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Natural Disaster

The reaction of both Chinese and Islam towards contagion and the black plague

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The reaction of both Chinese and Islam towards contagion and the black plague

Introduction

Living in certain areas in the world would be heartbreaking and dreadful during the 14th century. The black epidemic was terrifying and unfairly contagious. This plague is one of the most deadly occurrences in global history. However, this disease became famous as a result of a significant outbreak in Europe though it is not its place of origin. The understanding of the black plague would be natural due to the critical analysis of the origination of this plague. Also,  the details regarding its history and its effects would make it easy to understand. However, this plague originated from Italy then later spread to Europe. This plague occurred in various places. We had bubonic, septicemia, and pneumonic plagues of black deaths.

However, Black Death caused the death of many people and, most notably, in Europe. It did not only destroy families, but it also shaped the European life among the following years. Millions of people were malnourished until the plague took over. Most people lived in fear of contacting or getting this deadly disease. No form of explanation or consolation would convince people to accept their situations on this Black Death or plague. Most people lived in fear and guilt due to t this plague for most groups, and especially the Christians thought that it was a gift from God. Black epidemic affected so many communities, including the Chinese group. Also, Islam felt the deadly negative impacts of black deaths. In this paper, I will examine the reaction of both Chinese and Islam towards contagion and the black plague.

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Black plague in China

Of all the countries that were affected by the Black Death, the Chinese were greatly affected. The effects of black disease are felt in China, even in the current world. These plagues greatly affected people and also the climate. “The large-scale pattern in effect on precipitation on the plague in China coincides with the pattern of the climate” ( Xu et al. 4). For instance, several cases of the impact of this disease revealed that two people had been diagnosed with the pneumonic black illness in Beijing. The conditions are highly contagious; it is not treated in time. This disease is highly infectious if it is not treated in time. This disease is fatal within 24 hours to 72 hours (Concord 2000, n.p). A few days ago, it was confirmed that a couple went to the state’s capital city Beijing, earlier this week to seek treatment for this dreadful disease. Another news report that a hunter ate rabbits in Mongolia and later was diagnosed with a bubonic form of Black Death.

The bubonic form of this plague was confirmed to be more deadly compared to pneumonic disease. The signs and the symptoms of this disease say it all. One of the common symptoms is general body weakness. Many people that were affected by this problem experienced such a problem. This form of plague resulted in the loss of numerous lives in the entire globe. In the earlier stages, there were no proper methods of treatment for this disease. This act results in a lot of deaths.

However, the mention of the black plague creates numerous and dreadful images into people’s minds. Although China has few cases recorded concerning deaths that resulted from black deaths,  the government has worked to ensure that it prevents this disease from spreading in this state. The government has worked in conjunction with other organizations such as the world health organization to ensure the health safety of the Chinese. As per their records, only five people have died from the black plague since 2014 (Benedict 2).  Comparison between China and other states reveal that cases of deaths resulting from black disease are few. This comparison shows the government’s effort to ensure that all citizens are prevented from the issue of the black plague. All patients diagnosed with this disease are treated within 24-72 hours in china, thus avoiding adverse effects and curb the death of many citizens.

Moreover, many researchers have carried out a study on this disease, thus understanding its root cause. A few days ago, researchers reported that bacteria, ‘Yersinia Pestis cause the black plague in china’. this bacteria is found in mammals and flies according to the world health organization. “In 1894 bubonic plague appeared in Canton and Hong Kong” (Benedict 1). This rate of spreading of bubonic plague was felt in many areas. Later in the twenty-first century, it was reported that the ailing couple was treated in one of the Chinese health centres. The hunter who ate rabbit from Mongolia was also addressed in Beijing. He had the bubonic plague, and the couple had a pneumonic disease. Bubonic plague greatly affected the Chinese community, who later reacted to it through various acts. Those that were affected by this illness experienced signs like abdominal pains, extreme body weakness, diarrhoea, vomiting, bleeding from the mouth, or nose, among others. These symptoms were dangerous to handles. When the deceased was being buried after prolonged exposure to this disease, people we not allowed to move anywhere close to the corpse or the coffin since this disease was highly contagious.

