The other day I asked my father-in-law, who tends to be pretty well-informed about Xinjiang, when the Uighur people became predominantly Muslim. I received this astonishing answer: "2,000 years ago!"
Now I am about as certain as I can be that my father-in-law is wrong, because I am over 99% sure that the Prophet Muhammed wasn't even born until a little over 1,400 years ago. So I would like to know, when did the bulk of the Uighurs really convert to Islam? Also, is my father-in-law's belief that the Uighurs have been Muslim for 2,000 years a common misconception amongst the Uighur people? And what religion(s) did the Uighurs practice before they became Muslim?
Full Version: Uighur Thread
China History Forum, Chinese History Forum > Chinese History Topics > Chinese Ethnic Groups and Peoples > Ethnic Minorities of China
The Uyhgurs were shamanists or Buddhists until around 762, when their Kaghan converted to Manichaeanism and made it their state religion. In 840 they were defeated by the Kirghiz and fled out of Mongolia into Gansu and the Tarim Basin (hence their presence in Xinjiang today). There, they switched back to Buddhism. From the 10th century onwards, they were gradually converted to Islam by the influence of the Kharakhanid state to the west. So Xinjiang Uyghurs have been Muslims for about 1,000 years.
To add to what Yun said, quite a number were also Nestorian Christians around the 11th, 12th century too. The Yugurs (Yellow Uighurs) are still Buddhist.
Daniel, you're in luck. I found a whole article about "The Buddhist Culture of the Old Uighur Peoples", available here: http://www.shin-ibs.edu/pdfs/pwj3-4/09KD4.pdf
For my knowledge, Islam was brought into Xinjiang area in about middle period of 10th century. At that time Xinijang was under the reign of 喀喇汗 (Ka La Han, I don't know the English version of this reign), which was set up by the ancient Uigurs (回鹘) as a regional regime. Probably during 893-910, one of the royal members of Ka La Han, 萨世克·布格拉 (Sa Shi Ke · Bu Ge La) Khan, became as the first Uigur Muslim for meeting his need in the political competition. He was also the first man who promoted Islam's spread in Xinjiang. In the beginning, the new religion was resisted by the local Buddhists; after several battles, it came a little far into the west and south part of Xinjiang, in about the early period of 11th century. From then on, Islam appeared as religion just in several places about 喀什 (Kashgar), 莎车 (Sha Che) and 于阗 (Yu Tian) for tatal 200 years, till the early time of 13th century. In Yuan Dynasty, Islam was developed rapidly in Xinjiang because of the tolerant policies by Mongolian conquerors, as Genghis khan and his descendants. In about 1346, 秃黑鲁帖木尔 (Tu Hei Lu Tie Mu Er) took the throne of 察合台 (Cha He Tai) Khan, and began to spare no effort to blazon forth Islam. He was the first Muslim Khan among Mongols in Xinjiang. In about 1392, His successor, 黑地儿火者 (Hei Di Er Huo Zhe) captured places of 吐鲁番 (Tu Lu Fan) and so on, and forced denizens there changed their belief into Islam. By then, Islam was still not the only religion for all Uigurs. Later in the last period of 15th century and the early time of 16th century, Islam was finally accepted by the Uigurs in Hami (哈密) area; that made it became advantaged to be the Uigurs' religion.
QUOTE
喀喇汗 (Ka La Han, I don't know the English version of this reign
That's the Karakhanid state that I mentioned earlier - the first Muslim kingdom in Central Asia.
At one point there were two Uyghur states, one buddhist and one muslim at war for 10 years, until the buddhist capital was sacked.
There is this one buddhist nation in the Russian Union. I have been curious for a long time about how it got there.
There is this one buddhist nation in the Russian Union. I have been curious for a long time about how it got there.
QUOTE(hansioux @ Feb 4 2005, 07:28 PM)
At one point there were two Uyghur states, one buddhist and one muslim at war for 10 years, until the buddhist capital was sacked.
There is this one buddhist nation in the Russian Union. I have been curious for a long time about how it got there.
There is this one buddhist nation in the Russian Union. I have been curious for a long time about how it got there.
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In Russia? There is Kalmykia and Buryatia, both is Mongol. Buryatia is right above Mongolia, and Kalmykia is by the Caucasus, near Dagestan and Chechnya. If you are wondering about the Kalmyks, they got there due to the large campaign by Western Mongols (aka Oirots/Jungars, etc). When the Qing began fighting with the Jungars in N.Xinjiang (their traditional homeland) those in the Caucasus attempted to migrate back, but were effectively halted by the Kazakhs who were in collaboration with the Qing.
Another big find: an online e-book on "The Historical Interaction between the Buddhist and Islamic Cultures before the Mongol Empire" (by Alexander Berzin, 1996). Extremely detailed and includes the conversions of the Kharakanids and the Uyghurs.
http://www.berzinarchives.com/e-books/hist...cultures_c.html
http://www.berzinarchives.com/e-books/hist...cultures_c.html
Thanks Yun, really good page.
