Language
| Islam in China |
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History
History Tang Dynasty • Song Dynasty |
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Chang Yuchun • Hu Dahai • Mu Ying • Yeheidie'erding Hui Liangyu • Ma Bufang |
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Hong Kong • Kashgar • Linxia Ningxia • Taiwan • Xinjiang |
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Hui • Uyhgurs Kazakhs • Dongxiang |
Both the Muslim Bonans in Gansu and their Buddhist cousins in Qinghai (officially classified as Monguor) have historically spoken the Bonan language, a Mongolic language. The Buddhist Bonan of Qinghai speak a slightly different dialect that the Muslim Bonan of Gansu. Whereas the Bonan language of Gansu has undergone Chinese influences, the Bonan language of Qinghai has been influenced by Tibetan.
They don't have a script for their language.
The Muslim Gansu Bonans are more numerous than their Buddhist Qinghai cousins (the estimates for the two groups were around 12,200 (in 1990), and around 3,500 (in 1980), respectively). However, it has been observed that in Gansu the use of Bonan language is declining (in favor of the local version – the "Hezhou dialect" – of Mandarin Chinese), while in Qinghai the language keeps being transmitted to younger generations.
Read more about this topic: Bonan People
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