Yang Zengxin
Encyclopedia
Yang Zengxin (1859 - July 7, 1928), born in Mengzi, Honghe
, Yunnan
in 1859, was the ruler of Xinjiang
after the Xinhai Revolution
in 1911 until his assassination in 1928.
Magistrate Yang Zengxin wrote an essay on Sufi menhuan dated 1897.
Shaykh, gave his support for Yang Zengxin to seize power in Xinjiang. This enabled Yang to immediately raise a massive army of Hui Muslim troops, mainly from Jahriyya mosque communities.
The Muslim General Ma Anliang
, in cooperation with magistrate Yang Zengxin, attempted to arrest and execute the Yihewani(Ikhwan
in Arabic) leader Ma Wanfu
. Ma Qi
, one of Ma Anliang's suboordinates, staged a rescue operation and brought Ma Wanfu to Xining. Ma Anliang and Yang Zengxin were both monarchists and did not trust republicanism, they had served in the Qing military together.
Yang came to power after he defeated the revolutionaries that caused the last Qing dynasty
governor Yuan Dahua to flee during the Xinhai Revolution in Xinjiang
. The Ili revolutionaries and the Gelaohui
were eliminated by Yang. Yang appointed Ma Fuxing
as military commander of 2,000 Chinese Muslim
troops, to crush Yang's rivals. President Yuan Shikai
recognized his rule and in return he supported Yuan's revival of the monarchy by inviting Republican anti-Yuan rebels to a banquet and decapitating them on New Year's Day
, 1916. Yang believed monarchy was the best system for China, and some western travelers noted with approval, that Yang was a former Mandarin unlike the Republican governors of the other provinces.
Yang was made a Count
of the First Rank (一等伯 Yī děng bó) by Yuan Shikai.
In 1917, President Li Yuanhong
assigned Fan Yaonan (樊耀南) to observe him and, if possible, replace him. Yang always recognized which ever faction was in power in the Beiyang government
to avoid trouble. Yang's rule kept the region relatively peaceful, compared to other parts of China
which were war-torn
. However, he ruled dictatorially and executed many dissidents. Taxes for Kazakhs, Uighurs, and other minorities were lowered. People were forbidden to abuse minorities, and warned his Muslim subjects on the Soviet Russians, saying, "beware of associating thenselves with a people who are entirely without religion and who would harm them and mislead their women".
Yang relied heavily on Hui people, Chinese Muslims to enforces his rule on Xinjiang. They were disliked by both Han and Uighurs, because they had high positions within the Xinjiang military and government under Yang.
There were several Uighur factions during Yang's rule in Xinjiang, which did not intermarry and were fierce rivals. The Agtachlik faction always cut off the top of a melon and said bismillah
before slicing it, and the less pious Qarataghliks (black mountain Uighurs) would slice up the melon without invoking the name of God. The Qarataghliks were pro-Chinese, and content to live under Chinese rule, while the Agtachlik Uighurs were hostile to Chinese rule.
On July 1, 1928 he recognized the Nationalist Government in Nanjing
. Six days later he was killed in a coup attempt by Fan Yaonan during a banquet. Fan had risen high into Yang's regime but Yang never trusted Fan. The motive seems to be Yang's denial of the pro-Nationalist Fan into a Nationalist advisory council designed to keep Xinjiang in check. Yang's death was avenged by Jin Shuren
almost immediately. Lacking resources to oust Jin, Nanjing recognized his succession to the governorship.
Ma Fuxing
was appointed Titai of Kashgar from 1916-1924 by Yang, who ordered Ma Shaowu
to assassinated Ma Fuxing in 1924. Ma Shaowu was then appointed Daotai of Kashgar
.
Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture
Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture is an autonomous prefecture of Yunnan Province, China. Its name is derived from the Honghe river and the two major ethnic minority groups who live there: the Yi and the Hani. Honghe has an area of 32,929 km²...
, Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
in 1859, was the ruler of Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
after the Xinhai Revolution
Xinhai Revolution
The Xinhai Revolution or Hsinhai Revolution, also known as Revolution of 1911 or the Chinese Revolution, was a revolution that overthrew China's last imperial dynasty, the Qing , and established the Republic of China...
in 1911 until his assassination in 1928.
