Mythology and Folklore of the Hui, a Muslim Chinese People

Reveals the rich, untold world of Hui Muslim storytelling--where Chinese tradition and Islamic imagination meet.

Across the landscapes of imperial China and the spiritual traditions of Islam, Mythology and Folklore of the Hui, a Muslim Chinese People opens a rare window into the imaginative world of one of China's most culturally distinctive communities. Collected and translated by Shujiang Li and Karl W. Luckert, this landmark work brings together an extraordinary corpus of Hui oral tradition--stories of prophets and ancestors, culture heroes and tricksters, love and rebellion, animals and the unseen world.

From creation tales of Adan and Haowa to the adventures of Abudu and the moral tensions of life under empire, these narratives reveal a vibrant synthesis of Islamic belief and Chinese cultural imagination. Heroic quests, satirical village tales, and sacred folklore illuminate how the Hui people have preserved identity, negotiated faith, and expressed creativity across centuries.

Richly organized into thematic cycles, the collection spans mythology, social critique, religious encounter, and family life--offering both scholars and general readers an unparalleled view into a living storytelling tradition.