Linking China to the Roman Empire, the Silk Road exposed Xi’an to an influx of goods, cultures and religions. Next lesson. To combine AND/OR Logic, conduct your search using Group search. Unlike most mosques in Middle Eastern or Arab countries, the Great Mosque of Xi'an is completely Chinese in its construction and architectural style, except for some Arabic lettering and decorations, for the mosque has neither domes nor traditional-style minarets. One of these steles is created by a renowned Song Dynasty calligrapher named Mi Fu. When you see Xian Great Mosque, you can see that even the minarets are like Chinese pagodas. Another interesting point about Xian Great Mosque is the direction it faces. We were unaware that the most awe-inspiring part of our trip was still ahead of us, at the eastern terminus of the famed Silk Road. The Great Mosque of Xian is the largest and best preserved of the early mosques of China. : 128 An active place of worship within Xi'an Muslim Quarter, this courtyard complex is also a popular tourist site. Here you can see Islamic stele in multiple languages including Arabic, Persian, and Chinese. We are sorry, we are still working on adjusting Archnet.org for Metro IE. The Great Mosque of Xi'an is laid out like a traditional Chinese temple, with successive courtyards of pavilions and pagodas occupying a long and narrow site (48 meters by 248 meters). Inside the mosque will leave you in awe. The present buildings are mostly Ming and Qing, … Photos and description of the architecture of the Great Mosque, Xian, China Gate of the Great Mosque in Xian: Great Mosque is still used by Chinese Muslims (mainly the Hui people) today as a place of worship. In fact, if you didn’t know where you are, you might think you are inside another temple rather than an Islamic mosque. It's construction started in 742 AD, the first year of the Tianbao Era of Emperor Xuanrong's reign in the Tang Dynasty, and additions were made during the Song (960-1279), Yuan (1271-1638), Ming (1368-1644), and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, which makes it an ancient architectural complex representative of many periods of time. The construction began during the Tang Dynasty in 742 and significant additions were made during the Song (960-1279), Yuan (1271-1638), Ming (1368-1644), and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Huajuexiang Mosque Restoration (Variant) Great Mosque of Xian (Variant) Date 1368-1398, restored 1980 Style period Hui Associated names. The Great Mosque has five courtyards leading into each other, its style is Chinese with an Arab influence. If you continue your path from the Phoenix Pavilion you will reach the large turquoise-roofed Prayer Hall left since the Ming Dynasty, This area is about 14,000 square feet (1,300 square meters) and is filled with hanging lanterns and Chinese plaques which show the Islamic belief. Muslims had a crucial effect on the unification of China especially during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. In a well-arranged layout there are four courtyards, each 1,200 square meter in area with gardens all around. Nearby attractions include the Drum Tower, Xi’an Huancheng Park and Lianhu Park. This octagonal structure has two functions, the minaret of the mosque and also a pavilion to watch the moon. This is the currently selected item. Take a bus to one of the many nearby stops. Accurate or not, it is true that the oldest Chinese Islam… The reason for building the Xian Great Mosque lies with the commercial exchanges that the Chinese had with people from the Middle East. Also, there is a picture of “Mecca”, Muslim city in Saudi Arabia, as well as around 20 inscriptions written in Arabic and Chinese. The Xian Great Mosque is something one of a kind and is recommended to those who value art, culture, and history of different nations. These immigrants’ descendants later became the Muslims today in modern-day China. So, at the time of visiting Xi’an, don’t forget to take a look at this amazing mosque and share your ideas with us. This item appears in the following Collection(s) Aga Khan Visual Archive Images of architecture, urbanism, and the built environment in the Islamic world Please rotate your device for properly using Archnet.org. Originally built in 742 AD in Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD), Great Mosque of Xi'an combined Islamic culture with Chinese traditional architecture seamlessly and became most featured and renowned mosques in China. According to tradition, the first Islamic mission to China arrived in 627 CE and was led by the Prophet’s uncle, who supposedly made his way from the port of Guangzhou in the south to the Tang Dynasty court in Chang’an (Xi’an). Built primarily in the Ming Dynasty when Chinese architectural elements were synthesized into mosque architecture, the mosque resembles a fifteenth century Buddhist temple with … Pyxis of al-Mughira. It continued to be used until 1278 when it was partially destroyed during the Hulag… Built during the Tang Dynasty in 742 AD, Xi’an’s Great Mosque is the oldest in China. Xian Great Mosque is also a very beautiful place in spring when the magnolias are blooming in white and pink. A marriage of traditional Chinese architecture and Islamic practicality, the Great Mosque of Xi'an houses more than 20 building across its five courtyards, making it the largest mosque in China. Here you will see another mixture of Islamic architecture and the Chinese one. The Tang Dynasty era was a period filled with peace, trade, influx, and freedom of religion. Most of this happened by Arab merchants or other travelers from Persia (modern-day Iran) and Afghanistan in the mid-7th century. The first courtyard is approached through a nine-meter high wooden arch, adorned with glazed