Wang daiyu
Encyclopedia
Wáng Dàiyú (ca. 1570 - ca. 1660) was a Chinese Muslim
(Hui
) scholar. His given name was Ya, style name Daiyu. He called himself Zhenhui Laoren 真回老人 ("The True Old Man of Islam") and went by his style name.
period came to China in the retinue of a Tributary Emissary from the West. Because he was adept at the art of astronomy and calculating calendars, he held the office of Master Supervisor of the Imperial Observatory, and was granted a residence in Lu Fei Lane (present day South Hong Wu Street) in Nanjing
.
. At the age of 20, he began studying Chinese
and an intensive investigation of the writings of Confucianism
, Buddhism
, Daoism, as well as other miscellaneous teachings. In the fifteenth year of the reign of the Chongzhen Emperor
, he made a translation of Zhengjiao Zhenquan ("A True Explanation of the Right Religion"), in twenty "juan", and began the enterprise of translating the Islamic scriptures into Chinese. Later, he also wrote Qingzhen Da Xue ("The Great learning of Islam") and Xizhen Zhengda ("Rare and True Answers"). Within Chinese Islamic
circles, he is known by the laudatory title, "Great Saint of the Qing Period." Wang believed in providing Islamic works in Chinese language versions instead of depending upon Arabic ones.
Wang wrote "The Real Commentary", in which he uses Chinese Classical texts to explain Islam, since chinese speakers couldn't read original Islamic texts in other languages. He is most critical of Buddhism and Taoism, while citing Confucian ideas which agreed with Islam in order to explain it.
Wang wrote about Islam in the Chinese language and in a Confucian context, not to convert non muslim Chinese to Islam, but to help muslims in China understand Islam, since the majority of them spoke Chinese at his time.
Wang also used the Chinese language and Confucianism to explain Islam to non muslim Han chinese in addition to muslims.
Wang Daiyu's works eventually became part of the Chinese Islamic text the Han Kitab
, along with other muslim scholars from eastern China like Liu Zhi (scholar)
, and Ma Zhu.
Islam in China
Throughout the history of Islam in China, Chinese Muslims have influenced the course of Chinese history. Chinese Muslims have been in China for the last 1,400 years of continuous interaction with Chinese society...
(Hui
Hui people
The Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's...
) scholar. His given name was Ya, style name Daiyu. He called himself Zhenhui Laoren 真回老人 ("The True Old Man of Islam") and went by his style name.
Life
His earliest ancestor in the early MingMing Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
period came to China in the retinue of a Tributary Emissary from the West. Because he was adept at the art of astronomy and calculating calendars, he held the office of Master Supervisor of the Imperial Observatory, and was granted a residence in Lu Fei Lane (present day South Hong Wu Street) in Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
.
Philosophy
His descendants followed in this field. As a child, Wang Daiyu learned from his father. Later, he studied under Ma Junshi from NanjingNanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
. At the age of 20, he began studying Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
and an intensive investigation of the writings of Confucianism
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
, Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, Daoism, as well as other miscellaneous teachings. In the fifteenth year of the reign of the Chongzhen Emperor
Chongzhen Emperor
The Chongzhen Emperor was the 16th and last emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China. He reigned from 1627 to 1644, under an era name that means "honorable and auspicious".- Early years :...
, he made a translation of Zhengjiao Zhenquan ("A True Explanation of the Right Religion"), in twenty "juan", and began the enterprise of translating the Islamic scriptures into Chinese. Later, he also wrote Qingzhen Da Xue ("The Great learning of Islam") and Xizhen Zhengda ("Rare and True Answers"). Within Chinese Islamic
Islam in China
Throughout the history of Islam in China, Chinese Muslims have influenced the course of Chinese history. Chinese Muslims have been in China for the last 1,400 years of continuous interaction with Chinese society...
circles, he is known by the laudatory title, "Great Saint of the Qing Period." Wang believed in providing Islamic works in Chinese language versions instead of depending upon Arabic ones.
Works
Wang was fluent in Chinese, Arabic, and Persian He studied Confucianism extensively and used it to explain Islam.Wang wrote "The Real Commentary", in which he uses Chinese Classical texts to explain Islam, since chinese speakers couldn't read original Islamic texts in other languages. He is most critical of Buddhism and Taoism, while citing Confucian ideas which agreed with Islam in order to explain it.
Wang wrote about Islam in the Chinese language and in a Confucian context, not to convert non muslim Chinese to Islam, but to help muslims in China understand Islam, since the majority of them spoke Chinese at his time.
Wang also used the Chinese language and Confucianism to explain Islam to non muslim Han chinese in addition to muslims.
Wang Daiyu's works eventually became part of the Chinese Islamic text the Han Kitab
Han Kitab
The Han Kitab was a collection of Chinese Islamic texts, written by Chinese Muslims, which synthesized Islam and Confucianism. It was written in the early 18th century during the Qing dynasty. Its name is similarly synthesised: 'Han' is the Chinese word for Chinese, and 'kitab' means book in...
, along with other muslim scholars from eastern China like Liu Zhi (scholar)
Liu Zhi (scholar)
Liu Zhi was a Chinese Muslim scholar of the Qing period from Nanjing.- Biography :In his childhood, he received instruction from his father, Liu Sanjie . At the age of 12, he studied scriptures with Yuan Ruqi at the Garden of Military Studies Mosque in Nanjing, . At the age of 15, he began a...
, and Ma Zhu.