Ma Bohua, an elderly Hui Muslim, was a representative of the Hui community in Shadian, Yunnan. He was killed during the shocking “Shadian Massacre” in 1975. For fifty years, his spirit has remained restless in the afterlife. Upon learning of his case, the Jade Emperor summoned him to provide an account, given its connection to the Muslim faith.

The Jade Emperor asked, “Can you tell me about your grievance?”

Ma replied, “My name is Ma Bohua. I am from the Hui village of Shadian in Gejiu City, Yunnan. In 1975, the Yunnan authorities suppressed the Hui people, killing more than 1,600, with the heaviest casualties in Shadian. I was the last to die. During the Cultural Revolution, Mao Zedong opposed religion, resulting in massive killings. My fellow Hui and I were killed unjustly.”

The Jade Emperor said, “I’ve only heard a little about this massacre and don’t know the details. How were your religious practices opposed?”

Ma explained, “Military propaganda teams entered the village and were stationed in the Shadian Grand Mosque, which was closed again. Soldiers ate pork inside the mosque and threw pig bones into the well; they sang, danced, and trampled inside. They established lines between believers and non-believers, declaring: ‘Believing in religion is opposing Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong, thus opposing the Party.’ Anyone caught praying or fasting was subjected to struggle sessions. More than two hundred people were labeled as ‘counter-revolutionary black elements’ or ‘religious restoration vanguards,’ and were brutally beaten, bound, or hung. They forced Hui people to wear pig heads around their necks and lick them; refusal resulted in more beatings. In a 1969 struggle session, sixty Hui were forced to wear ‘religious restoration vanguard’ signs, paraded in public, and forced to imitate pigs—crawling and making pig sounds—which they called the ‘Pig Breaching the Great Wall.’ This series of humiliations lasted a year, sowing deep anger among the Shadian Hui.”

The Jade Emperor said, “This kind of religious humiliation is unheard of—truly outrageous.”

Ma continued, “All this came from Mao Zedong’s highest instructions. In October 1973, the Shadian community requested reopening the mosque for normal worship, but the request was denied. When Hui people forcibly reopened the Shadian Jinjizhai Mosque, the local authorities deemed it ‘counter-revolutionary religious restoration,’ and sent seventy personnel to intervene again. The mosque was closed, and broadcasts were used to disrupt worship. Even celebrations of Eid were labeled as ‘counter-revolutionary assemblies’ and met with armed opposition.”

The Jade Emperor asked, “Did Zhou Xing resolve the problem?”

Ma said, “Zhou Xing falsely reported that the Shadian issue was resolved, claiming: ‘Reopening the mosque negates the Cultural Revolution; it has been closed and cannot be used for religious purposes.’ During the ‘Criticize Lin, Criticize Confucius’ campaign, there was a wave of anti-Islam sentiment. The Shadian Hui did not accept this; hundreds petitioned in Kunming, and more than a thousand from Honghe, Wenshan, and Yuxi marched. The central and Yunnan authorities labeled them as ‘troublemakers’ and ‘opposing Party leadership.’”

The Jade Emperor asked, “Such handling would only worsen the conflict. What happened next?”

Ma said, “In May 1975, the army and the work team re-entered Shadian. Thousands of villagers blocked them at the village entrance. At 3 a.m., the army removed sentries and entered the village. The Hui defended themselves, resulting in intense street fighting. By dawn, hundreds of Hui were killed, though they recaptured some houses. At noon, the army used artillery; three mosques were bombed. The fighting lasted seven or eight days; the village became a firestorm, and over 4,400 houses were destroyed. Nine hundred Hui were killed and 600 injured.

On August 4, 157 men, women, and children surrendered with raised hands, only to be shot by machine guns, leaving bodies strewn everywhere. Only five survived. That night, the army carried out a final sweep, killing the remaining inhabitants. I was among those killed.”

Ma added, “In total, over 1,600 Hui died, and nearly 1,000 were injured. Dozens were sentenced to death or heavy prison terms, and hundreds were forced into study programs.”

The Jade Emperor asked, “Were you ever rehabilitated?”

Ma replied, “Not until 1979 were those imprisoned released. The mosque was rebuilt in 1980 and supplemented in 1987, completing official rehabilitation. However, the legacy remains: some still call it a ‘rebellion’ or ‘uprising,’ and the full truth is covered up. No one took responsibility. We victims remain restless in the afterlife.”

The Jade Emperor said, “The Cultural Revolution was initiated by Mao Zedong, targeting religion; the responsibility lies with him. The grievances of the Muslim souls must be redressed. Today, Mao’s successors still detain over a million Muslims in Xinjiang and run study programs to indoctrinate them. Both old and new injustices will be judged. Await my verdict.”

NEXT: 108. Shi Renxiang (1942–1970)