Nickname(s) Marshal Ma Years of service 1856–his death Died 1891 Other name Marshal Ma | Allegiance Qing dynasty Battles/wars Panthay Rebellion Battles and wars Panthay Rebellion Rank General officer | |
Ma Rulong (Ma Julung in Wade Giles) was a Chinese Muslim who originally rebelled against the Qing dynasty along with Du Wenxiu in the Panthay Rebellion. He later defected to the Qing side. After officially surrendering in 1862 his forces effectively occupied the capital of Yunnan. He then helped the Qing forces crush his fellow Muslim rebels, and defeated them. He was known by the name of Marshal Ma to Europeans and achieved almost total control in Yunnan province. He was the most powerful military official in the province after the war.
Du Wenxiu was fought against by the defector to the Qing Ma Rulong. The Muslim scholar Ma Dexin, who said that Neo-Confucianism was reconcilable with Islam, approved of Ma Rulong defecting to the Qing and he also assisted other Muslims in defecting.
General Ma Yu-kun, who fought against Japanese forces in the First Sino-Japanese War and against foreigners in the Boxer Rebellion was believed to be Ma Rulong's son by Europeans.