Wang Daiyu

Wang Daiyu (ca. 1570 - ca. 1660) was a Chinese Hanafi-Maturidi scholar of Arab descent. His given name was Ya, style name Daiyu. He called himself *Zhenhui Laoren* (真回老人, "The True Old Man of Islam") and went by his style name. His earliest ancestor came to China in the early Ming Dynasty. Wang learned from his father and later from Ma Junshi. At 20, he studied Chinese and investigated Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism. In the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, he translated *Zhengjiao Zhenquan* and began translating Islamic scriptures into Chinese. He also wrote *Qingzhen Da Xue* and *Xizhen Zhengda*. Known as the "Great Saint of the Qing Period," Wang believed in providing Islamic works in Chinese. He was fluent in Chinese, Persian, and Arabic. He used Confucianism to explain Islam, not to convert non-Muslims, but to help Muslims in China understand their faith, as most spoke Chinese. His works became part of the Han Kitab. Wang died around 1660 and was buried in Beijing.