An astounding tale. Thanks very much to you all, and especially to Yun for that Berzin book. I am going to have to peruse that at long leisure; I have a great deal of ignorance to remedy. I must admit, I never even heard of Karakhan/Qarakhan until now.
"In 840, after a particularly severe winter of heavy snowfall had decimated the Uighur herds, the Kyrghyz overthrew the Orkhon [Uighur] Empire in Mongolia, Dzungaria, and the eastern portion of northern West Turkistan." Thus saith Alexander Berzin in his online book The Historical Interaction Between the Buddhist and Islamic Cultures Before the Mongol Empire.
But Bai Shouyi in An Outline History of China, p. 213, says that "After the Uygur Khanate was conquered by its subordinate tribe Xiajiasi in 840, the Uygurs moved west to the Tianshan Mountains area and became the ancestors of the Uygur people in present-day Xinjiang."
To confound matters further, a colleague of mine at the university has the Uighurs being driven into Xinjiang by the Khitans!
The one thing everybody seems to agree on was that somebody kicked the Uighurs out of the general area of modern Mongolia around 840, but whodunit? Xiajiasi, Khitans, or Kyrghyz? I'm confused! Help!
But Bai Shouyi in An Outline History of China, p. 213, says that "After the Uygur Khanate was conquered by its subordinate tribe Xiajiasi in 840, the Uygurs moved west to the Tianshan Mountains area and became the ancestors of the Uygur people in present-day Xinjiang."
To confound matters further, a colleague of mine at the university has the Uighurs being driven into Xinjiang by the Khitans!
The one thing everybody seems to agree on was that somebody kicked the Uighurs out of the general area of modern Mongolia around 840, but whodunit? Xiajiasi, Khitans, or Kyrghyz? I'm confused! Help!
QUOTE(Ceonni @ May 12 2005, 11:00 AM)
Xiejiasi is basically the Chinese transliteration for "Kyrgyz", or "Khakas", who I think was a Turkic people then speaking a language close to modern day Tuvinian/Hakas and formed the foundation for the two major Genghis-era Turkic federations: Kerait and Naiman(Naimans were actually more Oghuz). Kereit and Naiman were later incorporated into the Kazakh-Tatars who conquered much of Russia and adopted the Kypchak language, and the later Oyrad federation during the Ming dynasty, who adopted Lamaism as their religion.
Your colleague is wrong. By 840 the Khitans were centered around Beijing, Liaoning and Hulunbuir. A branch of it joined An Lushan.
The Khitans couldn't be the horde that sacked Karabalghasun.
Your colleague is wrong. By 840 the Khitans were centered around Beijing, Liaoning and Hulunbuir. A branch of it joined An Lushan.
The Khitans couldn't be the horde that sacked Karabalghasun.
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Excellent. That clarifies things greatly. Thank you.
Berzin mentions that "The Kyrghyz then ruled the area from their base in the Altai Mountains until they themselves were displaced by the Khitans (Kitan) in 924." I am guessing my colleague confused this event with the earlier ouster of the Uighurs.
Ethnic Uygurs in Hunan Live in Harmony with Han Chinese
Seven thousand people from the ethnic Uygur group living in Fengshu Township, in central China's Hunan Province, gathered together Thursday, December 28, inside a local mosque to attend a ceremony marking the Festival of Fast-Breaking.
In China, most ethnic Uygur people live in northwest China's injiang Uygur Autonomous Region. But, this small group of ethnic ygurs living in this central Chinese land have observed the traditions and folkways unique to people of ethnic Uygur background for 600 years.
The fast-breaking festival is an important event for Moslems. Like most Moslems living in Xinjiang and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Moslems scattered in Fengshu Township also held various kinds of religious functions to celebrate the festival Thursday. Many people representing Han Chinese and other ethnic groups also attended the Moslems' religious activities. Moslem workers are given a one-day official holiday for the fast-breaking festival.
Situated by the Yuanshui River, a tributary of Dongting Lake, Fengshu Township is famous for a number of master pieces in classical Chinese literature, including "Li Sao" by Poet Qu Yuan, and "Peach-Blossom Springs", a poem by Tao Yuanming with a foreword which is an influential piece of writing that tells of an ancient Utopia.
Right among the densely distributed Han Chinese villages, the descendants of the largest group of Uygur Moslems outside Xinjiang have lived and prospered for tens of hundreds of years.
After the religious gathering, several imams came to the slaughter shelters to slaughter cattle and sheep to celebrate the festival.
Excited little Uygur girls, wearing their best costumes for the festivals, danced merrily to music in the open air ground before the village. Jian Dejiu, a Uygur villager in his 70s, said: "Our religious functions are the same as those activities held to mark the fast-breaking by our Uygur brothers in Xinjiang."
More than 600 years back, Hala Bashi, a Uygur noble, acted under orders from Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), to guard Fengshu and was given surname "Jian".
