Baháʼí Faith in China
China has long been considered by the Baháʼí Faith as a country with great future, but also spiritually, having the capacity to be "a bright candle of the world of humanity" "promot[ing] the principles of divine civilization.
"[1] Also ʻAbdu'l-Bahá made reference in 1917 to making arrangements to travel himself to Kashgar in western China to teach the Chinese people and had obtained a passport but was prevented from going by the Ottoman authorities.
Miza Abdu'l-Fadl Gulpaygani a notable Islamic and Baháʼí scholar, in frequent contact with ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, is reported to have visited Kashgar in 1891.
Another early adherent, Mr. Liao Chongzhen (also transliterated as Chan Sung Liu), heard of the Baháʼí Faith while studying at Cornell University about 1921.
He returned to Guangzhou (Canton) to become a professor at Sun Yat-sen University and a Head of the department of sericulture in the Chinese government.
[6] Dr. Cao Yun Xiang translated many Baháʼí books including Baháʼu'lláh and the New Era published in 1931, Paris Talks and major parts of Some Answered Questions.
After the Second World War, all but one of the foreign Baháʼís, Husayn Usquli, had to leave China but growth still occurred among native Chinese and in surrounding communities.
[8] The formal administrative structure used by the Baháʼí Faith in many parts of the world is strongly linked to the teachings given by Baháʼu'lláh.
No external funds are accepted for activities that are strictly religious in character or for other endeavors that relate to the internal development of the Baháʼí community.
As a result of the lack of formal registration and structure, it is difficult to ascertain with some degree of certainty, the number of Baháʼís in China.
The number of active followers of Baháʼu'lláh's Teachings in China has spread beyond the scope of knowledge of the existing administrative structures.
[3] To be loyal to the government and serve society is a firm foundation of Baháʼí belief, "In the same way that Baháʼu'lláh assured the monarchs of His day that 'It is not Our wish to lay hands on your kingdoms', so the Baháʼí community has no political agenda, abstains from all involvement in partisan activity, and accepts unreservedly the authority of civil government in public affairs.
The following year, the Chairman of the Spiritual Assembly was invited to the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
According to Albert Cheung, there are many aspects of Baháʼu'lláh's teachings that match well with traditional Chinese religious and philosophical beliefs such as : 1) the Great Unity (world peace); 2) unity of the human family; 3) service to others; 4) moral education; 5) extended family values; 6) the investigation of truth; 7) the Highest Reality (God); 8) the common foundation of religions; 9) harmony in Nature; 10) the purpose of tests and suffering; and 11) moderation in all things.
