Western studies of Chinese Islam had their modest beginnings over a century ago. In recent decades, English-language studies of the subject, from various scholarly perspectives and methodological approaches, have grown increasingly abundant and sophisticated. During the same time, unbeknownst to many in the Anglophone world, scholars in contemporary China have actively been engaged in a separate but parallel enterprise, studying the same thinkers and texts, albeit from a different vantage point and in Chinese. At last, this volume brings these two streams together, enriching the global trove of knowledge and providing an international readership access to a wealth of new translations and interpretations befitting the cosmopolitan historical Sino-Muslim scholars they examine. The multi-faceted effort that has gone into this important contribution should not be underestimated. -- James Frankel, Chinese University of Hong Kong
