Yan’anis an ethnic minority diasporaarea, and currently 2,045 people of 30 ethnic minoritieshave been settled here, distributed in 13 counties and districtsof the city, mainly insixcounties and districts, such as Baota,Huanglong, Yichuan, Luochuan, Huanglingand Fuxian, where the ethnic minorities such as Hui, Manchu, Mongolian, Zhuang accounted for 73%(71%)of the totalethnic minority population, predominatedbyHui. Now, there are117 individual businesses with production and operation of halal food categoryin the city, with no minority enterprisesin the urban area. There are twoProvincial Education and Practice Bases for Casting A Firm Sense of Chinese NationalCommunity(Huangdi Mausoleum, Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall), twoNational Education Bases for National Unity and Progress(the former site of Yan'an Minzu College, and the former site of the Revolutionary Northwest Bureau of theCPCCentral Committee), and two ProvincialEducation Bases for National Unity and Progress(the former site of Yan'an Minzu College, and the Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall). There are five major religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Christianity and Islam; there are 95 approved and registered places of religious activities and 125 teaching staff; there are 15 patriotic religious groups in the city (threeat the municipal level and 12 at the county level); there is one of the first National Patriotic Education Bases for Religions(Mosquein Baota District), and oneFirst National Advanced Collectives for Creating Harmonious Temples and Churches(Hongfa Zen Temple in Ansai County).
Introduction to the Former Site of Yan'an Minzu College
The former site of Yan'an Minzu College is located on the north hill of Wenhuagouon the outskirts of the city of Yan'an, Shaanxi Province, covering an area of about ten mu. It is the predecessor of the Minzu College of China(now the Minzu University of China), which was founded on September 18, 1941,and moved to Beijing in the spring of 1948. The then PresidentwasGao Gang, Vice President was Gao Kelin, and the Director of Education was Ulanfu (the first President of the Minzu College of China after the founding of the PRC).
Former site of Yan’an Minzu College
During the six years of its operation, the Yan'an Minzu Collegeenrolled more than 300 young people from the Mongolian, Hui, Manchu and Tibetan minorities. During the operation of the school, the college was moved several timesthough, the teaching activities werenever interrupted. The students not only studied Marxist theory and various professional knowledge diligently, but also actively participated in the greatproduction campaign, the rectification movement and social practice, which increased their knowledgeandtrained their talents, and they grew up to be a backbone force to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups to achieve the victory of the war of resistance and the liberation of the nation. The Yan'an Minzu Collegehas trained and cultivated for our CPC a number of ethical and talented minority cadres, who made significantcontributions to the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan and the War of Liberation, and to socialist reform and construction. Buhe, the former Vice-Chairman of the National People's Congress, Tianbao, the former Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and many of the old leaders of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China all had ever studied at the Yan'an Minzu College.
In 2003, the restoration project of the former site of Yan'an Minzu College (Phase I) startedand lasted four and a half months, with the construction of five courtyards and 28 cave dwellings coveringa floor area of 500 square meters, and three exhibition roomsincollection of a large number of cultural relics and pictures.On August 20, 2003, presidentsand secretaries of 13 ethnic colleges and universitiesall over China, including the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, the People's Government of Shaanxi Province, the Provincial Ethnic Affairs and the MinzuUniversity of China, held a grand ceremony for the restoration of the formersite of Yan'anMinzu College.So far, the former site of Yan'an Minzu Collegehas received more than 3,500 ethnic minority cadres from all over the country who came to Yan'an for study and investigation.
In 2006, it was named one of the first 27 National Education Bases for National Unity and Progressby the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China.
Introduction to Mosque in Baota District
Mosque in Baota District is located atLiulin Village, Liulin Town, Baota District, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province, was built in 1940 and restored in 1993. It covers a total area of 1,800 square meters, with a building area of 600 square meters. There is a two-storey building. On the firstfloor, there are eightstone-lined cave dwellingsand sixbungalows, with a total of 14 rooms (used as the office of the Islamic Association, the office of the Monastery Management Committee, the imam's living room, the reception room, the water room, etc.); on thesecondfloor, there is the main hall of worship (about 200 square metres). The hall ceilingis of a typical Arab architectural style, with an 8-metre-high dome and a crescent moon symbol onit. Two square surface-mountedpillars made of chiselled square stones run from the ground to the top of the secondfloor, supporting the corridors of the secondfloor and serving as a patternand decoration, bringingthe building a dignified and atmospheric appearance. There is another row of sixframe houses, "T-shaped" with thetwo-storey building, located in the south of the courtyard. The stone carving of "Mosque" inscribed by Chairman Mao Zedong in his own handwriting for the mosque stands directly opposite to the entrance door.
