Wang Dai-Yu`s real understanding of Zhengjiao : a critical and anotated study

Abstract

In response to the serious challenges of the socio-political changes in China during the period of dynastical transition from the Ming (1368-1644) to Qing (1644-1911), Muslim ÑulamÉÒ in China have actively launched a movement of the elucidation of the Islamic faith in the Chinese language, which was actually the first movement in their thitherto eight hundred years history of residing there. This later resulted in the publications of hundreds of Islamic books written, either in translation or elucidation, in the Chinese classical language, which are still unknown to the intellectual realm of the world. This thesis intends to introduce our English readers, the Zhengjiaozhenquan (The Real Understanding of Zhengjiao), one of the pioneer works written by one of the foremost runner, more specifically, the initiator of the movement, Sheikh Wang Dai-yu; in which the author, in his eloquent and concise language, through his unique methodology and ontology, elucidated Islamic teachings. His approach to the problems and methodology are still highly relevant in today’s ever deepening divergent situations of the world’s multi-religious and multi-ethnical communities.