Who were the Kaifeng Jews and when were they absorbed into the broader population?

The Kaifeng Jews were a religious community in Henan province, China, likely originating from India or Persia before 1127. They were known for their strict adherence to Jewish precepts, including observing the Sabbath, reading the Torah, and following dietary laws, which earned them the local name Tiaojinjiao ("pick out the tendons").12

The community's decline began following the social upheaval of the 1644 Qing dynasty establishment and the destruction of their synagogue in 1642. Factors such as intermarriage with Han Chinese, the loss of Hebrew literacy, and poverty led to the community's dissolution. While they maintained their identity for centuries, they were largely absorbed into the broader population by the late 19th century. By the early 1900s, only a few individuals remained to identify as members of the once-flourishing community.12