Black plague in Islamic regions

The Islamic world is not an exception to the parts or areas that were impacted by this epidemic. However, between the 16th to 19th centuries, the plague was present in one region in the Islamic world.  It later beat most cities in northern Africa. When this black plague hit the Islamic community, everything turned upside down. The families could not relate well socially, politically, and economically. This black plague killed 40% o the population in Egypt. Muslims believed that various groups were to blame for the black epidemic that spread vastly in all regions in Egypt. The targeted European Jews, beggars, and Romani (Christians) and the lepers for the cause of the Black Death. There were numerous attacks against the Jewish community.

However, most Muslims did not assume that medicine was the best thing to end the black plague. They believe that this Black Death resulted from God, and therefore, people had to pray to seek purity from God. Allah was the most significant source or healing according to Muslim beliefs. They never believed in physicians’ advice. This belief made it difficult for physicians to combine both physical and divine medicine to cure black plague patients. The physicians could only offer medicine to cure this disease. Both divine and natural medicine could only result from Allah. The Muslim’s trust in physicians was shallow. They devoted all their faith to Allah, the healer, and the only source cure for all diseases. Bubonic plague attacked Muslims, and they reacted to it (Byrne 2). Some of the signs and symptoms that the affected experiences were; fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting cough with blood headache, swollen nodes, among other indications.

Muslims rejected most physicians since they were non-Muslims and recommended more Muslims to practice medicine. They also believed that their drug was more potent than that of Christian’s. However, they wanted more Muslims to be physicians so that the treatment of this disease would be based on their religious beliefs and traditional therapies. They had other ideas that physicians could heal since they were not as powerful as Allah. Indeed, physicians do not treat, but at least taking medicine would help one to gain immunity back through the help of God. Generally, this Black Death epidemic affected the attitude and the behaviour of the Muslim community due to the discussion and explanations provided concerning this disease.

Differences and similarities in Chinese and Islamic reaction towards Black Death

The outbreak of the Black Death resulted in various responses from different groups. The most affected groups were the Europeans, communities living within Asia, among others. Our target groups in this paper are the Chinese and Muslims. They reacted differently concerning this epidemic of the black plague (Kuriyama, 1993, n.p). The comparison of the two groups is critical. They have differences and similarities in the way they handled this outbreak. Some of these differences and similarities include;

Differences between Chinese and Islamic reaction towards Black Death

First, the Islamic people reaction to this plague was grouped by planned celebrations through towns and significant funerals holiday in mosques. The Black Death plagues resulted in the deaths of thousands of Muslims. However, in response to these deaths, Muslims performed communal ceremonies called for procession in cities. This practice did not indicate any form of abandoning the rites of Muslim religion and the services for the dead. This procession is mostly emphasized on the individuals’ piety and purity of the Islamic rituals. The Islamic rituals made most occupational men abandon their jobs to perform rituals for the dead. “To the religious, I was punishment by God for sin an outbreak of divine wrath like the flood of Noah’s time” (Byrne 2)

These mean strategically positioned themselves in the large city of Cairo in various places of worship. Also, they aimed at obtaining profit from the recitation of prayers for the dead. Again there were numerous visitations to the graveside where most Muslims believed that the dead resided. These funeral services took place in the critical mosques in most cities in Egypt. Processions for the deceased were not exercised in the case of Chinese. Chinese were not allowed to go anywhere near the corpse or the coffin, unlike in the Islamic situation. Once a person died, he or she was buried as usual, and no rituals were performed to enhance the purity of the dead.

Moreover, the reaction of both Muslims and Chinese towards physicians was different. Muslims did not believe in the physician’s power to heal. They thought that all the physicians could not improve their condition. Also, they rejected non-Muslim physicians and motivated more Muslims to specialize in the field of medicine. They did not like the consumption of wine as a source of cure for the Black Death epidemic (Benedict 8). Most physicians recommended this drink, for they believe it cured some of these epidemics. Most Muslims wanted physicians who will provide treatment as per their religion and tradition. Chinese believed in the power of a physician to help in curing the disease. They embraced all forms of treatments involved or recommended by other physicians. Their belief and trust of the physicians prevented most of them from dying. Unlike Muslims, only a few Chinese died since they sought better treatments from specialized physicians. Additionally, recent research shows that Chinese has dramatically improved its health treatments since only a few cases are reported since 2014 (Leung 2010 n.p).

