Monday, August 27, 2007
Islam in China
History of Islam in China
History
Tang Dynasty
Song Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
Islam in China (1911-present)
Architecture
Chinese mosques
Niujie Mosque
Major figures
Lan Yu • Hui Liangyu • Zheng He • Ma Bufang
Haji Noor
People Groups
Hui • Salar • Uygur
Kazakhs • Kyrgyz • Tatars • Bonan
Uzbeks • Tibetans • Dongxiang
Bao’an • Tajiks • Utsul
Islamic Cities/Regions
Linxia • Xinjiang
Ningxia • Kashgar
Culture
Islamic Association of China
Cuisine • Calligraphy • Martial arts
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Spreading Islam in Southeast Asia
Indonesian religious leader and Islamic scholar Hamka (1908–1981) wrote in 1961: "The development of Islam in Indonesia and Malaya is intimately related to a Chinese Muslim, Admiral Zheng He.” In Malacca, Zheng He built granaries, warehouses and a stockade, and most probably he left behind many of his Muslim crews. Much of the information on Zheng He's voyages was compiled by Ma Huan, also Muslim, who accompanied Zheng He on several of his inspection tours and served as his chronicler / interpreter. In his book ‘The Overall Survey of the Ocean Shores’, written in 1416, Ma Huan gave very detailed accounts of his observations of the peoples' customs and lives in ports they visited.
Zheng He had many Muslim Eunuchs as his companions. At the time when his fleet first arrived in Malacca, there were already Chinese of the 'Muslim' faith living there. Ma Huan talks about them as tangren (Chinese: 唐人) who were Muslim. At places they went, they frequented mosques, actively propagated the Islamic faith, established Chinese Muslim communities and built mosques.
Indonesian scholar Slamet Muljana writes: "Zheng He built Chinese Muslim communities first in Palembang, then in San Fa (West Kalimantan), subsequently he founded similar communities along the shores of Java, the Malay Peninsula and the Philippines. They propagated the Islamic faith according to the Hanafi school of thought and in Chinese language."
Li Tong Cai, in his book 'Indonesia – Legends and Facts', writes: "in 1430, Zheng He had already successfully established the foundations of the Hui religion Islam.
After Zheng He's death in 1433, Chinese naval expeditions were suspended.
When Malacca was successively colonized by the Portuguese, the Dutch, and later the British, Chinese were discouraged from converting to Islam. Many of the Chinese Muslim mosques became San Bao Chinese temples commemorating Zheng He. After a lapse of 600 years, the influence of Chinese Muslims in Malacca declined to almost nil. In many ways, Zheng He can be considered a major founder of the present community of Chinese Indonesians.
When Parameswara spotted Malacca (Melaka)
During the 15th century voyages of the treasure fleet, it is also the rise of Melaka, the Malay name for Malacca. This period is often considered the start of Malaysia’s recorded history, for Malacca is one of the earliest city-states in the Malay Peninsula.
As the city sits at the mouth of the Malacca River and thus possesses a natural harbour, this made Parameswara decide that Malacca would be the seat of his new capital.
Over time, Malacca soon grew into an emporium, a marketplace where commodities such as spices and textiles from all over Southeast Asia could be exchanged for goods from China, India, Persia and the Mediterranean.(Indirect trade) The people became rich from trading.
Soon, the city came to be known throughout the Ocean and beyond for its amazing commercial wealth. It raised the interest of many big kingdoms, all of which coveted Malacca’s rising influence.
Link: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0b/80LangMap002.jpg
GEOGRAPHY OF MALACCA:
The state of Malacca covers an area of 1,650-sq. km. or 1.3 percent of the whole area of Malaysia. The state is divided into 3 districts, that is Central Melaka (314 km [square]), Alor Gajah (660 km [square]), and Jasin (676 km [suqare]).
Malacca is located on the southwestern coast of Malay Peninsula opposite Sumatra, with the state of Negeri Sembilan to the north and Johor to the east. Malacca is also situated roughly two-thirds of the way down the West coast, 148 km south of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia and 245 km north of Singapore and commanding a central position on the Straits of Malacca. The state capital Malacca Town is strategically located between the two national capitals (of Malaysia and Singapore respectively) and is linked with excellent roads and highways. Malacca itself is yet to have its own train station, though the terminal at Tampin, Negeri Sembilan is easily accessible. It has a domestic airport terminal located in Batu Berendam.
