Beijing Launches New Comprehensive Histories on Xinjiang and Its Religions

Chinese authorities held a launch event in Beijing on September 2 for two comprehensive historical texts: History of China's Xinjiang Region and History of Religions in China's Xinjiang Region. Organized by the Publicity Department of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the volumes systematically detail the region's political history and religious trajectory. According to state media, the works are anchored in historical materialism, the concept of the Chinese national community, and the Sinicization of religion, aiming to shape domestic consensus and guide global understanding of Xinjiang's history.

The release of these two general histories provides an authoritative, state-endorsed codification of Xinjiang's historical and religious evolution. By formalizing these narratives within the framework of a unified multi-ethnic state and the Sinicization of religion, Beijing is standardizing educational and ideological materials used to support its long-term governance strategy in the region.

Chinese authorities unveiled two authoritative history books covering the Xinjiang region during a launch ceremony in Beijing on September 2, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency. The titles, History of China's Xinjiang Region and History of Religions in China's Xinjiang Region, were organized and sponsored by the Publicity Department of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. Characterized as comprehensive general histories, the publications examine the historical trajectory of Xinjiang through the primary lens of the "Chinese national community." According to the official dispatch, the volumes describe Xinjiang's economic and social development under a unified multi-ethnic state governance system, trace the long-term evolution of multiple coexisting religions, and detail the Communist Party's governance record in the region. The books are structured to reflect what Beijing describes as the successful implementation of the Party's governance strategy for Xinjiang in the new era. State media reported that the editorial approach adhered strictly to historical materialism, keeping the forging of a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation as the central thematic line, while upholding the principle of adapting religions to Chinese socialist society—often referred to as the Sinicization of religion. Beyond their academic positioning, the works carry explicit public communication objectives. Organizers stated that the publications are intended to popularize historical knowledge of Xinjiang, build ideological consensus, and better convey Xinjiang's contemporary story. Furthermore, the texts are explicitly designed to guide both domestic and overseas audiences toward what authorities consider a correct understanding of Xinjiang's regional history and its religious evolution. While state media emphasized the broad scope and ideological significance of the project, the report did not specify the academic institutions involved in drafting the volumes, their specific distribution schedule, or whether authorized foreign-language translations are currently in production.