Unlike Chinese, Muslims did not believe in taking antibiotics or any other modern treatment. Since Muslims had a strong belief and attitude towards black plagues, they did not think that medicines or any other current form of treatment would health them. Their source of healing or cure was Allah. They believed that this disease was a punishment from God. Muslims were not allowed to move to other regions of the world while the Chinese were accorded some medicine.

Contrary to Muslims’ belief, the Chinese depended and sought various forms of advanced treatment. Most researchers carried out studies that enabled them to identify the primary cause of this Black Death. They identified the primary reason which was reported to be a bacterial found in mammals and flies. The researchers and the world health organization came up with modern types of treatment of these diseases. These forms involved the intake of antibiotics, the use of the plague’s vaccine, and finally, using insecticide. The use of modern methods of treatment proved to be effective, and only a few cases of drug resistance were reported.

Muslims believed the black plague originated from Allah hence not contagious. However, the Chinese thought that it was an outbreak, and therefore it required immediate treatment. Also, the Chinese believed that germs caused this disease. The beliefs that these two communities had towards the black plague were different. Muslims did not view this plague as an outbreak or contagious. They believed that it came from Allah as the only way to show mercy to the faithful Muslims. Therefore, Allah was the only solution and cure for this disease. They believed in both natural and physical treatments from the prophet.

Contrary to the Muslims’ beliefs, the Chinese thought that a thorough study on the disease was necessary. It would then provide a better solution for this disaster. Most Muslim scholars inherited the idea of this Black Death being directly from God and mercy from Him from the faithful Muslims (Byrne 2).

In response to Black Death, the Muslims conducted communal prayers to lift the deceased the activity was carried out in urban areas. During this prayer, people were instructed to assemble in mosques to recite the approved prayer in common. Also, young men marched around the city came carrying their prayer beads in the hands. They described their five daily prayers, they wept and humbly directed their thought to God, and all the activities were done for the sake of the dead. Again, these activities were preceded by fasting.  This exercise was contrary to the Chinese services, for they did not perform any of these activities. They were not allowed to move anywhere near the corpse or coffin. They believe that this epidemic was deadly.

Furthermore, the Chinese did not blame any group for transmitting or contaminating diseases to them. They depended on administering treatments and believed in healing. They did not change their attitude negatively towards any community case was different. Their attitude towards minorities changed. Muslims thought that some of the minor groups had brought or contaminated the disease to them. An excellent example of these groups was the Jews. However, after the epidemic, the impact of this disease sets various questions concerning Muslims’ attitudes towards these groups. Afterwards, they were treated well in medieval Muslim society. They were no longer blamed for causing any disease or for spreading any infection.

The Black Death epidemic instilled fear in most Chinese contrary, and the Muslims were courageous enough to face this disease. No one could explain to the Chinese about the possible ways of recovering from this disease. They were already full of fear and not ready to face the dreadful impact of this disease. Muslims sought courage from Allah; they believe that he would raise them from the conditions or situations of affliction. For sure, the impact of this attack was scary. Chinese did not find it easy to handle this disaster (Pamkuet et al. 4). They lacked courage and trust like the Muslim community who had strong faith in God.

Finally, the two groups had diverse beliefs on the Black Death issue. The other incident is the issue of supernatural visions. Muslims trusted that a man from Damascus visited the city judge and explained how this pandemic had struck various regions in Asia. The city judge recommended this man to read serial, which ravelled that God can raise one from his or her affliction. People of Damascus performed the ritual they prayed and slaughtered the high number of animals whose meat was given to the needy. Chinese never had an idea of this disaster is a vision.

