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Islam during the Ming Dynasty
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Muslims continued to flourish in China during the Ming Dynasty. During Ming rule, the capital, Nanjing, was a center of Islamic learning. It is during this time that Muslims truly adopted Chinese culture. Most became fluent in Chinese and adopted Chinese names. As a result the Muslims became "outwardly indistinguishable" from the Chinese.[1]
Mosques in Nanjing are noted in two inscriptions from the sixteenth century.
Immigration slowed down drastically however, and the Muslims in China became increasingly isolated from the rest of the Islamic world, gradually becoming more sinicized, adopting the Chinese language and Chinese dress. During this period, Muslims also began to adopt Chinese surnames. One of the more popular Muslim family names is Ma (馬), a shortened form of Muhammad.
The Ming dynasty saw the rapid decline in the muslim population in the sea ports. This was due to the closing of all seaport trade with the outside world. However it also saw the appointment of Muslim military generals such as Mu Ying and Chang Yuchun who campaigned in Yunnan and central Shandong. These two areas became leading centers of islamic learning in China.
The emperor Zhu Yuanzhang was the founder of the Ming Dynasty. Six of his most trusted commander wher Muslims
- Chang Yuchun
- Hu Dahai
- Mu ying
- Lan Yu
- Feng Sheng
- Ding Dexing
All of the Commanders were Wushu masters[citation needed] .. See Muslim Chinese Martial Arts
The Ming dynasty also gave rise to the famous admiral Zheng He.
Muslims became fully integrated into Chinese society. One interesting example of this synthesis was the process by which Muslims changed their names.
Many Muslims married Han Chinese women and simply took the name of the wife. But others took the Chinese surname of Mo, Mai, and Mu - names adopted by the Muslims who had the surnames Muhammad, Mustafa and Masoud.
Some Muslims, who could not find a Chinese surname similar to their own, adopted the Chinese character most similar to their own - Ha for Hasan, Hu for Hussain and Sa'I for Said and so on.
In addition to names, Muslim customs of dress and food also underwent a synthesis with Chinese culture.
The Islamic modes of dress and dietary rules were maintained within a Chinese cultural framework. In time, the Muslims began to speak local dialects and to read in Chinese.
- ^ Israeli(2002), pg. 292