There are more than 1,300 Muslims living around the mosque. Every year, it receives more than 10,000 visitors from domestic and foreign Muslims and other parties.
At the beginning of 1940, in order to promote the Hui people's national salvation movement, and actively promote the anti-Japanese work and the development of the Hui people's culture in the border area, the Hui people from all walks of life in Yan’an, such as Jin Langbaifrom the Eighth Route Army Political Department, Ma Wenliangfrom Marx and Lenin College, Wang Zhankui, Wang Qian, Su Ruzhi, Malsafrom the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, etc., represented various organs and schools to initiate and organize the "Yan'an Hui People's Salvation Association". The Hui People’s Salvation Associationsuggestedto establish a mosque in Yan'anin order to promote the Hui people's national salvation movementin Shanxi-Gansu-Ningxia border area, and actively promote the anti-Japanese work and the border area Hui people's cultural development. OnFebruary 26,1940, Yan'an Hui People's SalvationAssociationfounding meeting passed a resolutionand decidedthe establishment of a mosque in Yan'an. Then, through the application by the Yan'an Hui People's Salvation Association, approved and funded 7,000 Border Region currency by the Shanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Government,the mosque was established at Youth Cultural Ditch, Yan'an Peach Blossom Ridge at that time. Commander-in-chief Zhu, ChairmanGaoof the Border Region Government, Xie Juezai, Luo Mai, Li Zhuoran, Wu Liangping, Ai Siqi and other leaders attended the inauguration ceremony of the mosque, and Commander-in-chief Zhu, ChairmanGao, Xie Juezai, Luo Mai and other leading comrades delivered a passionate speech. Comrade Mao Zedong inscribed the name of the mosque in his own handwriting, and the Border Region Government presented the mosque with a plaque saying "Unity Is Strength".
On March 17, 1944, the General Political Department of the Eighth Route Army and the Yan'an Hui People's Salvation Association held a memorial meeting in the mosque, solemnly commemorating comrade Ma Benzhai, Commander of the Eighth Route Army's Hui People's Detachment and Commander of Shahe Sub-District, Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region, who died of illness in Shenxian County, Shandong Province, on February 7 of the same year. Mao Zedong madeinscriptionfor Ma Benzhai: "Comrade Ma Benzhaiis immortal".In thatspecific historical period, the establishment of the mosqueplayed a great rolefor the unity of all ethnic groups to fight against Japan and save the country. In March1947, the Kuomintang invaded Yan'an, and part of the mosque building was destroyed, then the whole mosque was forced to closeduring the “Cultural Revolution”.
Since the Third Plenary Session of the 11thCPC Central Committee, under the care and support of the higher leadership and relevant departments, with the help of Muslims in and out of the province and the efforts of Bai Mulan, Li Jinrong, etc.,Yan'an Muslims,in 1973, eightcave dwellingswere purchased atLiulin Village, Liulin Township, Baota District, andthe mosque was restored. Afour-room hall was added on the basis of the originalcave dwellingin 1997.