Up to now, this group of Uygurs have lived and prospered for 28 generations, with 10,000 people, who are now scattered in four townships including Fengshu. Uygurs of Xinjiang consider these townships as the first habitats of ethnic Uygur people in areas south of the Yangtze River.
In the areas where most residents are Han Chinese, the green mosques and growing number of restaurants serving Moslem food, let people feel a strong sense of ethnic Uygur culture.
"The government has helped us build several mosques," said Jian Dejiu. In the past 50 years, local governments have sponsored training of over 20 imams, two of whom have made pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Although ethnic Uygur people here seldom marry Han Chinese, they can speak Mandarin (Putonghua) in addition to their mother tongue Uygur language.
"Before the founding of New China, we were looked down upon, and there were fights with weapons between ethnic Uygur people and Han Chinese residents every year," recalled Jian Dejiu, "but now we ethnic Uygur people and Han Chinese friends live peacefully together just like people of one family."
Like previous years, more than 100 Han Chinese representatives were invited to attend religious activities hosted by ethnic Uygur people. A Han Chinese guest said they also often invite Uygur brothers to visit their villages. To treat them, Han Chinese hosts have prepared at their homes special bowls and chopsticks for the ethnic Uygur guests.
The younger generation of the ethnic Uygur Jian group, who have lived peacefully with Han Chinese, have developed a feeling quite
different from their parents.
Thirty-one-year-old Jian Yiming, head of Fengshu Township, said "what makes us ethnic Uygur people different from Han Chinese brothers is that the state policies are lopsided toward us Uygur people."
Local governments have encouraged ethnic Uygur residents to expand traditional slaughter and leather processing businesses, and ethnic Uygur residents have therefore led a far better-off life than Han Chinese in the areas.
"We also spread our business skills to Han Chinese brothers, so that we ethnic Uygur people and Han Chinese can become prosperous together," said Jian Yiming, also a graduate of the Central University of Nationality Studies.
Though ethnic Uygur people only account for 20 percent of Fengshu Township's total population, every leader of Fengshu Township has been selected from the ethnic Uygur group since Fengshu became an autonomous township of Uygurs in 1986. This group of ethnic Uygurs have a number of celebrities among them, including Jian Bozan, a well-known Chinese historian.
Jian Ningyi, a prominent Uygur businessman specializing in cattle hide processing, said that since the 1980s Uygur people of Fengshu, who have become prosperous, make trips to Xinjiang each year.
"With the support of the local governments, I and my Uygur brothers of Xinjiang invested more than five million yuan in expanding business to Southeast Asia," said the cattle hide businessman.
A Uygur scholar from Xinjiang who is now working with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences concluded, after having made in-depth study into the Uygur Jian group people, that Uygur Jian people, who now live in harmony with local Han Chinese, "is an miniature of prosperity of ethnic groups in China."
Seven thousand people from the ethnic Uygur group living in Fengshu Township, in central China's Hunan Province, gathered together Thursday, December 28, inside a local mosque to attend a ceremony marking the Festival of Fast-Breaking.
In China, most ethnic Uygur people live in northwest China's injiang Uygur Autonomous Region. But, this small group of ethnic ygurs living in this central Chinese land have observed the traditions and folkways unique to people of ethnic Uygur background for 600 years.
The fast-breaking festival is an important event for Moslems. Like most Moslems living in Xinjiang and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Moslems scattered in Fengshu Township also held various kinds of religious functions to celebrate the festival Thursday. Many people representing Han Chinese and other ethnic groups also attended the Moslems' religious activities. Moslem workers are given a one-day official holiday for the fast-breaking festival.
Situated by the Yuanshui River, a tributary of Dongting Lake, Fengshu Township is famous for a number of master pieces in classical Chinese literature, including "Li Sao" by Poet Qu Yuan, and "Peach-Blossom Springs", a poem by Tao Yuanming with a foreword which is an influential piece of writing that tells of an ancient Utopia.
Right among the densely distributed Han Chinese villages, the descendants of the largest group of Uygur Moslems outside Xinjiang have lived and prospered for tens of hundreds of years.
After the religious gathering, several imams came to the slaughter shelters to slaughter cattle and sheep to celebrate the festival.
Excited little Uygur girls, wearing their best costumes for the festivals, danced merrily to music in the open air ground before the village. Jian Dejiu, a Uygur villager in his 70s, said: "Our religious functions are the same as those activities held to mark the fast-breaking by our Uygur brothers in Xinjiang."
More than 600 years back, Hala Bashi, a Uygur noble, acted under orders from Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), to guard Fengshu and was given surname "Jian".
Up to now, this group of Uygurs have lived and prospered for 28 generations, with 10,000 people, who are now scattered in four townships including Fengshu. Uygurs of Xinjiang consider these townships as the first habitats of ethnic Uygur people in areas south of the Yangtze River.
In the areas where most residents are Han Chinese, the green mosques and growing number of restaurants serving Moslem food, let people feel a strong sense of ethnic Uygur culture.