Life
Yang Zengxin, a Han Chinese, had connections with the leading Muslim families of Yunnan. He was an expert in Islam and Islamic culture.Magistrate in Gansu
Hezhou PrefectureLinxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture
Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture is in Western China's Gansu Province, south of the capital, Lanzhou. It is an autonomous prefecture for the Muslim Hui people, a large Chinese ethnic group. It also includes two autonomous counties for other Muslim groups, namely Dongxiang, Salar, and...
Magistrate Yang Zengxin wrote an essay on Sufi menhuan dated 1897.
Governorship of Xinjiang
Ma Yuanzhang, a Sufi JahriyyaJahriyya
Jahriyya is a Sufi order in China that once existed in Persia and the Turkish World. Founded by Hadrat Abu Yaqub Yusuf Hamdani, it was brought to China in the 1760s by Ma Mingxin...
Shaykh, gave his support for Yang Zengxin to seize power in Xinjiang. This enabled Yang to immediately raise a massive army of Hui Muslim troops, mainly from Jahriyya mosque communities.
The Muslim General Ma Anliang
Ma Anliang
Ma Anliang , a Hui, was born in 1855, in Linxia, Gansu, China. He became a general in the Qing dynasty army, and of the Republic of China. His father was Ma Zhanao, and his younger brother was Ma Guoliang...
, in cooperation with magistrate Yang Zengxin, attempted to arrest and execute the Yihewani(Ikhwan
Ikhwan
The Ikhwan was the Islamic religious militia which formed the main military force of the Arabian ruler Ibn Saud and played a key role in establishing him as ruler of most of the Arabian Peninsula, in his new state of Saudi Arabia. The Ikhwan were made up of Bedouin tribes...
in Arabic) leader Ma Wanfu
Ma Wanfu
Ma Wanfu was a Dongxiang-Imam of the village Guoyuan in Hezhou...
. Ma Qi
Ma Qi
Ma Qi was a Chinese Muslim warlord in early 20th century China.-Early life:His grandfather Sa-la Ma , is a Salar. He was born in 1869 in Daohe, now part of Linxia, Gansu, China. His father was Ma Haiyan...
, one of Ma Anliang's suboordinates, staged a rescue operation and brought Ma Wanfu to Xining. Ma Anliang and Yang Zengxin were both monarchists and did not trust republicanism, they had served in the Qing military together.
Yang came to power after he defeated the revolutionaries that caused the last Qing dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
governor Yuan Dahua to flee during the Xinhai Revolution in Xinjiang
Xinhai Revolution in Xinjiang
The Xinhai Revolution in Xinjiang refers to the fighting that took place in Xinjiang during the Xinhai Revolution.- Fighting :The last Qing dynasty governor Yuan Dahua fled and handed over his resignation to Yang Zengxin because he could not handle fighting the revolutionaries and did not want to...
. The Ili revolutionaries and the Gelaohui
Gelaohui
The Gelaohui , also called Futaubang, or Hatchet Gang , as every member allegedly carried a small hatchet inside the sleeve, was a secret society and underground resistance movement associated with the revolutionary Tongmenghui led by Sun Yat-sen and Song Jiaoren.Originating in western china,...
were eliminated by Yang. Yang appointed Ma Fuxing
Ma Fuxing
Ma Fuxing was a Hui born in Yunnan, in Qing dynasty China. He was an ex-convict. During Yang Zengxin's reign in Xinjiang, Ma was appointed as a military commander, and then Titai of Kashgar....
as military commander of 2,000 Chinese Muslim
Hui people
The Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's...
troops, to crush Yang's rivals. President Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai was an important Chinese general and politician famous for his influence during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor of China, his autocratic rule as the second President of the Republic of China , and his short-lived...
recognized his rule and in return he supported Yuan's revival of the monarchy by inviting Republican anti-Yuan rebels to a banquet and decapitating them on New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
, 1916. Yang believed monarchy was the best system for China, and some western travelers noted with approval, that Yang was a former Mandarin unlike the Republican governors of the other provinces.
Yang was made a Count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
of the First Rank (一等伯 Yī děng bó) by Yuan Shikai.
