History of Religious Evolution in Xinjiang

Author: Jin Xin Li
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-01
Features: This book is an effort to objectively, comprehensively, and deeply explore and introduce the occurrence, spread, development, and evolution of religion in the history of Xinjiang. The author of the book believes that the basic characteristics of religious development and evolution in Xinjiang are as follows:
1. The coexistence of multiple religious beliefs is the most fundamental characteristic of religious evolution in Xinjiang from ancient times to the present, determined by its geographical location as a meeting point of multiple cultures from the East and West and its historical status as a multi-ethnic settlement and migration area.
2. The religions prevalent in Xinjiang mostly belong to "foreign religions," primarily introduced through Central Asia. After entering Xinjiang, these "foreign religions" underwent a process of integration and adaptation with the local and ethnic traditional culture and customs, a process of ethnicization and regionalization.
3. In the history of religion in Xinjiang, some religions rose while others declined; the reasons for this rise and fall are multifaceted, involving both objective environmental influences and internal social factors, as well as changes within the religions themselves. Among these factors, the feudal ruling class's use of religion, adopting attitudes of promotion or support toward certain religions while suppressing or excluding others, is one of the important reasons for such changes.
4. Several significant changes in religious beliefs in Xinjiang are closely linked to the migration movements of Western Regions ethnic groups. The results of these changes have promoted ethnic integration and development.