Ma Hualong (1810–1871), also known as Ma Chaoqing and by his religious name Tuobiertinglia, was a native of Jinjipu, Lingzhou, Gansu (present-day Wuzhong, Ningxia). A prominent Hui leader, he served as the fifth supreme head of the Sufi Jahriyya Menhuan order in China. During the Tongzhi era, Ma led the Hui uprising across Shaanxi and Gansu, establishing Jinjipu as a fortified regional stronghold and capturing Lingzhou and…
1810 CE–1871 CEQing Dynasty
PROFILE
Ma Hualong (1810–1871), also known as Ma Chaoqing and by his religious name Tuobiertinglia, was a native of Jinjipu, Lingzhou, Gansu (present-day Wuzhong, Ningxia). A prominent Hui leader, he served as the fifth supreme head of the Sufi Jahriyya Menhuan order in China. During the Tongzhi era, Ma led the Hui uprising across Shaanxi and Gansu, establishing Jinjipu as a fortified regional stronghold and capturing Lingzhou and Ningxia prefectural cities. Known as the Grand Commander of the Two Rivers, he waged stubborn resistance against Qing armies under Zuo Zongtang. Facing starvation and encirclement, he surrendered in early 1871 and was subsequently executed by Qing authorities.
Other name
Ma Hualong, Ma Chaoqing, Tuobiertinglia, Sayyid Donghaidayi, Ma Si
Period
Qing dynasty
Dynasty/Regime
Qing dynasty
Identity
Rebel leader, religious leader
Native place
Lingzhou, Guyuan Prefecture, Gansu
Date of birth
1810 CE（Jiaqing 15）
Place of birth
Jinjipu, Lingzhou, Gansu
Date of death
2 March 1871 CE（Tongzhi 10）
Place of death
Siqiliangzi, Wuzhong, Ningxia
Highest office
Grand Military Commander of the Two Rivers, 5th Leader of Jahriyya
LIFE TIMELINE
Birth in Frontier ｜ Born in Jinjipu, Lingzhou, Gansu into a prominent Open
Birth in Frontier ｜ Born in Jinjipu, Lingzhou, Gansu into a prominent Muslim clerical family
Succession to Leadership ｜ Succeeded as the fifth hereditary leader ofOpen
Succession to Leadership ｜ Succeeded as the fifth hereditary leader of the Jahriyya Menhuan order
Uprising at Jinjipu ｜ Led Hui rebels in revolt, took Lingzhou and NingOpen
Uprising at Jinjipu ｜ Led Hui rebels in revolt, took Lingzhou and Ningxia, named Grand Commander
Victory at Qiangjia Shawo ｜ Defeated Qing General Lei Zhengwan and supOpen
Victory at Qiangjia Shawo ｜ Defeated Qing General Lei Zhengwan and superficially accepted court pacification
Siege Defense ｜ Zuo Zongtang advanced against Jinjipu; Ma organized enOpen
Siege Defense ｜ Zuo Zongtang advanced against Jinjipu; Ma organized entrenched resistance
Defeating Liu Songshan ｜ Defenders killed Qing general Liu Songshan; fOpen
Defeating Liu Songshan ｜ Defenders killed Qing general Liu Songshan; fortress surrendered late in the year
Martyrdom and Execution ｜ Executed by Qing forces at Siqiliangzi, WuzhOpen
Martyrdom and Execution ｜ Executed by Qing forces at Siqiliangzi, Wuzhong, aged sixty-one
BIOGRAPHY
Biography
Family Background and Early Years
Ma Hualong was born in 1810 in Jinjipu, Lingzhou, Gansu. Jinjipu was a prosperous agricultural and trading hub within the Yellow River irrigation basin. His father, Ma Yide, had been the fourth leader of the Jahriyya order, founded in the 18th century by Ma Mingxin. Ma Hualong studied Islamic scriptures and Arabic from early youth, earning widespread veneration as an akhund. In addition to spiritual authority, his family accumulated substantial land and wealth through commerce and farming, while Ma also secured an official military purchase title.
Leadership of the Jahriyya Order
In 1849, Ma inherited the leadership of the Jahriyya Menhuan. Over the next two decades, he systematically expanded the order's network across Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Qinghai. Devotees reverently addressed him as the "Thirteenth Master." Jinjipu was developed into the primary religious, financial, and strategic nerve center for Hui communities in the region.
The Uprising and Frontier War
Following the outbreak of the Hui rebellion in Shaanxi in 1862, unrest spread across Gansu. In 1863, Ma launched an open rebellion at Jinjipu, capturing Lingzhou and Ningxia city and assuming the title of Grand Commander of the Two Rivers. In August 1865, his forces decisively defeated imperial commander Lei Zhengwan at Qiangjia Shawo. Later that year, he agreed to nominal pacification under General Mutushan, adopting the loyalist name Ma Chaoqing while retaining his troops and armaments behind the walls of Jinjipu.
The Siege of Jinjipu and Downfall
In autumn 1869, Imperial Commissioner Zuo Zongtang launched a massive coordinated offensive against Jinjipu. In January 1870, defending forces killed prominent Qing general Liu Songshan, though Liu's nephew Liu Jintang took over command and tightened the blockade. Encircled and starved of provisions, Ma surrendered to the Qing camp in January 1871. Accused of harboring foreign firearms and treason, Ma and his kin were executed on 2 March 1871.
Major Activities
Expansion of the Jahriyya Order
As spiritual leader, Ma strengthened clerical education and unified regional communities through religious governance, creating an enduring sociopolitical base in the northwest.
Regional Armed Governance
During the early Tongzhi period, Ma established an autonomous regional rebel regime centered at Jinjipu, governing broad sections of the Ningxia plains and challenging Qing authority.
Tactical Resistance and Defense
Ma constructed an extensive network of fortified earthen redoubts and ramparts around Jinjipu, inflicting significant tactical defeats on regular imperial forces.
During the lengthy siege of Jinjipu, Ma held out for more than sixteen months against modern artillery and veteran Xiang armies, marking one of the most grueling conflicts of the late Qing frontier wars.
Personal Relations
Father: Ma Yide (Fourth leader of the Jahriyya Menhuan)
Brother: Ma Huafeng (Prominent defender and family leader in Jinjipu)
Son: Ma Yaobang (Core military figure in the rebellion)
Ally: Bai Yanhu (Prominent leader of the Shaanxi Hui rebel forces)
Adversary: Zuo Zongtang (Imperial Commissioner who directed the siege of Jinjipu)
Adversary: Liu Songshan (Qing general killed during the siege of Jinjipu)
Adversary: Liu Jintang (Qing commander who completed the capture of Jinjipu)
Historical Assessment
Official Qing sources and Zuo Zongtang noted his formidable military resilience and defensive tenacity at Jinjipu. Among northwestern Hui communities and Jahriyya followers, he has been honored as a tragic martyr and defender of his faith and community.