The Mosque in Baota District and the Islamic Association of Baota District earnestly study and implement the CPC's national and religious policies, adhere to and carry forward the tradition of patriotism and love of religion, consciously accept the management in accordance with the law, actively serve and dedicate themselves to the community, and lead the majority of the Muslim masses to make positive contributions to the economic and social development of the local community. Firstly, strengthen the daily supervision over the halal food market, ensure that it is well-informed, finds, reports and assists in solving problems in a timely manner, tomaintain the dietary safety of the masses.Assist Yan'an University, Medical School of Yan'an University, Yan'an Vocational &Technical College, Yuying Middle School and other schools to open halal restaurants within their schools, coordinate with the Muslim masses to open halal restaurants in front of schools such as Yan'an Health School, Yan'an Yanyuan Middle School, and Bao'ta DistrictNo. 4Middle School, solving the inconvenient dietary problems of teachers and students of the ethnic minorities;conducte centralized training on halal food operators in joint effortswith the Food and Drug Administration; and assiste in the banning of counterfeit halal restaurants, and so on.Secondly, coordinaterelations between ethnic groups, help resolve conflicts and disputes in a timely manner, tomaintain national unity. For example, it hasresolved the Uyghur Muslims' mass brawlincident in Wuqi County, the fight between Hui people's noodlesshop and Han people in Zhidan County, the armed fight between Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles restaurantand the original tenant opposite to the South BusStation due to the rent issue, and the accident of Hui people's vehicle crushing to death on the No. 11 section of the motorway.Thirdly, build a bridge of communication between the government and the masses, convey the policies and decisions of the CPCand the government in a timely manner, reflect the difficulties and ideas of the masses in a timely manner, facilitate the implementation of the government's policies and decisions, and help the Muslim masses to solve some of the difficulties in their production and life. For example, it has helped to solve theschooling problemsfor children of foreign ethnic minorities and the problem of mobile ethnic minorities setting up stalls and doing business wherever they go. Fourthly,strengthen education on the revolutionary traditions of the Muslims.Imam Han Chuanjin from the mosque often leads the worshipingMuslims to visit and study in Wangjiaping Memorial Hall and Yangjialing Revolutionary Site after the service on the Lord's Day,so as to make every Muslim remember the glorious history of the CPC, the history of compatriots of various ethnic groups who resisted the Japanese and saved the country, and to establish the concept that there would beno PRCif without the CPC, and holdsactivities such as celebrating the Motherland 60thanniversary ofthe Unity of All Ethnic Groupsand the 10thAnniversary of Macao's Return.Mosque in Baota District was honored as an Advanced Collective for The Progress of National Unityby the Yan'an Municipal People’s Government, and three Muslims, Li Jinrong, Bai Mulanand Han Chuanjinwere awarded the title of Model Individualsfor National Unity and Progress of Yan'an City by the Yan'an Municipal People’s Government. Imam Han Chuanjin was named Advanced Individual of Halal Food Management in Shaanxi Province, Civilized Teaching Staff in Yan'an City, and Advanced Individual of United Front Work in Baota District.
Introductionto Hongfa Zen Temple in Ansai District
Hongfa Zen Templein AnsaiDistrict is located atXujiagou Village, Zhenwudong Town, AnsaiDistrict, Yan'an City. The stone tabletsrecord that the temple was built in the Northern Song Dynasty. According to legend, Avalokitesvarapassing through in the sky, sawdemon rebellionhere, so she directed the apprenticeto establish atemple to quell the demon, and the temple was thus built. The original temple was located on FodingMountain on thebackof Xujiagou, andwas calledCiguang Temple, which was destroyed in Ming Dynastydue to the war. Later, in the early period of liberation, it was moved to Xujiagou withthe help of the people around, and in August 1992, Shi Dingming, a monk from Wutai Mountain, came to live here and renamed the temple as Hongfa Zen Temple.
The Formation of Religion in Yan'an:
Taoism
In the Sui and Tang dynasties, Taoism was introduced into the region, and the temples in which Taoist priests lived were called "Gong Guan"(Taoist temple). There are two types of Taoist priests: Sanyana Practice and Non-Sanyana Practice, while the former one is called Qaunzhen, and the latter one Zhengyi. The majority of Taoist priests in this district are Zhengyi priests. All the Taoist templesguarded by Taoist priests have a large amount of land, rented out or cultivatedby hiring others. When there is a temple fair, they will collect alms, and if there is a temple festival, they will be obliged to play music and recite sutras.In the feudal era, for the richpeople’sfuneral, Taoist rites would be set up andTaoist priestswould be invited for the rite. On February25every year, Taoist ritesareheldregularly, recitingthe Tao Te Ching.
A large number of Taoist buildings have been left in the district, and some of them are still in existence:
Taoist grottoesin Qili Village, YanchangCounty,was built in the late Song Dynasty and early YuanDynasty, well-preserved, beingaprovincial-levelcultural relics protection organization. The grottoes are4 metersdeep, nearly 3 meterswide and 1.86 metershigh. On the front upperplatform,there are 9 statues, of which thethree in the middle are Yuan Shi Tian Zun - The Primeval Lord of Heaven (Tianbaojun), LingBao TianZun- The Heavenly Lord of Numinous Treasure (Taishang Daojun), Dao De Tian Zun - The Heavenly Lord of Tao and Virtue (Taishang Laojun), with Taoist nuns and Taoist childrenarranged on both sides. There are 6 statues on the lower platform, and on the east wall, there are reliefs of the Eight Immortals celebrating longevity, Quanzhen Taoist and four guardian deities, and on the west wall, there are reliefs of Gods ofHe-He, Su Nv (the goddess of music), KuiXing (the god of literature), Nandou Three Stars and the God of Wealth.
