Qi Jingyi

The dome of Qi Jingyi's Gongbei (mausoleum) seen over the wall of Hongyuan Park in Linxia City

Qi Jingyi (traditional Chinese: 祁靜一; simplified Chinese: 祁静一) (1656–1719), also known as Hilal al-Din, was a Chinese Sufi master, instrumental in the spread of the Qadiriyyah school among Chinese Muslims. He was known among his followers as Qi Daozu (祁道祖), i.e. Grand Master Qi.[1]

Life

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According to Qi Jingyi's followers, the 16-year-old Qi Jingyi met the revered master Afaq Khwaja in Xining in 1672, and asked him to become his teacher. Afaq Khwaja supposedly said in response: "I am not your teacher; my ancient teaching is not to be passed on to you; your teacher has already crossed the Eastern Sea and arrived in the Eastern land. You must therefore return home quickly, and you will become a famous teacher in your land."[2]

He later studied under Khwaja Sayyed Abdullāh, a 29th generation descendant of Muhammad, who had entered China in 1674.[1][2]

Death

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Qi Jingyi's grave in Linxia City has become the center of the shrine complex known as Da Gongbei, or the "Great Tomb", which remains the center of the Qadiriyyah in China.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Gladney, Dru C. "Muslim Tombs and Ethnic Folklore: Charters for Hui Identity" Journal of Asian Studies, August 1987, Vol. 46 (3): 495-532
  2. ^ a b Gladney, Dru C. (1996). Muslim Chinese: ethnic nationalism in the People's Republic. Volume 149 of Harvard East Asian monographs (2 ed.). Harvard Univ Asia Center. p. 44. ISBN 0-674-59497-5.