Menhuan is a type of organization combined with religious mysticism. It is built upon a specific social and economic foundation with centralized power and a considerable sphere of influence, existing among the Huis, Dongxiangs, Salas and Bao"ans. Neither Menhuans nor their branches came into being in the same period or in the same way. When Sufism was introduced into China, four major schools were produced, namely Four Menhuans as is called usually.
Khufiyyah, Arabic transliteration, originally means “hidden” or “silent”? It advocates chanting Dhikr in low tone, therefore it was named as such. It was founded by Muhammad Bahauddin (1381-1388 A.D.) who lived in Central Asia, and originated from Naqshibandiyyah. Around the 16th century, Muhammad Yusuf, grandson of Ajaam, introduced it into Xinjiang, and developed it into a sect called Baishan (white mountain)? During the same period of time, Ishaq, another grandson of Ajaaam, also came to Yirqiang in Xinjing to develop his influence, and the sect foundedby him is called Heishan (black mountain)? In the 17th century, Khufiyyah was introduced into Gansu, Ningxia and Qinghai from Xinjiang and Arabia. Having undergone two hundred years of spreading, developing and amalgamating with Chinese culture, it has generated many branches. Khufiyyah abides by the doctrine of Sunni and follows the teaching of the Hanafiyyah School.
Qadiriyyah, Arabic transliteration, is named after the word appearing in the name of its founder Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani. It was established in the 12th century and prevailed in Baghdad, and developed into one of the biggest Sufi societies. During the early reign of Kang Xi of the Qing Dynasty, Khwaja Abdullah who proclaimed to be the 29th generation of Prophet Muhammad introduced Qadiriyyah into Gansu, Ningxia and Qinghai, which afterwards separated into three smaller sects: Qimen, Xianmen (converted into Khufiyyah later) and Mamen (founded by Yunnan Ma)? In later years, Qadiriyyah evolved into many branches that are not subordinated to each other. In addition to the three sects of Qadiriyyah founded by Abdullah, there were other sects founded by those who had studied it in Xinjiang or Arabia and spread it in their hometown Qansu and Qinghai when they returned. Qadiriyyah abides by the doctrine of Sunni and follows the teaching of the Hanafiyyah School.
Jahriyyah, Arabic transliteration, originally means “open” or “loud” and has by extension come to mean “chanting Dhikr loudly”? So Jahriyyah is also called Sect of Loud Chanting, opposite to Khufiyyah which is called Sect of Low Chanting. In the 16th century Jahriyyah was introduced into Shache and Kashgar in Xinjiang from Central Asia. In 1744 Ma Mingxin (1719-1781 A.D.) introduced it into Gansu, Ningxia and Qinghai. The followers of Jahriyyah are distributed in the Northwest, and13 provinces such as Yunnan, Guizhou. Followers of it number among the Donggans (descendants of the Huis who immigrated to Russia and Central Asia)? Jahriyyah abides by the doctrine of Sunni and follows the teaching of the Hanafiyyah School.