In the ninth year of Dading of the Jin Dynasty (1169), Lingshan Temple was built in the south of the FushiCity, having influenceson the surrounding townships. In the first year of Dade of the Yuan Dynasty (1297), the surrounding temples became Taoist residence, Datong Temple as the centre of the temple, "Minglun Hall" to receive pilgrims.
The "Zi Ji Gong", “San Hou Temple”, etc. established in lateSong Dynasty and earlyYuan Dynasty keep flourishing constantly.
In the second year of Mongolia Zhiyuan(1265), Niu Zhisheng, county magistrateof Menshan County (now surbordinateto Yanchang County) abandoned his post to go back to his hermitage, established Yin Zhen Guan in Luochuan County, practicing and chanting Taoist books, and accepted three apprentices. This Taoist temple can be the beginning of Taoism. There are nine Taoist temples in Ming Dynasty, with more than a hundred apprentices.
Buddhism
In Eastern Han Dynasty, Buddhism was introduced to the present Luochuan County, and the ancestral temple was built for the first time at Renli House, 12 miles south of the county. 24 monasteries were built in Ming Dynasty, with 218 apprentices, and flourished in Qing Dynasty, with 3000 apprentices, declined gradually at the end of Qing Dynasty.
In Northern Wei Dynasty, Buddhism were introduced to the present Yan'an, Wuqi, Zhidan, Ansai counties. In Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties, the trend of worshiping Buddhism became more intense. In Ansai territory, there are still 12 grotto temples.
The Stone Buddha Temple in the north of Yan’an City, is the main place in Yan’an for Buddhist activities in Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties. The Wanfo BuddhaCaveon Qingliang Mountain, after the damage of war, flood disaster and "Cultural Revolution", still has more than 10,000 Buddha reliefs on the walls. Buddhism was transferred to Huangling, Fuxian, Ganquan, Yanchang, Yanchuan, Zichang and other counties in a later time, and the temples were not constructed in these places until Sui and Tang Dynasties.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Buddhism and Taoism merged into one, and in one temple, Buddha, Lao Jun and Guan Yunchang were all worshiped. In late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, Buddhism gradually declined. From the Land Revolution to the early years of the founding of the PRC, Buddhist activities disappeared, while most of the monks returned to secularism. In the 1980s, religious policy was implemented, carrying out freedom of belief, and masses all over the country rebuilt temples and shaped the statue of the Buddha, so incense burning and worship of the Buddha was increasing. Yan'an City restored the monument of Qingliang Mountain, which attracts believers and tourists on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month every year.
Catholicism
Catholicism is also known as "Roman Catholicism".
In earlyQing Dynasty, Catholicismwas introduced to Fuzhou (the present Fuxian County), and two Catholic churches were builtat Chuankou Village, Chafang Town and Dongcun Village, Beidaode Township respectively. In the 3rdyear of the Republic of China (1914), Spanish missionary Ai Zhixian founded the Catholic Church in Luochuan and Huanglong, and set up one church each in Shendi and Taipingliang villages in Huanglong, and Pengjiahe Village in Luochuan, with only more than 10 members fromHenan. In the 7thand 8thyear of the Republic of China (1918-1919), the missionary work stoppeddue to the "banditry" on Huanglong Mountain. In the 11thyear of the Republic of China (1922), the Spanish missionary Ma Shichenfounded the churchat Wangjia Lane, Luochuan County, and set up one church school. At that time, there was drought and military sufferingin Luochuan, so Ma asked "Chinese and Foreign Charity Relief Society" to allocate funds for relief, taking the opportunity to introduce Catholicism, then getting more and more believers, up to 115. In the 13thyear of the Republic of China (1924), Catholicism was introduced to Fushi (the present Yan’an City), Ansai and Yanchang. In the 20thyear of the Republic of China (1931), churches were built passionately at Qiaoer Valley, Yan’an and Ganguyi (now surbordinate to Yan’an City), Yanchang County, with more than a hundred members from more than 46 households, distributed in the surrounding countryside. The church set up one nursery andschool, and moved away after the liberation of Yan’an in 1935, thus the members left then. Catholicism in Ansai District was introduced by by Nie Defa(from Ganquan County), and he established one church in the county, with a few members at the beginning, then to more than 40 later. In 1935,Ansai was liberated, then activitieswere stopped. In the 14thyear of the Republic of China (1925), Fang introduced Catholicism in the area around Tianping Village, Kangyadi Township, Zhongbu County (the present Huangling County), developed 93 members, and established one church. In the 20thyear of the Republic of China (1931), Fang was suppressed by the Red Army in Northern Shaanxi, and the religion disappeared fromZhongbu County.In the 17thyear of the Republic of China (1928), Catholicism was introduced to Anding County (the present Zichang County), and a general church was built in Wayaobu, called "Salvation Church" (the present school site of Dongfeng School in Wayaobu Town), under the jurisdiction of the Fushi episcopate, with more than a hundred members. In the 20th year of the Republic of China (1931), Xue Zhongmao, a native of Wubao, preachedCatholicism in Wujiaping, Anding County, and collected funds to build a church in the village, developedmore than 300 members. In 1935, the Catholic activities in Anding County came to an enddue to the emergence of the Land Revolution.
