Ma Bufang

Ma Bufang ما بوفنگ
Lieutenant General Ma Bufang
1st Republic of China Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
In office August 1957 – June 1961
President	Chiang Kai-shek
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	Bao Junjian
Governor of Qinghai
In office 5 Mar 1938 – Sep 1949
Preceded by	Ma Lin
Succeeded by	Zhao Shoushan (Chao Shou-shan)
Personal details
Born	1903 Linxia County, Gansu, Qing Dynasty
Died	1975 (aged 71–72) Saudi Arabia
Nationality	Hui
Political party	Kuomintang
Spouse(s)	Ma Suqin
Children	Ma Jiyuan
Alma mater	Officers' Training Corps of Qinghai
Religion	Sunni Islam
Awards	Order of Precious Tripod
Military service
Nickname(s)	King of Qinghai
Allegiance	Republic of China
Years of service	1928–1949
Rank	General
Unit	Ninghai Army
Commands	Chairman of Qinghai Province, Commander-in-Chief of 40th Army Group
Battles/wars	Sino-Tibetan War, Long March, Second Sino-Japanese War, Chinese Civil War, Ili Rebellion, Kuomintang Pacification of Qinghai

Ma Bufang (1903–1975) (traditional Chinese: 馬步芳; simplified Chinese: 马步芳; pinyin: Mǎ Bùfāng; Wade–Giles: Ma³ Pu⁴-fang¹, Xiao'erjing: ما بوفنگ) was a prominent Muslim Ma clique warlord in China during the Republic of China era, ruling the province of Qinghai. His rank was Lieutenant-general.

General Ma started a state run and controlled industrialization project, directly creating educational, medical, agricultural, and sanitation projects, run or assisted by the state.

Ma Bufang and his older brother Ma Buqing (1901–1977) were born in Monigou Township (漠泥溝鄉) in what is today Linxia County, some 35 kilometres (22 mi) west of Linxia City. Their father Ma Qi (馬麒) formed the Ninghai Army in Qinghai in 1915, and received civilian and military posts from the Beiyang Government in Beijing confirming his military and civilian authority there.

His older brother Ma Buqing received a classical Chinese education, while Ma Bufang received education in Islam. Ma Qi originally had Ma Bufang study to become an imam while his older brother Ma Buqing was educated in the military. Ma Bufang studied until he was nineteen and then pursued a military career like his brother. Ma Bufang controlled the Great Dongguan Mosque. Ma was a graduate of the Officers' Training Corps of Qinghai.