Similarities in Chinese and Islam reaction to the black plague

Both Chinese and Islam had religious beliefs. Chinese are mostly Christians; however, Christians believed that this Black Death epidemic resulted from God. To add on the same, the two groups have diverse explanations on the same. For instance, the Chinese believed that the disease was contagious. On the other hand, Muslims did not think that these diseases were communicable. This plague had numerous impacts in the Middle East, apart from death. “As is well-known for Europe and the Middle East, wages rose sharply and remained high during the Black Death that began in the middle of the fourteenth century and lasted until the sixteenth century and even later” (Pamuket et al. 2). However, the two groups had a diverse interpretation, but they had a common belief that determined their reaction towards this crisis. Therefore, the impacts of this disease resulted in the restriction of movement in the Islamic regions.

Also, the two communities conducted funeral ceremonies for the deceased due to this epidemic attack. They carried out the activities or the final rights for the dead, but the Muslims celebration was somehow exaggerated. The fact is that most Chinese are Christians, and they buried those people that died as a result of this epidemic. Additionally, the Muslims carried out funerals services to purify the deceased. They could march in towns carrying out a procession for the person. This activity interrupted other people’s actions, for it caused interruption and distractions in these towns. Also, their event involved moving to the graveside where the dead belief to have resided. The Chinese conducted funeral ceremonies like the Muslims through their service is not overstated like that of the Muslims.

The two communities felt the impact of this epidemic. No of the communities enjoyed such experiences. The two groups were affected since numerous people ended up losing their lives. Massive loss of people changed the two groups psychologically. Losing a loved one to this disease was challenging. These groups did not find it easy to accept the impact caused by the death of many people. Loneliness and this significant loss of fellow citizens affected them greatly.

The last similarity is o the cause of this epidemic. It is not a secret that the Chinese are mostly Christians. However, the two groups had an analogy regarding the purpose of this outbreak. The Muslims believe that this disease was not contagious since God caused it. The Chinese who are Christians in this context thought that God created that disease as a punishment to its people. Although the explanation and interpretation of the causes of the two groups differ, similarly is, that they believed that this disease was Godsend. These beliefs bring out similarities between the two groups. “To the religious, I was punishment by God for sin an outbreak of divine wrath like the flood of Noah’s time” (Byrne 2)

Significance of the paper

This paper is critical for it boosts the understanding of a history student in various ways.

Moreover, it instils one with knowledge concerning the topic of the Black Plague. For a history student, understanding the root cause of this black plague is vital. By analyzing and reading this paper, a history student will obtain all the required information concerning the purpose of this Black Plague in most regions in the globe and, most notably, in areas like Europe, Asia, and Egypt.

Moreover, this paper is an excellent source of information for anyone interested in learning the topic of the black plague. Its content is not limited to the learners only. Anyone interested can access this document. This paper is informative. It contains finer details that revolve around this fatal plague in various regions. Therefore, this paper will inform one of the multiple occurrences throughout the middle ages. Again, this paper discusses the differences and similarities that were observed from both Chinese and Muslim reactions towards Black Death. However, it will equip one with these differences and similarities concerning the response of both Chinese and Muslims.

Black Death is a global epidemic since it struck most areas of the world. It examines how Black Death affected the world as a whole. This document is, therefore, crucial in this context for it provided necessary and relevant details concerning this disease that considerably lead to massive loss of lives. Reading this paper will equip one with the required information needed for any research. From this document, it is clear that black death is caused by a bacterium that is found in both fleas and mammals. The obtained knowledge, in this case, will equip one with the right skills to avoid coming in contact with items or things that are already contaminated with this bacteria. The great significance is that this act will prevent further occurrences of Black Death or disease which is proved to be deadly due to its impact

Again, this paper boosts the critical thinking of the learner. Analyzing a question that requires both similarities and differences is not easy. For instance, in the case of the given groups Chinese and Muslims, their commonness or similarities are not analyzed in most research papers or works.  Therefore, it does not essay to come up with these similarities unless one is a critical thinker. The reader will employ critical thinking skills by critically examining the facts provided concerning the two groups. From the provided differences, a learner will critically examine the similarities or commonness that can be depicted from the differences. The learner will identify practices that are similar to those that are common in these two stated groups. By carefully exploring the provided details on the subject, the learner becomes a critical thinker.  Therefore we can say that this paper makes one be essential reading by reading it.

