Between the Sacred and the Secular: Living Islam in China

Abstract

Islam arrived in China with Arab and Persian caravans and travellers in the seventh century. As a gesture of hospitality, Tang Emperors granted the construction of great mosques. As more Muslims began to settle in China, small communities (fanfang) formed, centering on these mosques. These communities were given a great deal of autonomy to deal with internal affairs according to their own laws, while conflicts that involved non-Muslims were subject to Chinese secular law. This tolerance enabled Islam to adapt to the dominant Confucian social order. Although the scope of such religious autonomy has become limited, Islamic law is still important within Chinese Muslim communities. This paper recounts the history of the changing status of Shari’a law in China. It briefly examines scholarly writings that used Confucian ritual etiquette and social structure to understand Islamic teachings. Finally, the author draws on her own empirical studies to explore how China’s Muslim minorities have thrived in a non-Muslim society.