During the Tang Dynasty, Islam spread to China via the Silk Road, facilitated by Muslim merchants. The Tang Dynasty's religious tolerance allowed Islam to integrate into Chinese society, influencing trade, culture, and family dynamics, exemplified by the Great Mosque of Xi'an.

Islam is a religion that was founded in the 7^th century in the Arabian Peninsula. Since its foundation, this religious tradition has rapidly spread all over the world. Islam expanded by using different approaches and methods, such as through conquest and military expansion, through missionaries and preachers, exchange of culture, and most importantly, through trade routes. One of the most important trade routes of the time that significantly impacted the spread of Islam was the Silk Road. This pathway of commerce connected the East and West, promoting the exchange of not just goods but also ideas, including religious beliefs. Muslim traders, travelers, and merchants traveling along the Silk Roads acted as carriers of Islamic teachings. They introduced these teachings to diverse cultures and societies, contributing to the global diffusion of the Islamic faith. China was one country where Muslim merchants and travelers came through the Silk Road and in this way, Islam entered the land of the Chinese around the 7^th century during the reign of the Tang dynasty. The diffusion of Islam into China has affected the Chinese population in many ways such as the business trade, family dynamics, and cultural changes like architecture in numerous constructive ways. These changes positively impacted the Chinese society as a whole.

The Silk Road, which got its name from the valuable silk trade that was a big part of it, was a network of ancient trade routes that connected different parts of the world. It started way back in the times of the Han Dynasty of China. These routes stretched across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, linking various cultures and enabling the exchange of not only silk but also other goods, ideas, and religions. Even before the arrival of Islam, interactions between Arabs and Chinese had already begun along the Silk Road route.[1] Arab traders and travelers, launching to the East, established valuable commercial ties with the Chinese, introducing commodities like spices, precious metals, and textiles. This connection between the two nations also helped the introduction of Islam by the Arab merchants and travelers into China and facilitated a greater interaction between the Arabs and the Chinese people.

One of the main reasons for the Arab merchants to travel to China was to spread Islam, as it was told by their Holy Book to do so. Islam is a religion that came around the 7^th century to the Arabian Peninsula, particularly Mecca. The religion is taught and preached by Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), who was born in 571 in Mecca. When the religion of Islam arrived with the Holy Book of Qur’an, he started to preach the teachings of Allah.[2] Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was responsible for teaching these good morals to people by spreading Islam. In the Qur'an, it is stated that “And whose words are better than someone who calls others to Allah, does good, and says, ‘I am truly one of those who submit’?”[3] This verse from the Qur’an has also encouraged the community of Muslims to be the one to spread Islam to fulfill Allah’s will. The teachings of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) and the Qur’an led Muslims to spread their religion across the world. This helped to strengthen the connection between the two nations, encouraging them to share their religion, which affected the societies’ cultural values.

The spread of Islam was easier in China, thanks to the tolerance being shown by the Tang Dynasty,[4] which also contributed to the changes that occurred in the society after the arrival of Islam. Muslims were passionate about spreading their religion[5], just like other people who believed in other religions. China was a popular destination for those people who were traveling to spread their religion. Alongside Islam, Christianity was also introduced around similar time periods. That fact is proven by the existence of the Nestorian stele that points out that Christianity was present in China during the Tang Dynasty. The stele's inscription, created in 781 CE, describes the activities of the Christian community and the translation of Christian texts into Chinese.[6] This shows that the Tang Emperors were tolerant about other religions and were offering religious freedom which helped Christianity as well as Islam to spread in the Chinese lands. With the help of the tolerance that was shown by the government, people felt more comfortable interacting with the Muslims and accepting their religion. Upon accepting their religion, the Chinese also embraced the values and culture that they brought with them which changed the dynamics in religion of China.

Islam mainly spread to China through the Silk Road trade. Muslim merchants and travelers from the Arabian Peninsula and Persia used the Silk Road trade route to bring goods such as perfumes, spices, glassware, clothing, exotic fruits and vegetables, etc. They came to the capital city of Chang 'an where most of the trade happened.[7] The presence of these merchants that came from the Arabian Peninsula can be proven by looking at the accounts that they recorded. One of those accounts is recorded by Sulayman Al Tajir and other travelers. The travelers looked at the lifestyle of the Chinese and compared them to their own. Things that the Chinese practiced and the foods that they ate was the part of their records. In the records, they also mention the ways that the Chinese do their transaction when the trade takes place. This shows that they did trade with the Chinese people.  In addition to those, they recorded the goods that were local to China and were used on a daily basis. As seen from the records, the Arab merchants arrived in China and the trade connections promoted the introduction of Islam to Chinese communities.[8] Over time, this led Muslim communities to be established in regions of China. The coexistence of different religious communities and the exchange of knowledge and culture between Chinese and Islamic societies influenced various aspects of Chinese life, including architecture. Mosques, such as the Great Mosque of Xi'an[9], reflect this fusion of Chinese and Islamic architectural styles. Also, the rich Arab traders played a significant role in encouraging the conversion of the local population in China to Islam. Their financial influence and resources were helpful in drawing people towards the Islamic faith. [10]

Choosing to embrace Islam also brought financial benefits with it. Muslim traders and merchants, when they settled in different regions, often formed tight-knit communities that provided different kinds of support to their fellow Muslims. This network was like a caring, supportive family. These Muslim communities offered not just a religious bond but also practical advantages. They shared information about new markets and introduced trading partners, which expanded economic opportunities. Being a part of this Muslim network made it easier for people to grow in business and trade. In addition to that, the teachings of Islam emphasized fairness in trade and helping those in need, which bred a strong sense of ethics in business. This, in turn, contributed to the economic well-being of the Muslim community as a whole. People admired these principles and the economic stability that came with them, so being Muslim in places like Chang'an and other parts of China did not only represent a religious affiliation; it also meant enhanced opportunities for financial success. As a result, many were drawn to Islam not only for its spiritual values but also for the improved economic opportunities and the supportive community it offered. As seen, the spread of Islam in China has affected the business and trade dynamics in Chang’an.

