Written by: Mahnoor Fatima
Posted on: November 12, 2020 | 
| 中文
Inside the Prayer Hall of the Great Mosque
People are often surprised to find that China not only has a wide variety of Islamic sites and monuments, but also that the history and culture of Islam in China is deeply tied to trade and the Silk Road Networks. 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 was made to honor the founders of Islam in China who established a community that is about 9.8 million strong, and helped continue trade with the West through the ancient Silk Road.
According to the stone engraving inside, the Great Mosque was made in 742 CE during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). At that time, Arab merchants along with Persian and Afghan traders had already established connections in Northwestern China through the Silk Road, and would marry Han Chinese women. However, it wasn’t until the Mongol Rule under Kublai Khan that Muslims from territories of Central Asia, Persia and the Middle East were brought to China as soldiers and artisans. These Muslims assimilated with the local culture over time, adopting Chinese names, language and customs. The community became known as “Hui”, a product of hybrid culture.
The Layout of the Mosque Compound
The mosque compound as it presently stands, was built during the 25th year of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D) by the naval admiral and hajji (he who has performed the Holy Pilgrimage) Cheng Ho, a famous Muslim nobleman who cleared the China Sea of pirates. However, most of its construction took place in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Apart from its very unique history, the site is a fascinating meeting point between Islamic and Chinese architecture. With a total area of over 13,000 square meters, the complex is built like a Chinese temple with four courtyards on a single axis going East to West, facing Mecca. But the pagodas and pavilions were built to suit Islamic practicalities. The main prayer hall, located in the fourth courtyard, can accommodate about a thousand people. And although there are not any traditional minarets or domes, it is said that “The Introspection Tower”, a two-story pagoda located in the third pavilion, was used to call for prayers (adhan).
The Introspection Tower
However, each of the courtyards contains distinctive structures and designs, which are testaments to its old and rich history. The first courtyard is marked by a nine-meter high arch, covered in glazed tiles that date back to the 17th Century. The second pavilion has two steles (erected stone slabs), dedicated to two master calligraphers, Mi Fu of the Song Dynasty and Dong Qichang of the Ming Dynasty, whose works were not only elegant, but also deeply impactful to their respective societies.
Along with the tower, the third pavilion contains rooms that initially had the library, imam’s quarters, and a narrow hall for ablution. The roof and paneled walls are covered with paintings of lotus flowers, chrysanthemums and peonies. And the final pavilion is known as the “Phoenix Pavilion”, which is said to resemble a phoenix stretching its wings to shield the worshippers during prayer. The prayer hall itself covers 1270 square meters, divided into three segments and is covered by a hipped roof, as per Hui traditions.
The Ceiling of the Great_Mosque of Xi'an
As one enters deeper into the compound, one can see traditional Islamic motifs, like the 99 names of God and various verses from the Quran, written in Sini Script. Sini is the traditional Arabic script used in Chinese calligraphy, bringing the thick, tapered effects of traditional Chinese calligraphy to Qur’anic script. The mihrab (a semi-circular niche that points to the direction of Mecca and the place from where the Imam leads the prayer) at the qibla bay, located at the end of the prayer hall has bands of Qur’anic verses written around images of beautiful lotuses, keeping intact the sacred union between ancient Chinese motifs and Islamic themes.
After being closed down and used as a steel factory in the aftermath of the Chinese Revolutionary War, the mosque was conserved in 1956 as a Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the Shaanxi Province Level. It became a Major Historical Site to be Protected at the National Level in 1988, and in 1985, the mosque was inducted into the UNESCO Islamic Heritage List.
The Gate of the Second Pavilion
Thousands of tourists visit the mosque each year from all over the world to experience traditional Hui culture and traditions. After spending a day exploring the mosque compound and marveling at the architecture, they often venture into the Muslim Quarter for souvenirs and traditional Hui food, to top off the fascinating experience. The community there is very old and tight-knit, but are happy to speak to tourists and talk about the history of their community over a warm steamed bun or a bowl of Bread in Mutton Stew (Yangrou Paomao).
Vendors of the Muslim Quarter of Xi'an
Visiting the Great Mosque of Xi’an gives people a fascinating insight into the Islamic traditions and symbols that have merged with Chinese history and aesthetics. It is a unique and often underrated site, that would excite those interested in Islamic architecture and Chinese history. The mosque has stood for centuries as a reminder of the importance of the Hui community to Xi’an and ancient Chinese history, and as the mediators between the East and West whose work was vital to the functioning of the Ancient Silk Road.
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