Catholicism was not introduced toYichuan, Wuqi, and Bao’an (the present Zhidan). After the founding of the PRC, the Catholic members had been developed to 125as of1987.
In the 27thyear of Guangxu in Qing Dynasty (1901), Christianity was introduced to Zhongbu County. The generalchurch was located in Sanyuan County, andthe pastorJohn Chung (aBritish), came toZhongbu County to preach twice and established the Zhongbu sub-church. The church was located in a grottooutside the west gate of the county, and was preached by missionary Dang Qiaoshan (a native of Houzhuang Township in presentHuangling). At that time, there were 38 members of 19 households, mostly residents of Shandong. In the 12thyear of the Republic of China(1923), 10 members were developed, and 40 members were developed in the 14thyear of the Republic of China(1924). In 1948, Huangling was liberated, and Christian organizations disappearedsince then.
Christian activities in Yichuan County were usually inlarge scale and continued until now. In the second year of Xuantong in Qing Dynasty (1910), the Swedish pastor Shan Gurenand Xie Daoren from Ronghe County in Shanxi Province introduced Christianity to Yichuan, and one church was set up on West Street in the county. Later, the church was bombed and destroyedby Japanese invaders’ aircraft, and got repaired with the funding of Christians in 1940. In 1940, there were150 Christians, and the number was reduced to 99 in 1955 after the founding of the PRC. There were three churches in the county, one of which is called “Chinese Christianity", subordinate to the General Christianity Association of Heyang. Branches were set up at Jiyi and Gaojiawan, under the leadership of the county church. All the three churches had one prelate, one vice-prelate, one clerk, and one treasurerfor each. In 1982, approved by the Yan'an RegionAdministrative Office, the church in Yichuan Countywas opened. In 1983, approved by the People's Government of Yichuan County,churches in Jiyi and Xuejiaping were opened, and three Christian gathering sites were set up in Tongshugou and other venues approved by the People's Government of Jiyi Town. There were 114 Christians in Yichuan County before 1965, and 87 more were developed during the “Cultural Revolution”, and 890 Christians were developed between 199 and 1985, achieved a total of 1045 Christians in 1988.
The Christian activities in Huanglong County werealsoinlargescale. In 1945, the Huanglong Administration approved the establishment of the Huanglong Mountain Christian Laymen Federation, with eight branches and one primary school. After the founding of the PRC, in 1951, the Federationwas renamed Huanglong County Christian Federation, and the primary school was changed to a clinic. According to the county archives: Huanglong County originallyhas 562Christians, 130in 1954, 173in 1963, and 75 for certain in 1965."During the “Cultural Revolution”, the church was closed, its property and the clinic were confiscated, and DongHezhaiand his family were relocated to the countryside, supervised and reformed; after the Third Plenary Session of the 11thCPCCentral Committee, Dong was vindicated.
Islam
In October 1940, the mosque in Wenhuagou(now Dabiangou)in the northern suburb of Yan'an Citywas inaugurated, Zhu De, Gao Zili, Cao Liru, Xie Juezai, Li Weihan, Li Zhuoran, AiSiqi and others attendedthe ceremony, Mao Zedong inscribedthe name of the temple "Mosque", and the government of the border area presenteda plaque inscribed with the words "Unity Is Strength".The regionalso built a mosque in Yichuan County, which was established by aHui peoplesurnamed Xu from Shanxi in 1943, presided over byanimam surnamed Bai. After the liberation of Yichuan, MaiYouxiang succeeded the imam. After the founding of the PRC, in August 1986, Mai wentback to his native home in Henan. In 1996, there were52 Islamists, half men and half women.
There are also Islamistsin other counties (cities)in this region, more than a hundred peoplein Yan'an City, but there is neither aunified organization, normosques, so there is no site for centralized activities, so peopleoften set up sacral place at home, praying and reciting the Koran.