The offshore Pulau Besar (Malacca) is also part of Malacca.
(An example of an agate; a type of quartz, characterized by its fineness of grain and brightness of colour.)
Zheng He's Tomb http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/dc/Zheng_He%27s_tomb%2C_Nanjing.jpg
Zheng He is arguably China's most famous navigator. Starting from the beginning of the 15th Century, he traveled to the West seven times. For 28 years, he traveled more than 50,000km and visited over 30 countries, including Singapore. Zheng He's tomb in Nanjing has been repaired and a small museum has been built next to it. But, Zheng He's body is not here as he was buried at sea off the Malabar coast near Calicut in Western India. However, his sword and other personal possessions were interred in the typical Muslim tomb inscribed with Arabic characters.
At the entrance to the tomb is a Ming-style structure, which houses the memorial hall. Inside are paintings of Zheng He himself and his navigation maps. To get to the tomb, there are newly laid stone platforms and steps. The stairway consists of 28 stone steps divided into four sections with each section having seven steps. This represents Zheng He's seven journeys to the West. The Arabic words inscribed on top of the tomb means "Allah (God) is great”.
Zheng He constructed many wooden ships, some of which are the largest in the history, in Nanjing. Three of the shipyards still exist today.
2/3 oz silver commemorative coin of Zheng He
Zheng He’s Museum
Direct descendant of Wenming, Zheng He's elder brother, next to Zheng He's statue
From: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5a/Statue_of_Zheng_He_with_great_great_grandnephew.jpg
The museum built in honour of Zheng He. This small museum is built next to Zheng He’s tomb in Nanjing.
Zheng He and Singapore
Singapore’s place in the voyages of Zheng He’s fleet is slightly enigmatic. It is the only country in Southeast Asia with a Chinese majority. It lies at the very tip of the Malay Peninsula, and the treasure fleet certainly would have had to pass by from the South Malacca it stop at on one seven voyages?
While there is no documentation to suggest that Zheng He’s fleet actually landed in Singapore, there is a wealth of archaeological evidence from the island republic to confirm that it has been inhabited from at least the early 14th century. Excavations at Fort Canning hill have turned up ancient brick ruins and Chinese porcelain from the first half of the 14th century. The finds corroborate Malay legends that speak of an old palace atop the hill.
Excavations at Empress Place, close to the Asian Civilizations Museum, revealed yet more evidence of Singapore’s history. Chinese porcelain that dates back from the late 13th to the mid-15th centuries was found.
Places of Interest in Singapore – a mere red dot in the World Map
Boat Quay and Clarke Quay
Along Boat Quay and Clarke Quay, restored shophouses and godowns stand testimony to the hustle and bustle of early traders who flocked to the free port of Singapore to sell their goods.
the hustle and bustle still continues today, but in the form of tourists who flocked around and throng the restaurants and dining places nearby in order to catch a glimpse of the wonderful sights of Clarke Quay and Boat Quay at night.
Chinatown
Singapore's Chinatown evolved around 1821 when the first Chinese junk arrived from Xiamen, Fujian province in China. The passengers, all men, set up home around the south of the Singapore River which is known today as Telok Ayer. Chinatown’s local name – “Niu Che Shui” (Bullock Cart Water) arose from the fact each household at that time had to collect fresh water from the wells in Ann Siang Hill and Spring Street, using bullock-drawn carts.
But today, the best way to appreciate Chinatown is to spend three or four hours simply wandering about or sitting in the many coffee shops and hawker centers available to watch the busy street life and admire the traditional shop house architecture.
Other places of interest in Singapore
-Arab street and Kampong Glam (a mini “village” indicating Singapore’s past villagers’ lifestyle) you can go:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampong_Glam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Street
- Little India (another small “village” like the Kampong Glam, but its focus is on the Indians in Singapore; how they live, communicate with people of different religion in Singapore) You can go:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_India,_Singapore
as told by us;
12:29 AM