"The government has helped us build several mosques," said Jian Dejiu. In the past 50 years, local governments have sponsored training of over 20 imams, two of whom have made pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Although ethnic Uygur people here seldom marry Han Chinese, they can speak Mandarin (Putonghua) in addition to their mother tongue Uygur language.
"Before the founding of New China, we were looked down upon, and there were fights with weapons between ethnic Uygur people and Han Chinese residents every year," recalled Jian Dejiu, "but now we ethnic Uygur people and Han Chinese friends live peacefully together just like people of one family."
Like previous years, more than 100 Han Chinese representatives were invited to attend religious activities hosted by ethnic Uygur people. A Han Chinese guest said they also often invite Uygur brothers to visit their villages. To treat them, Han Chinese hosts have prepared at their homes special bowls and chopsticks for the ethnic Uygur guests.
The younger generation of the ethnic Uygur Jian group, who have lived peacefully with Han Chinese, have developed a feeling quite
different from their parents.
Thirty-one-year-old Jian Yiming, head of Fengshu Township, said "what makes us ethnic Uygur people different from Han Chinese brothers is that the state policies are lopsided toward us Uygur people."
Local governments have encouraged ethnic Uygur residents to expand traditional slaughter and leather processing businesses, and ethnic Uygur residents have therefore led a far better-off life than Han Chinese in the areas.
"We also spread our business skills to Han Chinese brothers, so that we ethnic Uygur people and Han Chinese can become prosperous together," said Jian Yiming, also a graduate of the Central University of Nationality Studies.
Though ethnic Uygur people only account for 20 percent of Fengshu Township's total population, every leader of Fengshu Township has been selected from the ethnic Uygur group since Fengshu became an autonomous township of Uygurs in 1986. This group of ethnic Uygurs have a number of celebrities among them, including Jian Bozan, a well-known Chinese historian.
Jian Ningyi, a prominent Uygur businessman specializing in cattle hide processing, said that since the 1980s Uygur people of Fengshu, who have become prosperous, make trips to Xinjiang each year.
"With the support of the local governments, I and my Uygur brothers of Xinjiang invested more than five million yuan in expanding business to Southeast Asia," said the cattle hide businessman.
A Uygur scholar from Xinjiang who is now working with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences concluded, after having made in-depth study into the Uygur Jian group people, that Uygur Jian people, who now live in harmony with local Han Chinese, "is an miniature of prosperity of ethnic groups in China."
As earlierly mentioned, Xiajiasi (Hagasi in Tang Chinese) is the Chinese equivalent of the Turkic name Qïrqïz (aka Qïrghïz, Kyrgyz).
The Qïrghïz people separated to two parts one one of them migrated to Semirechie in the 16th century. The Qïrghïz who stayed in the Southern Yenisei Basin are today known as Khakass. Modern Qïrghïz clans have elements from both pre/16th century Yeniseian Qïrghïz and from the local clans of pre-Qïrghïz migration Semirechie.
The Qïrghïz people separated to two parts one one of them migrated to Semirechie in the 16th century. The Qïrghïz who stayed in the Southern Yenisei Basin are today known as Khakass. Modern Qïrghïz clans have elements from both pre/16th century Yeniseian Qïrghïz and from the local clans of pre-Qïrghïz migration Semirechie.
The latter nomadic Uigurs were too very steeped in Manichaeism as well as Chinese material culture. They were easy prey for the Kyrgyz fresh from the steppes.
Thanks... wow, so much to learn from this thread.
Another important reason why the Uyghurs failed was the hard winter of 839-840. Just like the one which happened in the winter of 629-630; the Eastern Gök Türks (Dong Tujue) were so weakened from the harsh winter that next year they easily fell to Tang Taizong's forces (the Tujue were already weakened from the long wars with the Tang and from the rebellions inside).
According to the book "The Uighur empire according to Tang dynastic histories" things started to fall apart for the Uigurs by the 830's. A string of coups left the court is chaos. The harsh winter of 839 only compounded problems. That same year a minister named Kurabir recruited a Sha-t'o mercenary army and deposed the Khagan (who either comitted suicide or was murdered. Sources are conflicted).
As a result of this coup a loyalist general named Koluk Bagha fled the empire and joined up with the Khirgiz, leading 100,000 of them on a raid against Kharabalgasun (Ordubalik). The Khagan was beheaded and the city sacked.
As a result of this coup a loyalist general named Koluk Bagha fled the empire and joined up with the Khirgiz, leading 100,000 of them on a raid against Kharabalgasun (Ordubalik). The Khagan was beheaded and the city sacked.
And seven years later, the Uyghur Kingdom of Turfan (Gaochang) was established.
One of the members of the Uyghur Alliance at that time, the Yaghma, are the possible founders of the so-called "Qara-Khanid" Empire in Turkestan. This empire is known with many names, the name Qara-Khanid was first used by a Russian historian in the 19th century - back in the Middle Ages, this empire was mostly known as the Khânâtu't-Turkistân (or Khânât-e Torkestân in Persian, both meaning "Khans of Turkestan") and Khâqânu't-Turkistân (Khâqân-e Torkestân) whereas the ruling family was also called Âl-e Afrâseyâb (House of Afrâseyâb, a legendary ancient ruler of Central Asia).
