The First Moslems in China
By Edward Sell
The First Moslems in China.—The first Mohammedans who came to China were Arab merchants. It is said that commercial relations with Arabia existed before the time of Mohammed. Four of the companions of the prophet brought presents to the emperor, and were allowed to settle in Canton, where they built a mosque called the Holy Remembrance. This would give as the date of the first Moslem mission to China the latter part of the seventh century. The Khalif Walid, in the early part of the eighth century, advanced his victorious army to the frontiers of China. The general of his army demanded, and received, tribute from the emperor. In the year 755 A.D. a band of 4,000 Moslem soldiers came from Khorasan to the aid of the emperor, and in return for their services were allowed to settle in various towns in China. In 794 A.D. Hārún’r-Ráshid sent ambassadors to China. The political relation thus entered into lasted for some centuries. In 1068 the Emperor Chin Tsoung appointed a Moslem to the oversight of the Arab strangers who came to Canton. This official distributed them in different places, and kept a register of their names.—Rev. Edward Sell.