Ma Hualong

{ "text": "Ma Hualong

Ma Hualong was a leader in China. He led a group called the Jahriyya. This group is a Sufi order. Sufi orders are groups of people with shared faith. Ma Hualong became their leader around 1849. He lived in a place called Jinjipu. This town was a busy center for trade. Leaders of the Jahriyya grew wealthy from trade. They helped goods move across Inner Mongolia.

In 1862, a big rebellion began. Ma Hualong was a main leader in this fight. He stayed at his headquarters in Jinjipu. In 1869, government troops surrounded the town. Food became very scarce inside the walls. Ma Hualong surrendered in 1871 to save his people. Sadly, many people died in the town after that. Ma Hualong died on March 2, 1871.

Today, many people still remember him. Some believe his grave is in Dongta Town. They built a shrine there called Siqiliangzi gongbei.

A photo shows this shrine. Other people believe his grave is in a different place. They think it is in Zhangjiachuan County. Some say his body and his head are in two places.

Ma Hualong was a very important leader in northwestern China. He served as the fifth leader of a group called the Jahriyya. This group is a Sufi order, which is a way people practice their faith. Ma Hualong took over this leadership role around the year 1849. He followed the fourth leader, a man named Ma Yide. The Jahriyya group was originally started by Ma Mingxin in central Gansu. By the time Ma Hualong was in charge, the group lived mostly in northern Ningxia.

The group's headquarters were in a town called Jinjipu. This town was a very busy place for religion and business. The leaders of the Jahriyya became wealthy through the caravan trade. They helped move goods across Inner Mongolia between many different places. These places included Baotou, Huhhot, and Beijing. Because of this trade, Jinjipu became a central hub for their community. This wealth helped the group grow and stay strong for a long time.

In 1862, a large rebellion began against the Qing government. Ma Hualong became one of the main leaders of this rebellion. He stayed at the headquarters in Jinjipu to lead his people. Other leaders like Ma Zhan'ao and Ma Guiyuan led different parts of the fight. Even though these leaders were separate, many Jahriyya members followed Ma Hualong. He even tried to negotiate with the government at different times. He even took a new name, Ma Chaoqing, to show he would attend to the Qing.

Things became very difficult for the people in Jinjipu. In July 1869, government troops led by General Zuo Zongtang surrounded the town. The soldiers captured the area outside the walls first. Soon, there was not enough food left inside the town. Ma Hualong surrendered in January 1871 to try and save his people's lives. Sadly, many people died in the town after the troops entered. Ma Hualong died on March 2, 1871, after the surrender.

Today, people still hold many different beliefs about Ma Hualong. Some followers believe his grave is in Dongta Town. They built a shrine there called the Siqiliangzi gongbei. In 1985, over 10,000 people came to a ceremony at this site. Other followers believe his true grave is in Zhangjiachuan County. Some people even think his body and his head are in two different places. These different ideas show how much his history still matters today.

Ma Hualong was a significant religious and political figure in 19th-century China. He served as the fifth leader, or jiaozhu, of the Jahriyya. The Jahriyya is a Sufi order, which is a specific branch of Islam known as a menhuan. Ma Hualong took leadership of this group around 1849. He succeeded the fourth shaykh, a religious leader named Ma Yide. His leadership spanned a period of intense conflict and social change in northwestern China.

The Jahriyya order had its origins with Ma Mingxin in central Gansu. By the time Ma Hualong became leader, the group was centered in northern Ningxia. Their headquarters were located in the town of Jinjipu. Some historians suggest the name might be transcribed as Jinjibao. This is because the suffix can be pronounced as "bao," meaning fort. Jinjipu sat just a few kilometers south of modern-day Wuzhong City. The town served as a vital center for both faith and commerce.

Wealth and influence grew through the Jahriyya's involvement in the caravan trade. This trade moved goods across Inner Mongolia. Routes connected major cities like Baotou, Huhhot, and Beijing. Because of this economic activity, the leaders of the menhuan became quite prosperous. This wealth helped establish the Jahriyya as a powerful presence in the region. Their influence extended across the eastern parts of the 19th-century Gansu Province. This area included much of what is known today as Ningxia and Qinghai.

In 1862, a major conflict known as the anti-Qing Muslim Rebellion began. Ma Hualong became a primary leader of this uprising. While other leaders like Ma Zhan'ao and Ma Guiyuan operated independently, many Jahriyya members remained loyal to Ma Hualong. He attempted various strategies to manage the conflict. At one point, he even negotiated with the Qing authorities. He took the name "Ma Chaoqing," which means "one who attends on the Qing." Despite this, he continued to fortify Jinjipu and support rebels from Shaanxi.

The situation in Jinjipu reached a crisis in July 1869. General Zuo Zongtang led the Qing government forces in a siege of the town. The government troops first captured the fortifications outside the town walls. This left the people inside the walls with very little food. To prevent further suffering, Ma Hualong surrendered in January 1871. He hoped this act would spare the lives of his followers. However, a massacre occurred after the troops entered the town. Over one thousand people lost their lives, and the town was destroyed.

Ma Hualong's death occurred on March 2, 1871. Historical accounts of his end vary among different sources. Some records suggest he was executed on the orders of General Zuo. It is believed he was killed alongside his son, Ma Yaobang, and eighty other officials. Some traditions claim he was killed by a traitor within his own ranks. His family also faced great hardship during this time. Two of his grandsons, Ma Jincheng and Ma Jinxi, were sentenced to castration at age 12. Ma Jincheng eventually lived as a slave in Kaifeng until 1890.

Despite these tragedies, the Jahriyya order continued through new leadership. Ma Yuanzhang became the next leader in the 1850s. He helped support Ma Jincheng in secret. He also helped hide the younger grandson, Ma Jinxi, in Hangzhou. Eventually, Ma Yuanzhang obtained a pardon for Ma Jinxi. This allowed the grandson to return to Ningxia years later. However, the community experienced a split. Some followers followed Ma Jinxi, while others followed Ma Yuanzhang. This division was partly because Ma Yuanzhang claimed descent from the founder, Ma Mingxin.

Today, Ma Hualong remains a figure of great remembrance. There are different beliefs regarding his final resting place. Many Jahriyya adherents in Ningxia believe his grave is in Dongta Town. A tomb shrine called the Siqiliangzi gongbei stands there today. In 1985, more than 10,000 people gathered there for a commemoration ceremony. Other followers believe his true tomb is in Xuanhuagang, located in Zhangjiachuan County. Some scholars suggest a middle ground. They propose his body is in Dongta, but his head is in Zhangjiachuan.