One of the members of the Uyghur Alliance at that time, the Yaghma, are the possible founders of the so-called "Qara-Khanid" Empire in Turkestan. This empire is known with many names, the name Qara-Khanid was first used by a Russian historian in the 19th century - back in the Middle Ages, this empire was mostly known as the Khânâtu't-Turkistân (or Khânât-e Torkestân in Persian, both meaning "Khans of Turkestan") and Khâqânu't-Turkistân (Khâqân-e Torkestân) whereas the ruling family was also called Âl-e Afrâseyâb (House of Afrâseyâb, a legendary ancient ruler of Central Asia).
Regarding the fate of those Uyghurs who fled south into Tang China, read my ongoing article here: http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php?showtopic=2873
I'll be continuing with the next part tomorrow.
I'll be continuing with the next part tomorrow.
Looks like a great post, I hope you would also join SHF (Steppe History Forum) 
Another recent article to recommend:
"A History of Uighur Religious Conversions(5th - 16th Centuries)"
By Li Tang
Asia Research Institute
National University of Singapore
http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/docs/wps/wps05_044.pdf
"A History of Uighur Religious Conversions(5th - 16th Centuries)"
By Li Tang
Asia Research Institute
National University of Singapore
http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/docs/wps/wps05_044.pdf
Tamerlane converted the last remaining Buddhist Uygurs by force. Those art murals have been largely defaced and slashed with swords thanks to the Islamic fanaticism of Tamerlane's armies.
Tamerlane had wanted to conquer Ming China after all his other battles against the Ottomans and Europeans. As he moved east, he used force and violence to bring the remaining Buddhist Uygurs in the eastern oasis towns under the sword of Islam.
Thank God, this guy died before being able to mount the invasion of Ming China.
Tamerlane had wanted to conquer Ming China after all his other battles against the Ottomans and Europeans. As he moved east, he used force and violence to bring the remaining Buddhist Uygurs in the eastern oasis towns under the sword of Islam.
Thank God, this guy died before being able to mount the invasion of Ming China.
QUOTE(Ceonni @ May 13 2005, 01:09 AM) [snapback]4720058[/snapback]
Bamiyan
http://www.bci.org/nnby/Bamiyan.htm
Bamiyan
By Miriam Quintana de Depaz
Buddha of Bamiyan When Karabalgasun fell, it fell from its splendor as a gem of the steppes, from its fame as the easternmost great center of the faith of Mani, the Illuminator. It is said that tens of thousands of dark, torch wielding horsemen descended from north of the Orhon Valley, hailing down from the monstrous hills surrounding the city before the dark of the night. Flaming arrows were discharged, raining on palaces, temples and pagodas like angels of death. The city soon found itself in hell, perishing on a pit of fire and brimstone.
There was this Uighur prince, Tughlug Arslan Beg, who narrowly escaped this Kyrgyz onslaught, which would bring the glory of the Uighur empire to an abrupt end, after which Civilization would not visit the valley of Karabalgasun for another 500 years. Tired and dejected, Tughlug rode aimlessly, with a few of his vassals, toward where the sun sets, where there still were followers of Mani, the Illuminator."Beg, His Valiant Nobleness Arslan Beg, may your thirst of spirit be quenched by the Light; May this Gobi desert be your ornate rug; May the Eternal Sky be your yurt…" Rowshan, the jester, beat his tambourine and started singing, hoping the cheer up his master.
"Rowshan, what's all that--- wouldn't a real yurt be more helpful at this moment? When will we reach Samarkand?"
"Uh… Beg… Yes my Beg, another 13 days my Beg." --- All fell silent as they marched on, observing a distant sandstorm ravaging the ruinous ancient kingdoms of the Tarim Basin.
They finally reached Samarkand, only to find it overrun by Tajik cavalrymen, who conducted raids of the Buddhist princedom and garrisoned here, preparing for the investiture of their command of the region by a certain Tahir ibn Hussein, the beloved of Allah and the favorite of Caliph Harun al Rashid. There was not a decent Manichaeist church to be found, all looted and carried to Tahir's fortress in
Balkh.
Tughlug clenched his teeth--- his face turned red with zeal--- and called upon his servants: "We will march southwest towards Babylon, where the Prophet received the Angels of the Light. It is there that I can find my peace of mind."
A few days on their southwestward journey, they arrived at a site, a ghost town. They did not hesitate approaching this town, not without awe and marvel, because--- presiding over the decayed adobes and broken columns, were two giant statute of the prophet Buddha, which, although weather beaten, still told of the heydays of a great empire whose memories were otherwise long buried in the remote history.
