China's Hui Minority

Currently reading a book purchased in China’s Ningxia province on the country’s Hui minority, who are invariably Muslims.

As author Wang Zhengwei noted, unlike the Hans, Miaos and Qiangs, ethnic Huis are not indigenous to China. Yet, unlike ethnic Koreans or Khazaks, they do not hail from foreign lands. Rather, the community was formed through “the great binding force of the Islamic culture” (伊斯兰文化的巨大凝聚力) where Muslims from different countries and speaking different languages were brought together in China’s ethnic melting pot.

Huis are hardly distinguishable from the Hans in terms of language and in their names. They have adopted Chinese last names and Chinese as their native language. But some last names are somewhat more unique to the Huis, such as Na, Su, La, Ha, Ma, Hai, Sai and Shan. (纳，速，拉，哈，马，海，赛，闪). The only outward distinguishable feature is the Muslim attire that some Huis still don.

Many Huis still observe several aspects of Muslim culture and tradition, such as burying the dead (as opposed to cremation) quickly (within 3 days), abstaining from wine, blood, animals that had died of unnatural causes, and “unclean” animals such as pigs, dogs, donkeys and other ferocious animals. They do not worship plants, animals, or idols, nor do they believe in demons and spirits. After 1949, male Huis have been prohibited from marrying more than one woman.

Given China’s vast changes, Wang noted that the Huis have also been swept up in the changes. Those who are religious are mainly those living in the countryside or in Hui-dominated areas, and among the old and illiterate. Rapid urbanization has meant that many Huis have not been able to pray 5 times a day, nor do they manage to find time to visit mosques or participate in religious activities. Some Huis also drink and smoke.

Wang argued that the Chinese Communist Party has shown “respect and sensitivity” toward Hui culture and tradition as early as in 1936 when the Red Army passed through Ningxia and Gansu provinces. A directive was reportedly issued making it clear that “no troops should be based in mosques, consumption of pork is prohibited, destroying of ethnic Hui scriptures is prohibited, cleanliness should be observed, Hui culture and customs must be respected, and using of Hui utensils is disallowed.” (禁止驻扎清真寺，禁止吃大荤，禁止毁坏回文经典，讲究清洁，尊重回民的风俗习惯，不准乱用回民的器具) (王正伟 回族民俗学 宁夏人民出版社 2008)

On Hui customs, Wang wrote that when a Hui woman is pregnant, she is not allowed to attend weddings or funerals, or consume rabbit as it is believed that doing so would lead to the birth of a child with cleft palate. When a child is born, the first person to step into the delivery room should be a male who is smart, honest and brave if it is a baby boy, and a female who is gentle, kind and hardworking if it is a baby girl. Usually, boys will be circumcised when they are between 5 to 9 years old.

Wang noted that historically the Huis had sometimes been “politically persecuted” during which their aversion to pork was ridiculed.

“为了区分回民与汉民, 以是否吃猪肉来检验, 以至引起更多回民的反抗与斗争.” (“To distinguish between Huis and Hans, the consumption of pork became a litmus test. This had resulted in even more struggles and battles among the Huis.”)

At different periods during the Ming to Qing dynasties, the Imperial Court attempted to stop Huis from intermarrying, using their family names, and from staying together as a united community. Huis were forced to marry Hans and settle down in Han-dominated areas.

The more the Huis were persecuted, the more they struggled to maintain their distinctive identity.

During Kuomintang’s rule over China, some newspapers reportedly published untruths such as saying that pictures of pigs were displayed in mosques, and that pigs are the forefathers of the Huis. These had naturally led to strong anger and consternation among the Huis on a nationwide basis.

One of the most famous Huis in Chinese history is most certainly admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho) whose original name was Ma Sanbao. Wang wrote that Zheng’s family name was bestowed on him by the Emperor.