tiles. The mosque was built in the ninth century by Ziyadat Allah, the third ruler of the Aghlabid dynasty, an offshoot of the Abbasid Empire. The Great Mosque of Cordoba. RELATED READING: 5 Best Dishes in Xi’an. Besides, rest assured that your questions will be replied as soon as possible in the comment section. Great Mosque of Xi'an, China 1.jpg 3,264 × 2,448; 2.59 MB The Great Mosque in Xi'an is one of the most prominent symbols of Islamic culture in China. Xian Great Mosque is a complex with different sections inside. Many Muslims settle… When adding more than one criteria, choose AND/OR logic to apply, Pick the search criteria, choose the logic to apply, and enter a search value in the empty box, When using both AND/OR, user groups to indicate which logic applies to which terms, This site is adjusted only for landscape mode. It makes sense that the first place of worship for muslims, the house of the Prophet Muhammad, inspired the earliest type of mosque – the hypostyle mosque. In this area, you can find many other mosques as well as Muslim food and souvenir markets. Xi’an Mosque Phoenix Pavilion (source: Isaac Torrontera) The mosque has gradually become a large and beautiful complex part of the Xi’an historical architecture, and very much deserving of the time spent touring it. When these people came to China, some of them settled down and married a woman of Han Nationality. The mosque, 13,000 sq meters in size, rectangle in shape, boasts four exquisite courtyards and the holy Prayer Hall. Mimar Sinan, Mosque of Selim II, Edirne. Mosque in Xi'an Image by CHRIS TAYLOR / 500PX Bigger than many temples in China, the Great Mosque is a gorgeous blend of Chinese and Islamic architecture and one of the most fascinating sacred sites in the land. The first mosque in China was the Great Mosque of Xi'an, built during the Tang Dynasty in the 8th century CE. Art of the Islamic world in the medieval era. Absorb the Islamic Architecture built in Chinese style; Originally built in Tang dynasty (618-907), Xi'an Great Mosque had been successively renovated and expanded into the largest complexes of Islamic architectures. Great Mosque of Mecca, mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, built to enclose the Ka‘bah, the holiest shrine in Islam. And perhaps the most prominent marker of Chinese Islamic Culture is the Great Mosque of Xi’an, located in the north of the West Street centre of the city in the Shaanxi province. It oozes a solemn and respectful aura with its numerous well-laid out beautiful storied buildings, platforms, pavilions and halls. Xi’an – the Oldest Mosque. When you enter the second courtyard, you can find two towering steles carved with Chinese calligraphy. In the Tang dynasty, Islam was introduced to China by the Arabian merchants. One of the stone tablets inside the mosque says that it was constructed in 742 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) -- though much of what you see today is from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Alhambra. (Video Credit: Walkabout Asia). This type spread widely throughout Islamic lands. These influences start from the central minaret, which has the same look of a pagoda to the astonishing turquoise-roofed Prayer Hall (unfortunately not open to non-Muslim visitors) at the back of the complex dating back to the Ming dynasty. Great Mosque of Xi’an, China. 3. If you are curious about the course of history and its events, you can find some known Chinese figures who come from this line of events like beloved national Chinese figure, Zheng He whose ancestor was Ajall Shams al-Din Omar from the city of Bukhara in modern-day Uzbekistan. Constructed in the Chinese style to blend in with existing places of worship, the Great Mosque is almost devoid of the traditional features of a Middle Eastern place of worship. The Great Mosque of Xi’an is in the Lianhu section of the city center . In the 20th century it … At the time of its construction, it was one of the largest in the world. Xi'an Mosque: An Ancient Mosque with Chinese Architecture - See 1,555 traveler reviews, 1,541 candid photos, and great deals for Xi'an, China, at Tripadvisor. Architectural Society of China (architect/planner) Huajuexiang Mosque (client) Building type religious Building usage mosque Keywords restoration and conservation Coordinates Use the advanced tools below to narrow the parameters of your search. Typing a term in the Research bar performs an anywhere search. All Rights Reserved. Another stele, on the other hand, is created by another calligrapher named Dong Qichang from the Ming Dynasty. Xian Great Mosque is rather old dating back to the 8th century under the rule of the Tang Dynasty. Islam entered China with Arab and Persian traders on the sea routes from India and Southeast Asia in the first century of Islam, the seventh century CE. Email. Metro line 2 helps you to reach the Bell Tower station. Find the Drum Tower and walk through northwest direction for about 5 minutes to find the mosque. The mosque is still being used as a place for praying mostly by Hui people and other Chinese Muslims. Although the mosque was founded back then, the remaining parts today are mostly from Ming and Qing Dynasties. We then prepared for the next day’s trip to Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter and the Great Mosque. The great mosque is located in a district called the Muslim Quarter, which is inhabited by over 20,000 Muslims. The area includes four courtyards and occupies around 129,000 square feet (12,000 square meters). The World Asia China Xi'an Great Mosque … Built entirely in the architectural Chinese style, the compound of the Great Mosque of Xi’an spreads over 12,000 square meters. Deep inside the Xian Great Mosque. There is an engraved stone tablet inside Xian