Stopping in front of the cavernous cliff where the Buddhas were carved out, beholding this wonder of immortal hands, prince Tughlug forgot about his grief and erupted into a hysterical joy, covering his ears with both hands, screaming like a frenzied child, his echo madly bouncing on the rocky walls in the surroundings over and over again as if incarnating into ceaseless forms of existence until it finally died down.
An old tattered man appeared in front of the crazed prince--- a dervish? No, a monk? No, a Brahmin, priest? A holy man. He seemed to have just woken up from a long slumber, wearisome and cynical.
"Say, old man, what province on this great wide world are you from?" Asked prince Tughlug.
"Young man, I am from Ard-allah, the Earth of God."
Tughlug startled a bit and Rowshan protested: "Over here is Prince Tughlug Arslan Beg of Karabalgasun, Land of the Uighurs, the Brave, Noble and Enlightened…"
Tughlug stopped Rowshan, looked up and surveyed around, and rested his eyes on the old man: " Well then, Elder of Ard-allah… Do you know… I am quite struck by the immensity of these… images of our prophet Buddha. Who built it? When?"
"Yes my lord. These are in fact the monuments of the reigns of Kushanshah Kanishka of old. His empire perished 500 years ago… They said it wasn't men who destroyed this empire, for such a great empire cannot be put down by human hands."
Tughlug felt a faintness seizing him, almost bringing him aground from the saddle, and then he felt moistness blurring his eyes, and wept. He said: " Old man, if you permit. My nation too, was such that no mortal could destroy. On the night of its fall, I've seen the Angels of Death. Now I am without home. Not even the faithful of Mani are spared the mercy of God--- I just passed through Samarkand, that city of Light. I saw wanton pillage and the rampage of believers of the Arab religion. Come, Rowshan, come. Let's pray to Mani, for our strength and deliverance."
The cynical old man interrupted: " Who is it that you are praying to?"
"Pardon me?"
" Are you sure you are not praying to a dead man, for a dead nation?"
Rowshan literally jumped up and, with rage, dragged the frail old man to ground. He yelled hysterically to the offender: " You will learn a lesson today, old… old beggar: do not insult a Uighur… do not insult a Uighur before his Prince the Righteous, Pious and…" Tughlug's face was also red with intensity.
The old man regained his balance, sat up on the dusty ground and spoke with a panting voice: " Pri… Prince, a man is the most powerful when he is without possession, most high when he is without title. He will only see the true Light without prophets in between."
Tughlug burst in anger: " Lie! Pitiful lie! Mani is the illuminator illuminated. It is through this window that Man can see the true Light. He is the prophet of the Uighurs. It is from Mani that we seek solace in misfortune. Although my nation is no more, my faith lives on. It is in my prophet that my nation lives on and I know that I am a noble prince of Uighur. The prophet is the pillar of my people in exile, the pillar of my existence."
The old man, with a mysterious smile: "Oh no, my Lord the Prince, don't let your existence blind you. You receive the Light through the Heart. Your Ego is the curtain of the Heart; Nation is the Ego of Humanity. Who are the prophets? What are the prophets but the Light's shadow on Nations?" It took Tughlug quite a while to contemplate on the old man's words, and then the prince burst into a malignant laughter: "Hahaha, old fool… haha… I understand, I understand that you are a mad, mad man…"
Tughlug then gathered his entourage and marched off in the direction of Babylon again. Miles away from the giant cliffs, Tughlug suddenly decided to turn back. Rowshan volunteered to go back alone and chop that old man into pieces. But the prince stopped his horse and gazed at the cliffs, murmured: " I've dreamed him… I've dreamed him at the end of Babylon…"
By the way, later the prince bypassed the cliffs and Samarkand on his way up to the marshes of Syr Darya. It is where he joined the Oghuz nomads. There he would convert to Islam. One of his sons, Seljuk, would seize Babylon, then called Baghdad and presided over an empire reaching from Khorasan to Rum. The sons of Seljuk would see Baghdad razed to the ground by the Mongols. But then an Oghuz vassal of the Seljuks would again found a great empire extending from Iraq to Europe to North Africa. It was these Ottomans, as they were call, who proclaimed themselves to be the Caliphs of the Prophet, Amir of the Faithful. And then, inevitably, this empire also fell.
Now the faithful of Islam lament the downfall of the Caliphate. Some turn their grief and prayers into zeal and answer the encroaching enemy forces with bullets and bombs.
It is a wintry day when the Taliban of Afghanistan capture Bamiyan, where the great statues of Buddha stand. A Taliban minister, as soon as he gets off the jeep, passes through the mortared rubbles and corpses of Hazara fighters, and walks straight up to the open ground facing the two badly weathered giants. He beholds these monuments of awe, face turned red with intense zeal, and murmured: "I've dreamed him… the mad man… I've dreamed him at the end of the World…"
And then he orders the demolition of the statues.
http://www.bci.org/nnby/Bamiyan.htm
Bamiyan
By Miriam Quintana de Depaz
Buddha of Bamiyan When Karabalgasun fell, it fell from its splendor as a gem of the steppes, from its fame as the easternmost great center of the faith of Mani, the Illuminator. It is said that tens of thousands of dark, torch wielding horsemen descended from north of the Orhon Valley, hailing down from the monstrous hills surrounding the city before the dark of the night. Flaming arrows were discharged, raining on palaces, temples and pagodas like angels of death. The city soon found itself in hell, perishing on a pit of fire and brimstone.