In 1917, President Li Yuanhong
Li Yuanhong
Li Yuanhong was a Chinese general and political figure during the Qing dynasty and the republican era. He was twice president of the Republic of China.- Early history :...
assigned Fan Yaonan (樊耀南) to observe him and, if possible, replace him. Yang always recognized which ever faction was in power in the Beiyang government
Beiyang Government
The Beiyang government or warlord government collectively refers to a series of military regimes that ruled from Beijing from 1912 to 1928 at Zhongnanhai. It was internationally recognized as the legitimate Government of the Republic of China. The name comes from the Beiyang Army which dominated...
to avoid trouble. Yang's rule kept the region relatively peaceful, compared to other parts of China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
which were war-torn
Warlord era
The Chinese Warlord Era was the period in the history of the Republic of China, from 1916 to 1928, when the country was divided among military cliques, a division that continued until the fall of the Nationalist government in the mainland China regions of Sichuan, Shanxi, Qinghai, Ningxia,...
. However, he ruled dictatorially and executed many dissidents. Taxes for Kazakhs, Uighurs, and other minorities were lowered. People were forbidden to abuse minorities, and warned his Muslim subjects on the Soviet Russians, saying, "beware of associating thenselves with a people who are entirely without religion and who would harm them and mislead their women".
Yang relied heavily on Hui people, Chinese Muslims to enforces his rule on Xinjiang. They were disliked by both Han and Uighurs, because they had high positions within the Xinjiang military and government under Yang.
There were several Uighur factions during Yang's rule in Xinjiang, which did not intermarry and were fierce rivals. The Agtachlik faction always cut off the top of a melon and said bismillah
Bismillah
There are multiple uses of Bismillah :* Bismillah is first word of the Basmala phrase of Islam.* Bismillah , born in Oruzgan, Afghanistan, in 1952...
before slicing it, and the less pious Qarataghliks (black mountain Uighurs) would slice up the melon without invoking the name of God. The Qarataghliks were pro-Chinese, and content to live under Chinese rule, while the Agtachlik Uighurs were hostile to Chinese rule.
On July 1, 1928 he recognized the Nationalist Government in Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
. Six days later he was killed in a coup attempt by Fan Yaonan during a banquet. Fan had risen high into Yang's regime but Yang never trusted Fan. The motive seems to be Yang's denial of the pro-Nationalist Fan into a Nationalist advisory council designed to keep Xinjiang in check. Yang's death was avenged by Jin Shuren
Jin Shuren
Jin Shuren , governor of Xinjiang, succeeded Yang Zengxin after Yang was assassinated in 1928. Jin ruled Xinjiang for about half a decade, and his reign was characterized by corruption and suppression. Under his rule, both ethnic and religion conflicts were greatly deepened, resulting in numerous...
almost immediately. Lacking resources to oust Jin, Nanjing recognized his succession to the governorship.
Ma Fuxing
Ma Fuxing
Ma Fuxing was a Hui born in Yunnan, in Qing dynasty China. He was an ex-convict. During Yang Zengxin's reign in Xinjiang, Ma was appointed as a military commander, and then Titai of Kashgar....
was appointed Titai of Kashgar from 1916-1924 by Yang, who ordered Ma Shaowu
Ma Shaowu
Ma Shaowu was a Hui born in Yunnan, in Qing dynasty China. He was a member of the Xinjiang clique during the Republic of China.- Family history :...
to assassinated Ma Fuxing in 1924. Ma Shaowu was then appointed Daotai of Kashgar
Kashgar
Kashgar or Kashi is an oasis city with approximately 350,000 residents in the western part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Kashgar is the administrative centre of Kashgar Prefecture which has an area of 162,000 km² and a population of approximately...
.
Yang Zengxin's Statement on Hui people
The third reason is that at the time that Turkic Muslims were waging
rebellion in the early years of the Guangxu reign, the ‘five elite
divisions’ that governor general Liu Jintang led out of the Pass were
all Dungan troops [Hui dui 回队]. Back then, Dungan military
commanders such as Cui Wei and Hua Dacai were surrendered
troops who had been redeployed. These are undoubtedly cases of
pawns who went on to achieve great merit. When Cen Shuying was
in charge of military affairs in Yunnan, the Muslim troops and
generals that he used included many rebels, and it was because of
them that the Muslim rebellion in Yunnan was pacified. These are
examples to show that Muslim troops can be used effectively even
while Muslim uprisings are still in progress. What is more, since the
establishment of the Republic, Dungan have demonstrated not the
slightest hint of errant behaviour to suggest that they may prove to
be unreliable.