Great Mosque which states it was built in 742 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Besides architectural magnificence, Xian Great Mosque also has some rare calligraphic and textual gems too. Xian Great Mosque The History of Xian Great Mosque. Xian Great Mosque was built in this period because people from the Middle East had a very good chance of trading, traveling, and relocating to China. But the buildings' Islamic function becomes clear on closer inspection, with the usual figurative decoration mostly replaced by Arabic and Chinese calligraphy. The names are Qing Xiu Dian (Place of Meditation), Xing Xin Ting (Pavilion for Introspection), and Sheng Xin Lou (Tower of the Visiting Heart). There is a prayer hall from the Southern Song Dynasty Near the third courtyard named Chixiu Hall. Xian Great Mosque is the largest mosque in China. The first mosque in Samarra was built in 836, but it was replaced between 848 and 852 by the Great Mosque of al-Mutawakkil. The names chosen for the courtyards contribute to the tranquility of the Xian Great Mosque complex. Walk in the north direction to reach the Drum Tower and then, walk through northwest direction for about 5 minutes to find the mosque. Google Classroom Facebook Twitter. The gardens with their beauty, add to the mosque’s tranquil environment. The Great Mosque of al-Mutawakkil was commissioned by the Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil. Great Mosque of Xi'an: | | ||| | A walkway in the Great Mosque of Xi'an | ... World Heritage Encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the … The Great Mosque in Xi'an is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved Islamic mosques in China. The Great Mosque of Kairouan, Tunisia, is an archetypal example of the hypostyle mosque. The mosque can be considered a true haven of solitude and an oasis of tranquility located in a crowded area of the city. You can even see verses of Quran in both Chinese and Arabic which is a scene not to be missed. The architecture of the Xian Great Mosque. The entire mosque complex is a brilliant blend of Islamic and Chinese architecture. Usually, buildings face south in China, but Xian Great Mosques, like almost every mosque in the world, faces the holy city of Mecca and in this case, to the west. Walk to the nearby Muslim Quarter to see how Islamic traditions remain in this city. Xian Great Mosque is a complex with different sections inside. A mixture of Chinese and Arabic styling, the Great Mosque of Xi’an (西安大清真寺 Xī’ān Dà Qīngzhēnsì) is a direct representation of the Silk Road itself. If you have the chance to see this beautiful Chinese treasure from a close distance, you can understand the Arab influences. Great Mosque of Xi'an See an intriguing blend of Islamic customs with traditional Chinese architecture in this religious complex of gardens and historic buildings. It is a large, rectangular stone mosque with a hypostyle (supported by columns) hall an… The Great Mosque of Xi’an was constructed sometime around the year 700 AD, and largely dates from this early period, though extensive renovations were undertaken in the 14th century. The majority of the mosque was built during the early Ming dynasty. A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the religion of Islam. The architecture of this mosque represents many significant periods of Chinese history. If you visit the halls near this area, you can find they are filled with furniture, sculptures, Arabic calligraphy, etc. Renaissance Art … In the first courtyard, there is a 17th-century ornate wooden arch that is around 29.5 feet (9 meters) tall covered with Chinese glazed tiles. According to historical records engraved on a stone tablet inside, the Great Mosque was built in 742 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The Great Mosque of Cordoba. The only things that could intrigue your suspicion are the Arabic carvings. Take bus 205, 215, 221, 222, 251, 252, and any other buses that help you to reach Zhonglou Xi Station. A total of 80,000 Muslims could worship there at the same time. The modern building is the product of centuries of development, with its oldest parts dating to a 16th century Ottoman renovation. Built primarily in the Ming Dynasty when Chinese architectural elements were synthesized into mosque architecture, the mosque resembles a fifteenth century Buddhist temple with its single axis lined with courtyards and pavilions. So these commercial exchanges led to cultural exchanges and Islam started being introduced into Northwest China. Xian Great Mosque is a sanctuary for Muslims, but as you know already, it features classic Chinese temple features too. © 2020 Trip Ways LLC. The third courtyard or “Place of Meditation” has the mosque’s tallest tower inside. Huajuexiang Mosque; Variant names. This tower, also known as “Pavilion for Introspection” or “Tower of the Visiting Heart”, has a height of 33 feet (10 meters). Inside the mosque, you can find some hand-written copies of the Holy Quran which date back to the Qing Dynasty. When you enter the fourth courtyard you will face a hexagonal pavilion named “Phoenix Pavilion” which looks like a phoenix with its wings spread toward the sides. Today there are over 39,000 mosques in China, 25,000 of these are in Xinjiang, a north-west autonomous region, having a high density of one mosque per 500 muslims. all preserved like a museum. Please use another browser for the best experience with our site. These features include: Xian Great Mosque has four courtyards inside and when you enter the first courtyard, you can see magnificent dragons. The architecture of the Xian Great Mosque. The Great Mosque of Xian is the largest and best preserved of the early mosques of China. 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