Maria Jaschok

For one of my classes, I am writing an essay on the subject of nusi, women’s mosques in Hui Chinese Islam. As far as I can tell, this is the largest and most authoritative text on the subject (which doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves, alas). Jashcock and Shui provide the reader with a fascinating history of mosques and schools for female Hui Muslims in China. Then they dive into an analysis of contemporary nusi and nuxue, as well as some of the issues that face such institutions, whether it is theological, cultural, or political.

Their work is a bit scattered, admittedly, but that reflects the scattered nature of religion in China. It’s hard to make any claims as to trends or decisions. What they work on is mostly visits, interviews, and personal testimonies from the mid to late 90s. I’d be curious to see a next edition, perhaps re-examining the situation a decade or so later.… (mehr)