China steals Uyghur heritage in the name of a "fabricated Chinese savior"

In recent years, China has been aggressively promoting a Chinese figure named Wen Tongshu as the "first person to save Uyghur muqam," in an attempt to portray the Chinese as protectors and saviors of Uyghur culture. His manuscripts were recently included on the list of Chinese archival and tangible heritage.

According to the Tengri Tag news website, citing the Chinese propaganda apparatus, the State Administration of Archives of China announced on June 9 the "List of Chinese Archival and Tangible Heritage" from the sixth group, which included more than 30 of Wen Tongshu's "Twelve Muqam Notes."

The report cites the false claim that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) assigned Wen Tongshu the "rescue mission" to protect Uyghur muqam, which was "heading toward extinction," and that thanks to his efforts, the twelve Uyghur muqams were collected, organized, and preserved.

As part of China's attempts to distort the history of its occupation of East Turkistan and portray itself as the savior of Uyghur culture and art, it promotes Wen Tongshu as the savior of the Twelve Uyghur shrines, while relegating the late Terdi Ahun, the true heir and protector of the shrines, to a secondary role.

Following Wen Tongshu's death in 2023 at the age of 99, China opened the "Wen Tongshu Shrine Archives Museum" at the so-called Xinjiang Arts Institute. It also produced a film portraying Wen Tongshu as the savior of the Twelve Uyghur shrines, part of its 2025 film project.