Unlocking the Gates of Memory

Abstract

This study analyzes official and family historical narratives, and their role in Muslim-Chinese identity formation in Southeast China, from the early Ming dynasty to the twentieth century. The narratives examined here are associated with the Chinese merchant-official Pu Shougeng (d. ca. 1296) and with the late-Yuan Muslim General Jin Ji (posted to Quanzhou in 1333). Both played crucial political and military roles in thirteenth- and fourteenth-century Fujian. The families’ historical narratives – occasionally tightly linked, yet also representing conflicting interests and sentiments – strongly influenced the fortunes of Muslims in Quanzhou at large and especially those of the Pu and Jin lineages, whose descendants still live in Quanzhou and its surroundings. Under current political conditions, Muslim origin has become a desired token for asserting official Muslim-Chinese (Hui) ethnic identity. Thus, family branches that previously made efforts to conceal their ancestral identity are utilizing historical documentation, genealogical records, oral traditions and literature to provide new interpretations to their historical narratives, highlighting certain themes and playing down others, to emphasize their Muslim origin. This analysis sheds additional light on the changing roles of historical narratives in identity formation from the late imperial period until today.