This connection between the locals in China who interacted with the Muslim merchants coming along the Silk Road, also led to intermarriages between them. The merchants married the local Chinese women.[11] These marriages were not just about individuals getting together but also to share religious knowledge. These marriages often led Chinese women to convert to Islam. As these couples formed families and raised their children, they passed down Islamic beliefs and practices, which helped the number of Muslims to increase. The increase in the number of Muslim population in China contributed to the change in the traditional family dynamics.

The families made up of these Muslim merchants contributed to the change that was brought by the spread of Islam in China by adopting abandoned babies.[12] These babies were left to their fate by their biological parents and were not wanted by their biological parents. There are thought to be many reasons why these babies were unwanted such as economic hardships and the inability to meet the basic needs of a child, such as food, clothing, and shelter, as well as family pressures to avoid the shame of having an unwanted baby due to different kinds of reasons such as rape, etc. However, these babies were lucky to be adopted by the Muslim merchants as they provided them with a safe and caring environment, nutritious food, and a great quality of education, including Islamic teachings. These babies grew up as Muslims, which caused a change in family values of the traditional China.

As Islam spread in China and affected some aspects of the traditional Chinese life, other religions were also introduced to China. One of those religions is Judaism. Through the Silk Road, Jewish merchants and travelers arrived at the city of Kaifeng for trading purposes, and some of them settled there. These settlements eventually led to the growth of the Jewish population in China. The growth of the Jewish population in China has also contributed to the diffusion of Jewish culture and values into Chinese society. The book of Wonders by Captain Buzurg ibn Shariyar talks about a Jewish merchant named Ishaq. This Jewish trader made his wealth off trading in China and India.[13] The document suggests that Jewish traders, like Ishaq, were actively engaged in trading activities in regions like China. These activities included the trade of various goods, such as spices, textiles, precious metals, and other commodities that were highly sought after along the Silk Road. Some of those Jewish merchants started a life in China where they exchanged cultural values with them similar to the Muslim merchants who came along the Silk Road and followed the same path.

The records and documents that talk about the spread of Islam via Silk Road trade during Tang Dynasty mostly mention similar thoughts and ideas. All references made over the course of this paper came to a similar conclusion. It is confirmed that Muslim merchants who traveled along the Silk Road for trading purposes were the initial starters of the spread of Islam.

In conclusion, the Silk Road was more than just a trade route; it was a pathway for the spread of Islam into China which then caused the changes in the society. The Silk Road not only facilitated the trade of goods. The merchants who came to trade in China brought their religion, Islam, with them too, which contributed to the diffusion of different values and facilitated the adaptation of new dynamics. The tolerance shown by the Tang Dynasty created an environment that allowed Islamic faith to find a welcoming home in China, alongside other religions like Christianity and Buddhism. In addition, the intermarriages between the Muslim merchants and the Chinese women played an important role in the growth of the Muslim population. As these families grew, they became ambassadors of Islam, passing down their faith to the next generations and contributing to the growth of the Muslim population in China where they changed the cultural values. Also, the adoption of abandoned babies by Muslim merchants provided these children with care, nourishment, and education, including Islamic teachings. These children, raised within the Islamic faith, also played a part in the expansion of the Muslim community in China and contributed to a change in the family dynamics. In the end, the Silk Road not only served as an economic lifeline connecting East and West, but it also acted as a bridge for sharing religious values, such as Islamic ones, and contributed to a change in the traditional values.

[1] Arnold Thomas Walker, The preaching of Islam: a history of the propagation of the Muslim faith (London: Constable, 1913), 295-311.

[2] Salih Suruç, Kainatın Efendisi Peygamberimizin Hayatı (Istanbul: Nesil Maatbacılık, 2011), 63-89.

 [3] The Qur'an 41:33 (trans. Dr. Mustafa Khattab).

[4] Melanie Jones-Leaning and Douglas Pratt, "Islam in China: From Silk Road to Separatism: Islam in China," The Muslim World 102, no. 2 (2012): 308–334.

[5] Ertuğrul Ceylan, “Çin Kaynaklarına Göre İslamiyet'in Çin'e Girişi”[Introduction of Islam into China According to Chinese Sources] Current Research in Social Sciences, (2016): 27-36.

[6] Charles F. Horne, ed., The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, (New York: Parke, Austin, & Lipscomb, 1917), Vol. XII, Medieval China, pp. 381-392.

[7] Haji Murad Bik, “Tarihte İpek Yolunda Ortaya Çıkan Dinler” [Resulting Religions on Silk Road in History] (Master’s thesis, Necmettin Erbakan University, 2012).

[8] Liu Xinru, “An Account of China and India, in Arabic Classical Accounts of India and China,” in The Silk Roads: A Brief History with Documents (Boston: Bedford/St.Martins, 2012).

[9] Melanie J.L and Douglas P, 308–334.

[10] Haji Murad Bik,”Resulting Religions on Silk Road in History”.

[11] Arnold T.W, 295-311.

[12] Richard Foltz, Religions of the Silk Road: Overland Trade and Cultural Exchange from Antiquity to the Fiftenth Century (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1999), 101-103.

[13]Liu Xinru, “The Book of the Wonders of India,” in The Silk Roads: A Brief History with Documents (Boston: Bedford/St.Martins, 2012).