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Jan 1, 618
Silk Road Trade Route
During the Tang dynasty trade routes via land and sea were established which connected the Middle East with China. These routes not only allowed for trade in and out of China, but it left the door open as a gateway for Islamic culture to enter China. -
Jan 1, 651
Start of the Transition of Islam to China
Many historians mark 651 as the official transition of Islam to China. Colonies were established along trades routes where people began to settle and cultures began to intertwine. -
Jan 1, 751
Battle on the Samarkand Talus River
As Arab nations pushed east and Tang emperors pushed west, the two forces collided in a second battle. The Tang forces were successful in the first battle, but fell in the second. This gave the Arab nations more freedom to push into China and allow their culture and religion to swell. -
Jan 1, 1211
Mongol Rule in China
In 1211 Genghis Khan moved his Mongol army into China. Under Mongol rule, Muslims were classified as semu ren - the second highest ranking class of it's time. The semu ren received privileges that lower classes didn't enjoy, including the freedom to build their own places of worship. This was a prosperous time for Muslims in China -
1274
Muslim Governor Appointed
Under Mongol rule, the Muslims were highly regarded and trusted. in 1274 a Muslim governor from Bukhara was appointed governor of the Yunnan Province. This was an important piece of history as it provided a space in the government for a Muslim. -
Jan 1, 1368
Muslims During the Ming Dynasty
Muslim people flourished during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). They started to feel a sense of permanence and transitioned from being "Muslims in China" to "Chinese Muslims": the Hui. Under the Ming dynasty, Islamic philosophy began to take shape as well. -
Jan 1, 1522
Hu Dengzhou is Born
Hu Dengzhou played an important role in Islamic education in China. Born in Xianyang, he taught Islam privately in his home. He later helped to develop larger forms of education including the construction of schools and the development of scholars. -
Sufism Comes to China
In 1674 a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, Khawja Abdullah, arrives on the shores of China, spreading the knowledge of Sufism. The Sufi in China developed four major sects, each of which branched out into several sections. The addition of Sufi would continue the spread of Islam in China. -
The Yunnan Rebellion
Muslim rebels revolted as a result of feeling as if they were victims of injustice due to the differences in religion and way of life. Many Muslims were murdered during the revolt as a large army was assembled to fend off government soldiers. The revolt lasted 18 years. -
Islamic Schools Began to Spring Up
The turn of the 20th century began another flourishing point for Muslims in China. The new cultural renaissance brought new schools of study to China. 1906 marked the opening of the Muyuan School, with many new ones to follow in the coming years. These schools were imperative to the growing Islamic culture as the presented a place for people to study the Islamic culture. -
The First Qur'an Translation to Chinese
In 1932 Wang Jinzhai's The Quran Chinese Translation was published. This was a big advancement of Islam in China as it opened the door for not only more copies of Qur'an translation, but for other Arabic works to be published as well. -
Start of Religious Reform in China
Prior to the reform, many religions were forced to say underground. During the reform years, starting in 1978, many religious freedoms were granted. Including the ability to freely study and practice Islam. This was a huge step in spreading Islam in China, having a major affect on Islam in China as we know it today. As of the year 2000, there was an estimated 20+ million Muslims in China.
