A Sufi Wushu Master

http://higher-criticism.com/2005/12/wang-ziping-muslim-patriot-in-china.html

One of the things the Hui embraced with passion was the Chinese martial arts tradition. The Hui were a hardy and courageous people, surviving long and perilous journeys from Persian and Middle Eastern lands. They quickly took a liking to ancient Chinese Wushu and worked long and hard at excelling in it. Eventually they developed their own unique styles of Wushu.

Before the invention of guns, Wushu was the chief means of combat and self-defense in China. Hui chiefs encouraged their people to study Wushu as a “holy habit” in order to foster discipline and bravery during their struggle for survival in their adopted land. Mosques became not only places of worship and religious education, but also a training ground for Grandmasters to teach eager students the basics of Wushu.

Even today, during the holy days of Lesser Bairam (festival of fast breaking), Korban (feast), and Mawlid an-Nabi (the Prophet’s Birthday), the Hui gather in mosques to hold Wushu contests and exhibitions. Cangzhou, in particular was nicknamed Wushu’s Nest, for the many Grandmasters who emanated from there.

In the past, many of the Hui joined the Chinese military and had illustrious careers in it, often rising to the rank of General. Also, because of this, the Hui were fanatically loyal to the emperors.

One of the things the Hui embraced with passion was the Chinese martial arts tradition. The Hui were a hardy and courageous people, surviving long and perilous journeys from Persian and Middle Eastern lands. They quickly took a liking to ancient Chinese Wushu and worked long and hard at excelling in it. Eventually they developed their own unique styles of Wushu.

Like many Hui, Ziping’s parents were poor. His father was a formidable pugilist, but was wise enough to know that Wushu would bring no fortune to the young boy. European guns were increasingly making the art obsolete, enticing even the Chinese army into procuring them and training in their use. Elder Wang thus dreamt of the day when his son would leave hardship and work in the Forbidden City as an official.

Ziping was adamant about learning Wushu, however. Wushu was the Hui identity. No Hui worth his salt would dare go through life without the rudiments of the “eighteen fist fighting exercise” and “eight diagram boxing” etched in his mind and body.

Besides Wushu, Hui were also steeped in Sufi teachings. They belonged almost overwhelmingly to the Naqshbandiyya school. Hui life was thus a mixture of pitiless labor, harsh training and deep spirituality. Their astonishing ability in Wushu is hardly an accident.