The Chinese Xidaotang: A Chinese Islamic example of good public administration

Abstract

This chapter explores the Xidaotang (West Path Hall), a Sufi Islamic order in northwestern China. Against the backdrop of China’s state-centralised system, the Xidaotang offers a unique instance of devolved public service provision rooted in China’s indigenous Islamic traditions. Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Gansu Province and historical sources, the chapter argues that the Xidaotang, with its hierarchical structure, collective economic activities, and strong emphasis on education, offers valuable public goods and services, contributing to the well-being of both its members and local society. The chapter also analyses the order’s adaptation to political shifts, its relationship with the Communist Party, and its ongoing role as a trusted provider in the “minjian” (non-state, unofficial) sphere. Overall, we argue that the Xidaotang serves as an alternative, i.e., Islamic, model of public administration within the sociopolitical context of China.