Additionally, this paper makes the process of learning more accessible. For instance, one does not need to go into a book to understand the reaction of these two communities towards the story of Black Death. I can say that this paper enhances the learning of numerous things concerning this epidemic during the medieval period (Xu et al. 1). Again, multiple activities are discussed in this paper, both in Islamic and china regions. It, therefore, reveals a lot of details concerning these two communities. Therefore, it necessitates learning for anyone who goes through it.

Finally, this paper has a moral lesson or moral teaching in various communities. The issue of black death is said to have significantly influenced Muslims’ attitudes towards other communities or groups like Jew. Muslims believed that Jews contaminated or spread this disease to them, although they had a feeling that God controlled this disease hence not contaminated by people. This acquisition is false. Scientifically, the condition was a result of bacteria evident in mammals and flies. This issue of Black Death in Muslims teaches people that they should not accuse people like Muslims who accused Jews falsely. We should base our arguments on facts, not assumptions, as this might significantly affect the target group or community.

In conclusion, the bubonic plague is an offensive attack that needs to be addressed quickly. Indeed, both Chinese and Muslim communities responded differently towards the Black Death experience. For one, the Chinese believed that this disease was highly contagious, while the Muslims thought it was not since it was a God sent disease. Chinese who were affected by this disease were treated while the Muslims believed in Allah being the sole healer. Moreover, the two communities had different activities concerning burial ceremonies. The Muslims marched in town praying for the dead, and they also visited the gravesite. In the Chinese community, they were not allowed to move anywhere near the corpse or the casket. This act implies that they never moved to such areas, unlike the Muslims.

Regarding their similarities, these two communities conducted funeral ceremonies, although the Muslims ceremony was slightly different. Finally, this paper is of great significance for it equips people with knowledge on this topic of Black plagues. Also, it boosts the critical thinking of learners as they try to compare both similarities and the differences in this paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work cited

Benedict, Carol Ann. Bubonic plague in nineteenth-century China. Stanford University Press, https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=gxa7jcVIR9MC&oi=fnd&pg=PR16&dq=bubonic+plague+in+the+nineteenth+century+china&ots=9FSn22ZJlz&sig=rc-_MUL7VyLJHCvu6m8YVPzWGps&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=bubonic%20plague%20in%20the%20nineteenth%20century%20china&f=false1996.

Byrne, Joseph Patrick. The black death. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2004. https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=yw3HmjRvVQMC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=black+plague+in+islamic+regions&ots=HEMjthQvh5&sig=WWM9vc61Wx5vB7Vn9NKkSiK244M&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=black%20plague%20in%20islamic%20regions&f=false

Conrad, Lawrence I., 2000. “A Ninth-Century Muslim Scholar’s Discussion of Contagion.” In Contagion: Perspectives from Pre-Modern Societies, edited by Lawrence I. Conrad and Dominik Wujastyk, 163- 177. Burlington, Vermont: Ashgate Publishing Company. https://www.studypool.com/discuss/16392107/5-questions-should-be-answered-based-on-the-attached-readings-below

Kuriyama, Shigehisa. 1993. “Concepts of Disease in East Asia.” In The Cambridge World History of Human Diseases, edited by K. F. Kiple, 52-59. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/cambridge-world-history-of-human-disease/7F297C60BF1EBD13D4DEB33AD3066EF1

Leung, Angela Ki Che. 2010. “The Evolution of the Idea of Chuanran Contagion in Imperial China.” In Health and Hygiene in Chinese East Asia: Policies and Publics in the Long Twentieth Century, edited by Angela Ki Che Leung and Charlotte Furth, 25-50. Durham: Duke University Press. https://www.dukeupress.edu/health-and-hygiene-in-chinese-east-asia

Pamuk, Şevket, and Maya Shatzmiller. “Plagues, wages, and economic change in the Islamic Middle East, 700–1500.” The Journal of Economic History 74.1 (2014): 196-229. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Plagues%2C-Wages%2C-and-Economic-Change-in-the-Islamic-Pamuk-Shatzmiller/09456e80dba6b66ed602743ffb2036aa50fb4ea0

Xu, Lei, et al. “Nonlinear effect of climate on plague during the third pandemic in China.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 108.25 (2011): 10214-10219. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3121851/

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