Chinese Muslim Ethnic Groups

Islam has survived in China for over 1300 years. Islam was first brought to China by an envoy sent by the third Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan. One of the first Muslim settlements in China was established in Canton. At this city, the emperor Yung Wei ordered the establishment of China's first mosque. Today, according to the CIA World Factbook, about 1%-2% of the total population in China are Muslims(estimated at 200 million). The highest concentrations of their settlement are found in the northwest provinces of Xinjiang, Gansu, and Ningxia, with significant populations also found in Yunnan province and Henan Province. There are eleven ethnic groups are predominately Muslim. They are Hui people, Uyghur people, Kazak, Dongxiang people, Kyrgyz, Salar, Tajik, Uzbek, Bonan, Chinese Tatars, and Tibetan Muslims.

The Hui people are the third largest ethnic minority of the 56 ethnic minorities in China (9.8 million in year 2000 census, or 48% of the officially tabulated number of Muslims). They lived at Ningxia, Gansu, Shaanxi, Xinjiang province. They adopted Chinese culture and language. In their custom, marriage outside the Hui group is not encouraged. Also in their custom, before meals, they must wash their hands with fluid water. Hui people rely on agriculture.

The Uyghur people are a Turkic people of Central Asia. Mainly, they lived at the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regions. Kashgar in southern Xinjiang is the city with the most distinct Uyghur ethnic flavor.Before they converted Islam, the Uyghur people had believed in Shamanism, Manicheam, Jing, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism. In their custom, Circumcision is very important to a Uyghur boy. The ceremony is carried out when the boy is about 7 years old. Uyghur people are also renowned for their abilities in processing gold, gem, silk and leather goods.

The Kazak are another Turkic people in Central Asia. Many Kazak in China are not fluent in Standard Mandarin. The Kazaks have their own language and letters which are based on Arabic letters. China's Kazaks live in the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang. The Kazaks are a nomadic people, but since 1949 have begun to settle for at least part of the year. Most of the Kazak people engage in stockbreeding, agriculture and trade. Like an Iranian ethnic groups, the Kazak celebrate the Nawruz festival.

The Dongxiang people are closely related to the Mongolians. The Dongxiang believe in Islam, which itself is divided into three sects - the Old, the New and the Emerging sects. Most of the Dongxiang live in the Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture and surrounding areas of Gansu Province, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The most recent census found 513,000 Dongxiang people in China. The Dongxiang mainly rely on agriculture. Major festivals of Dongxiang include Korban Festival, Almsgiving Festival and Kaizhai Festival.

The Kyrgyz are also a Turkic people in Central Asia. The Kyrgyz people were nomads throughout much of their history. There are 143,500 Kyrgyz in China. They lived at Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The Kyrgyz has a tradition, to kidnapping the Bride. the Kyrgyz also celebrate the Nawruz festival.

The Salar lived at Qinghai, Gansu and Xinjiang Province. Most Salar people can also speak Chinese and Tibetan and use Chinese script. Their ancestor were the Samarkand people from Uzbekistan. Their villages were dominated by the mosques and the Muslim clergy. Like the Hui people, Salar women like to wear kerchiefs on their heads and black sleeveless jackets over clothes in striking red colors. They also suffered tremendously under religious strictures and feudal ethics in the past.

The Tajik people lived at Xinjiang region. The Tajik are Indo Iranian people. According to the 2003 census counted 40,900 Tajiks lived in Xinjiang. The Tajiks are semi-nomadic shepherds. The Tajiks follow the Ismaili Sect of Islam. They also worship eagles, the sun and fire in a small way. The Tajiks practice monogamy, although in Islam, polygamy is allowed.

There are small Uzbek population in China ( their number only 14.592). They lived at Xinjiang province. primarily in the city of Yining. They mainly engage in trade, education, science, and handcraft industries. The Uzbek people are the descendants of the Lite, Huacizi, Feiergan and Saha-Masagaite people. Like other Islamic peoples, the Uzbeks do not eat pork or drink alcohol. Uzbeks practice Islam; they are Sunni Hanafi Muslims.

The Bonan people lived at Gansu and Qinghai province. over 95 percent of the Bonan people live in Jishishan, along the banks of the Longwu River within the boundaries of Tongren County (Gansu province). They are descended of Muslim Mongol soldiers. The Bonan share many traditions with the Dongxiang and Hui. Their population are only sixteen thousand.

Tatars are a Turkic-speaking ethnic group. In China. There are about 4,890 Tatars, most of them live in Yining, Tacheng and Urumqi, Xinjiang region. Most of Tatars were occupied as merchants. They also keep close relationship with Uyghur and Kazak. Most of Tatars in cities belong to small monogamous families (like Tajiks), although in Islam, polygamy is allowed. Marriages between cousins occur but are uncommon.

Tibet had pockets of Muslims, although most Tibetans generally observe Tibetan Buddhism. They are the descendant of Kashmiri/Persian/Arab/Turkic people with Tibetan women. Most of the Tibetan Muslims are followers of the Sunni denomination. Most of them lived at Lhasa and Shigatse.