Original images held by the Harvard-Yenching Library of the Harvard College Library, Harvard University
Written by Wang Jianping 王建平 (Shanghai Normal University)
The Rev. Claude L. Pickens, Jr. Collection on Muslims in China is one of the most important and treasured primary resources in the Harvard-Yenching Library for scholars of Chinese Islam and the Hui ethnic minority. The collection is divided into four catalogues: materials collected by Dr. Samuel Zwemer, by British missionary Isaac Mason, and by Rev. Claude Pickens, and the books collected by Dr. Zwemer and Rev. Pickens. The most valuable among them is the collection gathered by Claude Pickens including about 1,000 items, such as photos, various posters, Arabic calligraphic works, calendars, notes, bibliographies, manuscripts, books in both Chinese and Arabic published by Muslim presses in Beijing and other parts of China, and periodicals — including Friends of Moslems, edited and published by Rev. Pickens and his wife.
At the time Rev. Pickens was collecting the materials, China was plunged into war, revolution, and political turmoil. The collection was moved back and forth over the Pacific Ocean several times before he finally donated it to Harvard University. Many of the preserved materials are not available in mainland China at present.
Much of the historic mosque architecture seen in the photos has been destroyed, along with large quantities of the archives on the history of Islam in China. Therefore, the Pickens collection on Muslims in China is a unique and invaluable historic record, and a source that scholars from all over the world, including China, ought to reference. It is one of the most comprehensive and valuable collections worth recommending in the Harvard Yenching Library.
The following are detailed descriptions of two items in the “posters” category of Pickens’ collection:
Sino-Islamic poster showing Noah’s ark and a poem.
On the above image, the upper sides of the ship read: “His perfection elevates him to the sublime, and his beauty dispels darkness. All his attributes are upright and beautiful; praise him and his household.” The middle of the upper section contains a Hadith, meaning: “My household is like the ship of Noah—whoever boards it is saved, and whoever hesitates to board will be drown.” The triangular flags (four above) bear the names of Allah, Muhammad, Ali, and Fatima. The smaller text below lists the names of the three caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar, and Ali. Further below are the names of Husain and Hasan. On the sail, from right to left, it reads: “He (Allah) is the Honorable Lord, He is the Almighty Allah, He is the Exalted Lord, O Lord!” Finally, the Shi’ite slogan: “O Ali, come to our aid!”
A Sino-Islamic poster showing (from right to left) a teapot, incense box, incense burner, chopstick holder, and vase with Arabic inscriptions.
Above is a poster showing, from right to left (1-5 below), a teapot, incense box, incense burner, chopstick holder, and vase with Arabic inscriptions. The steam of the teapot and smoke of the incense burner bear additional inscriptions.
- The steam on the teapot reads: “Mercy belongs to Allah.” Below: “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the One and Only, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. O Allah! Purify my heart with Your pure light, just as You purify my body with Your pure water. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.”
- Incense box. The Arabic inscription at the top reads: “May Allah grant you peace.”
- Incense burner. The smoke from the incense burner bears the words: “Grace belongs to Allah.” Below: “Glory be to Allah” (on the lid), “All praise is due to Allah. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the Greatest!” (on the incense burner).
- Chopstick holder. The lotus-shaped chopstick scoop inside the holder is inscribed with “Glory be to Allah.” The holder itself bears the words: “O Allah, we are powerless, and all strength comes from the Greatest and Exalted Lord.”
- Vase: The vase is inscribed with: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. O Allah! You are the source of peace, peace comes from You, peace returns to You. O our Lord, bless us with peace; admit us into the abode of peace. O Possessor of Majesty and Benevolence! Glory and exaltation be to You!”
Translated from Arabic into English by Jianping Wang and Zhixiong Ma.