伊斯蘭傳入中國的時間與途徑中外學界至今尚無定論，然在唐代已有穆斯林以經商或外交途徑進入中國。這些穆斯林以蕃客自居，享有朝廷禮遇，且自組非漢人之自治社群。宋遼金時期來自伊斯蘭世界各地之穆斯林陸續移入中國，尤以南宋爲最，並且多以經商爲業，這些人日後泰半卜居於中國。之後蒙古在西征中亞伊斯蘭政權過程中，吸收不少穆斯林爲其所用，以其作爲征服中國本土之謀士。之後這些穆斯林更因蒙古入主中國而隨之移入中原，進而挾政治、經濟力量而散布至中國各地。由於蒙元帝國之建立有賴於穆斯林之力，因此穆斯林在元朝享有特殊權力，僅次於蒙古人。明朝建立後太祖朱元璋極力推行漢化政策，穆斯林被迫同化於漢人社會，而其信仰－伊斯蘭經過明朝一代之中國化，到清朝中葉後才趨定型。本文目的在於以「『穆斯林蕃客在中國』轉變爲『中國穆斯林』」的理念作爲論述核心，有系統的重構關於中國穆斯林社群及其宗教－伊斯蘭在中國發展之歷史背景及其文化脈絡，以及經由此一研究主題所閉展出關於中國伊斯蘭研究所應深入思考、探討之問題。

How and when Islam entered China has not yet reached an agreed conclusion by both Western and Chinese Muslim scholars. During the Tang and Song dynasties Muslims lived in China as foreigners, not assimilated in to the Han Chinese society. They were religious minority. However in the Mongol-Yuan period, many Muslims from Central Asia were brought into China and served in the imperial court. Most of them were still foreigners in China, but became gradually assimilated into Han Chinese society. In the Ming and Manchu-Qing periods, those Muslims were forced further sinicised, and became as the subjects as the Hans. This essay aims to re-examine how the Muslim community developed in China, i.e. how Islam took roots in China, and also tries to bring out further research issues on Islam in China.