There was this Uighur prince, Tughlug Arslan Beg, who narrowly escaped this Kyrgyz onslaught, which would bring the glory of the Uighur empire to an abrupt end, after which Civilization would not visit the valley of Karabalgasun for another 500 years. Tired and dejected, Tughlug rode aimlessly, with a few of his vassals, toward where the sun sets, where there still were followers of Mani, the Illuminator."Beg, His Valiant Nobleness Arslan Beg, may your thirst of spirit be quenched by the Light; May this Gobi desert be your ornate rug; May the Eternal Sky be your yurt…" Rowshan, the jester, beat his tambourine and started singing, hoping the cheer up his master.
"Rowshan, what's all that--- wouldn't a real yurt be more helpful at this moment? When will we reach Samarkand?"
"Uh… Beg… Yes my Beg, another 13 days my Beg." --- All fell silent as they marched on, observing a distant sandstorm ravaging the ruinous ancient kingdoms of the Tarim Basin.
They finally reached Samarkand, only to find it overrun by Tajik cavalrymen, who conducted raids of the Buddhist princedom and garrisoned here, preparing for the investiture of their command of the region by a certain Tahir ibn Hussein, the beloved of Allah and the favorite of Caliph Harun al Rashid. There was not a decent Manichaeist church to be found, all looted and carried to Tahir's fortress in
Balkh.
Tughlug clenched his teeth--- his face turned red with zeal--- and called upon his servants: "We will march southwest towards Babylon, where the Prophet received the Angels of the Light. It is there that I can find my peace of mind."
A few days on their southwestward journey, they arrived at a site, a ghost town. They did not hesitate approaching this town, not without awe and marvel, because--- presiding over the decayed adobes and broken columns, were two giant statute of the prophet Buddha, which, although weather beaten, still told of the heydays of a great empire whose memories were otherwise long buried in the remote history.
Stopping in front of the cavernous cliff where the Buddhas were carved out, beholding this wonder of immortal hands, prince Tughlug forgot about his grief and erupted into a hysterical joy, covering his ears with both hands, screaming like a frenzied child, his echo madly bouncing on the rocky walls in the surroundings over and over again as if incarnating into ceaseless forms of existence until it finally died down.
An old tattered man appeared in front of the crazed prince--- a dervish? No, a monk? No, a Brahmin, priest? A holy man. He seemed to have just woken up from a long slumber, wearisome and cynical.
"Say, old man, what province on this great wide world are you from?" Asked prince Tughlug.
"Young man, I am from Ard-allah, the Earth of God."
Tughlug startled a bit and Rowshan protested: "Over here is Prince Tughlug Arslan Beg of Karabalgasun, Land of the Uighurs, the Brave, Noble and Enlightened…"
Tughlug stopped Rowshan, looked up and surveyed around, and rested his eyes on the old man: " Well then, Elder of Ard-allah… Do you know… I am quite struck by the immensity of these… images of our prophet Buddha. Who built it? When?"
"Yes my lord. These are in fact the monuments of the reigns of Kushanshah Kanishka of old. His empire perished 500 years ago… They said it wasn't men who destroyed this empire, for such a great empire cannot be put down by human hands."
Tughlug felt a faintness seizing him, almost bringing him aground from the saddle, and then he felt moistness blurring his eyes, and wept. He said: " Old man, if you permit. My nation too, was such that no mortal could destroy. On the night of its fall, I've seen the Angels of Death. Now I am without home. Not even the faithful of Mani are spared the mercy of God--- I just passed through Samarkand, that city of Light. I saw wanton pillage and the rampage of believers of the Arab religion. Come, Rowshan, come. Let's pray to Mani, for our strength and deliverance."
The cynical old man interrupted: " Who is it that you are praying to?"
"Pardon me?"
" Are you sure you are not praying to a dead man, for a dead nation?"
Rowshan literally jumped up and, with rage, dragged the frail old man to ground. He yelled hysterically to the offender: " You will learn a lesson today, old… old beggar: do not insult a Uighur… do not insult a Uighur before his Prince the Righteous, Pious and…" Tughlug's face was also red with intensity.
The old man regained his balance, sat up on the dusty ground and spoke with a panting voice: " Pri… Prince, a man is the most powerful when he is without possession, most high when he is without title. He will only see the true Light without prophets in between."
Tughlug burst in anger: " Lie! Pitiful lie! Mani is the illuminator illuminated. It is through this window that Man can see the true Light. He is the prophet of the Uighurs. It is from Mani that we seek solace in misfortune. Although my nation is no more, my faith lives on. It is in my prophet that my nation lives on and I know that I am a noble prince of Uighur. The prophet is the pillar of my people in exile, the pillar of my existence."
