Hui (Chinese-speaking) Muslims in China by Jing Xu

China’s Hui population, numbering around 10 million, is a unique ethnic group that practices Islam and is dispersed across various provinces such as Ningxia, Gansu, Xinjiang (also referred to by many as East Turkestan), Shanxi, Shaanxi, Yunan, Tibet, Hebei, and Inner Mongolia. Notably, this group also extends beyond China’s borders, with a presence in Central Asia, where they are known as Dungan. Despite their Islamic faith, the Hui predominantly speak Chinese and share physical characteristics similar to those of Han Chinese. They were recognized as one of the five major ethnic groups in the early Republic of China. The Hui, as an ethnic group, was officially “recognized,” “classified,” and “solidified” by the government post-1949 with the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

Historically speaking, some scholarship suggests that their name “Hui” originates from the era of the Mongol Empire, where it was used to refer to the Semu people from Central and West Asia, including Turks, living near the northwestern Yellow River. Over time, the term evolved to encompass various Muslim communities across China, irrespective of their specific ethnic origins. Some scholars have argued that the Hui population has its roots in the mingling of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Muslim migrants during the Tang Dynasty with local communities.

Today’s most widespread and populous Hui Islamic school/sect in China is the Gedimu, which is the earliest Islamic school/sect in the country. The term “Gedimu” means “ancient”(قديم) in Arabic. Hence, this school/sect is also known as the “Old Teaching.” in China. Many members of the Hui belong to the Gedimu. In addition to Gedimu, the Hui community has also been influenced by Sufism, a mystic tradition within Islam, which entered China in the 10th century. During the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, this influence led to the formation of more than 40 Menhuan (religious saintly lineage) in provinces such as Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai. Among these, the most famous are the Khufiyya, Qadiriyya, Jahriyya, and Kubrawiyya, collectively known as the “Four Great Menhuan” in academic circles. These Menhuan play a significant role in the religious and social life of the Hui community.

A notable aspect of Hui Islamic practice is the existence of women-only mosques, a phenomenon that emerged in the 20th century as a response to the male-dominated mosque culture. These mosques, managed by women often referred to as “master spouses” (Shiniang), provide a space for Hui women to engage in religious study and community. This system is unique globally, with these mosques serving as either independent institutions or annexes to larger mosques. In terms of education, the Hui have a unique system called “jintang jiaoyu,” where Persian and Arabic are taught alongside Chinese. To maintain linguistic unity and incorporate regional dialects, a specialized vocabulary with Hui characteristics, known as “jingtang language,” has developed. This language plays a significant role in religious practices, with imams using it to recite wa’iz during festivals and religious ceremonies.

The Hui exemplify an interesting fusion of Islamic traditions and Chinese cultural elements, embodying a unique synthesis of religious practices and historical richness. They are an integral part of China’s diverse ethnic mosaic, prominently featured among the nation’s officially recognized 56 ethnic groups.

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Some of the recommended sources by the author to read more about the Hui are:

Gladney, Dru C. Muslim Chinese: Ethnic Nationalism in the People’s Republic. 2nd ed., vol. 149, Harvard University Asia Center, 1996.

Lipman, Jonathan N. Familiar strangers: a history of Muslims in Northwest China. University of Washington Press, 2011.

Dillon, Michael. China’s Muslim Hui community: migration, settlement and sects. Routledge, 2013.

Stroup, David R. Pure and true: the everyday politics of ethnicity for China’s Hui Muslims. University of Washington Press, 2022.

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Jing Xu is a PhD student in Central Euroasian Studies at Indiana University Bloomington with a research focus in Muslim communities in China.