The minority Muslim population of China, known as the Hui people, have practised Kung-Fu for hundreds of years. Although they are not physically different from the majority Han Chinese, Hui people follow the Islamic religion and reject many foodstuffs common in China such as pork, dog and horse. Persecution during the Qing Dynasty particularly promoted the learning of Kung-Fu for self-defence. Over the years Hui martial artists have learned, adapted, as well as started, their own systems of Kung Fu. Many famous historical martial artists have been drawn from their ranks.