An Inquiry Into The Philosophy And Contribution Of Ma Qixi's Founding Of The Xidaotang

Against the backdrop of China's transition from a feudal society to a democratic society, what coincidence or circumstance caused Ma Qixi to give up the imperial examination system and found Xidaotang, and what was the reason for the solid growth of Xidaotang from a private religious school to a big family resembling a"people's commune"? Xidaotang's founding was not only a unique religious phenomenon among the Islamic sects of China, but also led to long-term development for local education, agriculture, forestry, husbandry and business.The Islamic philosophy of Ma Qixi had its source in the Chinese translation works of Liu Zhi. In order to consolidate Islam's penetration and growth on China soil, Liu Zhi and other Islamic scholars translated works transmitted from the Middle East into language that could be understood by ordinary people. Ma Qixi studied such translated works and, using Chinese to expound Islamic doctrine, set great store by Liu Zhi's works. In Liu Zhi's works Ma Qixi discovered a philosophy that resonated with him, so Ma Qixi's Islamic doctrine had its basis in the religious thought of Liu Zhi.Ma Qixi and Xidaotang carried out religious rites using lessons absorbed from Ma Mingxin's religious reformist thought. The simplification of complicated worship rites and the selection of religious imams by merit instead of family heredity, were ideas identical to Ma Mingxin's. Xidaotang has kept up his ideas to this day, and to this day the religious imam is elected by religious members.Ma Qixi's founding of Xidaotang was a new experiment. Xidaotang was to be a sect within Islam as well as a"big-family"polity. Under the aegis of religion, they established a new societal model of common production, common living arrangements and common distribution of resources. To support the development of Xidaotang, they engaged in production activities such as agriculture, business and forestry. To maintain the big family of Xidaotang, emphasis was placed on economic activity as well as the education of religious members, even the education of females. Their lifestyle and philosophy have had a great influence on the Lintan region.