute of Socialism developed a plan to "meld Islam with Confucianism" using the Han Kitab texts as a guide.[8]
Authorship
Liu Zhi wrote his Han Kitab in Nanjing in the early 18th century.[9] The works of Wu Zunqie, Zhang Zhong, and Wang Daiyu were also included in the Han Kitab.[10]
References
- ^ Dillon (1999), p. 131.
- ^ Lipman (2004), p. 73.
- ^ Lipman (2004), pp. 176, 189–190, 221.
- ^ Wroldsen, Kim Jarle (2021). "Let Confucianism and Islam work together: bargaining for a distinct Muslim identity in local propaganda literature". Asian Ethnicity. 24 (2): 157–180. doi:10.1080/14631369.2021.2007754. ISSN 1463-1369. S2CID 244676304.
- ^ Lai, Qing (2020-03-14). "The Making of Sino Muslim Identity: Han Kitab in the Chinese Xidaotang". Chinese Sociological Review. 52 (2): 167–198. doi:10.1080/21620555.2019.1636218. ISSN 2162-0555. S2CID 201451729.
- ^ a b Petersen, Kristian (2021-07-27). "The Rich History of China's Islam". New Lines Magazine. Archived from the original on 2022-03-24. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
- ^ Benite, Zvi Ben-Dor (2000-01-01), "Follow the white camel: Islam in China to 1800", The New Cambridge History of Islam, Cambridge University Press, pp. 409–426, doi:10.1017/chol9780521850315.013, ISBN 9781139056137
- ^ "Among Uyghurs, China aims to 'meld Islam with Confucianism'". Radio Free Asia. September 14, 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-09-15. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
- ^ Lipman (2004), p. 226.
- ^ Lipman (2004), p. 79.
Bibliography
- Dillon, Michael (1999). China's Muslim Hui community: migration, settlement and sects. Richmond: Curzon Press. ISBN 0-7007-1026-4. Archived from the original on 2023-09-16. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
- Lipman, Jonathan Neaman (2004). Familiar strangers: a history of Muslims in Northwest China. Seattle: University of Washington Press. ISBN 0-295-97644-6. Archived from the original on 2023-09-16. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
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