Crescent Moon over the Celestial Empire: Culture of the Hui Minority People of Qinghai Province at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Extension. 

Experience a unique fusion of Chinese culture and Islamic traditions with Hui-style Arabic calligraphy, traditional garments, and various religious articles from northwest China. About ten million Hui live scattered across China, and they do not have a language or physical characteristics distinct from the Han majority. Their ethnic identity is mostly based on their descent from foreign Muslims who settled in China as early as the Tang Dynasty and various practices associated with Islam. Hui are unrelated to the Uygur Muslim people who mostly live in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and few Hui sympathize with the violent separatist ideology some Uygurs have adopted.

While Dr. Alex Stewart was conducting research in Xining, Qinghai Province, numerous Hui donated artifacts for use in this exhibit in hopes that Americans will learn that Muslims can peacefully integrate with a secular culture. Info: [email protected]