Al-Din

Last night I watched a rather timely PBS Empires episode called "Holy Wars" about Salah Al-Din and his reconquest of Jerusalem during the Crusades era -- his decision to not slaughter or terrorize the Christian population made him a legend among Islamic and Arabic nations, but cut him no respect from the bloodthirsty Christianists of Europe.

Archive 2009-11-01 2009

Last night I watched a rather timely PBS Empires episode called "Holy Wars" about Salah Al-Din and his reconquest of Jerusalem during the Crusades era -- his decision to not slaughter or terrorize the Christian population made him a legend among Islamic and Arabic nations, but cut him no respect from the bloodthirsty Christianists of Europe.

Diary 7 November 2009 2009

Sayyid'Ajall Shams Al-Din pioneered the education effort.

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

That is why Sayyid'Ajall Shams Al-Din (Sai-Dian-Chi Shan-Si-Ding) was chosen by Khubilai Khan to take charge of Yunnan. 41

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

In response, Sayyid'Ajall Shams Al-Din proposed to the emperor that cowry money be maintained, and the idea was approved. 46 As a result, tax was levied on the cowry, based on its officially fixed exchange rate with gold, whereas in all other provinces, it was levied on the chao. 47

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

Sayyid'Ajall Shams Al-Din launched a large-scale irrigation project at Dian Lake, not only reducing the flooding but also making available over 10,000 qing of fertile fields. 87 Many other relatively small projects were completed in the Yuan period to increase agricultural production.

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

For example, when Sayyid'Ajall Shams Al-Din arrived, the first thing he did was assuage Prince Yunnan's fear that his power would be reduced.

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

Represented by Sayyid'Ajall Shams Al-Din, many Muslims occupied administrative posts, fostering the Mongol control in Yunnan. 52 Gradually they built their community and penetrated into local societies.

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

Today many Chinese Hui communities in Yunnan claim themselves descendants of Sayyid'Ajall Shams Al-Din. back

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008

In his talk with Sayyid'Ajall Shams Al-Din, Khubilai Khan used the word yuanren ( "people afar" or "subjects afar") to refer to ethnic peoples in Yunnan, which suggests that the Yuan rulers regarded Yunnan as part of its empire and Yunnan's ethnic peoples as its subjects.

Between Winds and Clouds: The Making of Yunnan (Second Century BCE to Twentieth Century CE) 2008