From my friend John Lin: Interesting info and translation about the Bab and a textbook in China: There is really a paragraph about the Babi Faith in the Chinese high school history textbook, which means the Bab is quite famous/known among Chinese highschooler major in history since everyone need to know him to get a good grade in Chinese SAT! I did not know because i was majored in science at the time. I translated the paragraph in the following for you if you are interested. It was under the chapter named “Storm of Asian Revolution”, with a introduction of the background how european increased its invasion in Asia. For Iran, it mentioned that British force Iraq to signed a unfair treaty in 1763 to gain free trade permission in Iraq’s harbor cities. At the same time, Russia enlarged its territory, and twice defeated Iran to force them to sign unfair treaty (annexed part of the lands from Iran, like in Ukraine!). There are four others unfair treaties were signed between Britain and Iran during 1800 ~ 1841, mainly to increase Britain’s exports. In 1830s, Britain’s textile accounted for 90% of Iran’s total imported goods… Then textbook concluded: all these events further destroy Iran’s traditional economics structure, and intensify its social conflict. Here is the one paragraph about the Bab. Babi faith The babi faith was developed from a branch of Islamic faith. Its founder Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad Shírází was born in 1820 from a business family who trade cotton. The Bab himself also has 5 years experience in trading. He participated in a Islamic branch, and became the head of this branch. 1844, he claimed himself as “Bab”, which means the gate, meaning true knowledge will flow to people from this gate. 1847, the Bab declared himself as a prophet, and wrote the book Bayan. In the Bayan, the Bab stated that all men are created equal, and proclaim the income kingdom of justice. In this fair kingdom, there is no oppression, all non Babi’s property including foreigner’s property, will be confiscated and distributed among Babis. At the sometime, the Bab also proposed many ideas that are good for businessman’s interest: such as “pay back your debt”, use laws to set high interest loans, unify the monetary system, improve the post/delivery infrastructure, etc. At first, the Bab only advocated his ideas to the king and officials, and has not communicated much to ordinary people, and had a limited influence. 1847, when the Bab was arrested, Babis were also being prosecuted. Babis started to communicates their ideas among people, and gained majority of people’s enthusiastic supports and love, the influence of the Bab faith has increased overtime.
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 02:01:55 +0000
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