The old man, with a mysterious smile: "Oh no, my Lord the Prince, don't let your existence blind you. You receive the Light through the Heart. Your Ego is the curtain of the Heart; Nation is the Ego of Humanity. Who are the prophets? What are the prophets but the Light's shadow on Nations?" It took Tughlug quite a while to contemplate on the old man's words, and then the prince burst into a malignant laughter: "Hahaha, old fool… haha… I understand, I understand that you are a mad, mad man…"
Tughlug then gathered his entourage and marched off in the direction of Babylon again. Miles away from the giant cliffs, Tughlug suddenly decided to turn back. Rowshan volunteered to go back alone and chop that old man into pieces. But the prince stopped his horse and gazed at the cliffs, murmured: " I've dreamed him… I've dreamed him at the end of Babylon…"
By the way, later the prince bypassed the cliffs and Samarkand on his way up to the marshes of Syr Darya. It is where he joined the Oghuz nomads. There he would convert to Islam. One of his sons, Seljuk, would seize Babylon, then called Baghdad and presided over an empire reaching from Khorasan to Rum. The sons of Seljuk would see Baghdad razed to the ground by the Mongols. But then an Oghuz vassal of the Seljuks would again found a great empire extending from Iraq to Europe to North Africa. It was these Ottomans, as they were call, who proclaimed themselves to be the Caliphs of the Prophet, Amir of the Faithful. And then, inevitably, this empire also fell.
Now the faithful of Islam lament the downfall of the Caliphate. Some turn their grief and prayers into zeal and answer the encroaching enemy forces with bullets and bombs.
It is a wintry day when the Taliban of Afghanistan capture Bamiyan, where the great statues of Buddha stand. A Taliban minister, as soon as he gets off the jeep, passes through the mortared rubbles and corpses of Hazara fighters, and walks straight up to the open ground facing the two badly weathered giants. He beholds these monuments of awe, face turned red with intense zeal, and murmured: "I've dreamed him… the mad man… I've dreamed him at the end of the World…"
And then he orders the demolition of the statues.
Is Bamiyan located in Afghanistan ? And that the statues were rocketed and dynamic by the Taliban few years back ??
QUOTE(Genghis_Khan @ Apr 14 2006, 06:37 AM) [snapback]4803964[/snapback]
Is Bamiyan located in Afghanistan ? And that the statues were rocketed and dynamic by the Taliban few years back ??
Yes, it is. It's also the area where the East-Asian looking Hazaras live. But they have nothing to do with Uighurs, so you should create a seperate thread on them in Asian history if you want to discuss more.
QUOTE(Daniel @ Feb 3 2005, 06:11 AM) [snapback]4699080[/snapback]
The other day I asked my father-in-law, who tends to be pretty well-informed about Xinjiang, when the Uighur people became predominantly Muslim. I received this astonishing answer: "2,000 years ago!"
Now I am about as certain as I can be that my father-in-law is wrong, because I am over 99% sure that the Prophet Muhammed wasn't even born until a little over 1,400 years ago. So I would like to know, when did the bulk of the Uighurs really convert to Islam? Also, is my father-in-law's belief that the Uighurs have been Muslim for 2,000 years a common misconception amongst the Uighur people? And what religion(s) did the Uighurs practice before they became Muslim?
Now I am about as certain as I can be that my father-in-law is wrong, because I am over 99% sure that the Prophet Muhammed wasn't even born until a little over 1,400 years ago. So I would like to know, when did the bulk of the Uighurs really convert to Islam? Also, is my father-in-law's belief that the Uighurs have been Muslim for 2,000 years a common misconception amongst the Uighur people? And what religion(s) did the Uighurs practice before they became Muslim?
A little explanation of wha the word Muslim means. Mu (suffix for one who does) slim (root words slm , same as islam) slim means to submit so we hav mu-slm someone who submits to god. A bit like carpent -er, butch -er
etc
Now muslims believe that god sent prophets as guidance to mankind, from adam, to ibrahim to moses, noah, jacob , etc . Whenever a prophet was chosen he taught the same basic thing, the worship of ONE god, and not to associate partners with that god. Anyone who followed that teaching (Jews, the early unitarian christians,etc) was consider someone who submits to god a mu-slim.
That said the concept of Muslim with a capital M , ie those who follow the last prophet goes back only 1400 years.
The story surrounding the uighurs conversion to Islam is the story of Baba Tuckles and the conversion of Ozbek Khan 1314-41 Four holy men (Bab tuckles included) arrived on the sacre shaman ground. Ozbek agreed to see them, whereupon they informed Ozbek they where there to guid him to Islam. Ozbek had a big clay fire and he ordered the holy men and shamens into the fire, the one who didn't get burn was the true religon. and so it was Baba Tuckles emerged unscathed chanting the name of Allah.
and the rest was history
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