The Great Mosque of Xi’anThe Great Mosque of Xi’an

Mosque architectureMosque architecture

The Great Mosque of Xian is the largest The Great Mosque of Xian is the largest and best preserved of the early and best preserved of the early mosques of China. Built primarily in the mosques of China. Built primarily in the Ming Dynasty when Chinese Ming Dynasty when Chinese architectural elements were architectural elements were synthesized into mosque architecture, synthesized into mosque architecture, the mosque resembles a fifteenth the mosque resembles a fifteenth century Buddhist temple with its single century Buddhist temple with its single axis lined with courtyards and axis lined with courtyards and pavilions. pavilions.

Mosque of Xi AnMosque of Xi An Like the Great Mosques at Hangzhou, Like the Great Mosques at Hangzhou,

Quanzhou and Guangzhou, the Great Quanzhou and Guangzhou, the Great Mosque of Xian is thought to have exiMosque of Xian is thought to have existed as early as the seventh century. Tsted as early as the seventh century. The mosque that stands today, howevehe mosque that stands today, however, was begun in 1392 in the twenty-fiftr, was begun in 1392 in the twenty-fifth year of the Ming Dynasty. It was osth year of the Ming Dynasty. It was ostensibly founded by naval admiral and ensibly founded by naval admiral and hajjihajji Cheng Ho, the son of a prestigio Cheng Ho, the son of a prestigious Muslim family and famous for cleaus Muslim family and famous for clearing the China Sea of pirates. ring the China Sea of pirates.

ReconstructionsReconstructions Since the fourteenth century, the mosque has Since the fourteenth century, the mosque has

undergone numerous reconstructions. Most of undergone numerous reconstructions. Most of the buildings extant today are from the Ming athe buildings extant today are from the Ming and Qing Dynasties of the seventeenth and eightnd Qing Dynasties of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The mosque was constructed eenth centuries. The mosque was constructed on Hua Jue Lane just outside the city walls builon Hua Jue Lane just outside the city walls built by the Ming Dynasty, in what was once the t by the Ming Dynasty, in what was once the jiajiao-fango-fang neighborhood for foreigners to the nort neighborhood for foreigners to the northwest of the city. Today, this neighborhood is hwest of the city. Today, this neighborhood is part of Xian proper, with the city's famous Drupart of Xian proper, with the city's famous Drum Tower a block away.m Tower a block away.

PrecinctPrecinct

The mosque occupies a narrow The mosque occupies a narrow lot about 48 meters by 248 lot about 48 meters by 248 meters, and the precinct walls meters, and the precinct walls enclose a total area of 12,000 enclose a total area of 12,000 square meters. square meters.

LayoutLayout Unlike many Chinese mosques, it has the Unlike many Chinese mosques, it has the

layout of a Chinese temple: successive layout of a Chinese temple: successive courtyards on a single axis with pavilions courtyards on a single axis with pavilions and pagodas adapted to suit Islamic and pagodas adapted to suit Islamic function. Unlike a typical Buddhist temple, function. Unlike a typical Buddhist temple, however, the grand axis of the Great however, the grand axis of the Great Mosque of Xian is aligned from east to Mosque of Xian is aligned from east to west, facing Mecca. Five successive west, facing Mecca. Five successive courtyards, each with a signature pavilion, courtyards, each with a signature pavilion, screen, or freestanding gateway, lead to screen, or freestanding gateway, lead to the prayer hall located at the western end the prayer hall located at the western end of the axis.of the axis.

First courtyardFirst courtyard

The first courtyard is entered via two modeThe first courtyard is entered via two modest side gates along the north and south prest side gates along the north and south precinct walls. Its eastern precinct wall is concinct walls. Its eastern precinct wall is constructed of finely ground and polished bricstructed of finely ground and polished brick and has a wide screen wall at its center, ck and has a wide screen wall at its center, carved with floral patterns organized into tharved with floral patterns organized into three diamond shapes. Ornamental projectioree diamond shapes. Ornamental projections resembling wooden dougong brackets ans resembling wooden dougong brackets are carved into the brick under the raised eare carved into the brick under the raised eaves of the roofed screen wall. ves of the roofed screen wall.

PailouPailou At the center of the courtyard is an iAt the center of the courtyard is an i

mposing wooden gateway, or mposing wooden gateway, or pailoupailou. . This nine-meter high freestanding This nine-meter high freestanding papailouilou is a four columned roofed struct is a four columned roofed structure buttressed on all sides by wooden ure buttressed on all sides by wooden props, anchored into stone bases. Muprops, anchored into stone bases. Multiple tiers of meticulously carved ltiple tiers of meticulously carved dodougongugong brackets support its blue glaze brackets support its blue glazed tile roof.d tile roof.

PavilionPavilion

The rooms along the northern wall have stThe rooms along the northern wall have staggered facades, with the "Unmatched Pavaggered facades, with the "Unmatched Pavilion", or ilion", or Yizhen PavilionYizhen Pavilion, in the center. Th, in the center. The pavilion, used as a lecture hall, is three be pavilion, used as a lecture hall, is three bays wide and has a hipped roof fronted by ays wide and has a hipped roof fronted by a central projection with wide, raised eavea central projection with wide, raised eaves, reminiscent of a bangke tower. This roof s, reminiscent of a bangke tower. This roof is mimicked to a lesser degree on the flankis mimicked to a lesser degree on the flanking halls, with elaborate awnings spanning ing halls, with elaborate awnings spanning over the entryways. over the entryways.

Beautifully decoratedBeautifully decorated Beautifully carved lambrequins compliment Beautifully carved lambrequins compliment

the recessed curtain wall at the back of the the recessed curtain wall at the back of the porch at the Unmatched Pavilion, which has porch at the Unmatched Pavilion, which has a finely carved door and lattice windows. a finely carved door and lattice windows. Even the steps leading up to the lecture hall Even the steps leading up to the lecture hall were once carved with floral motifs. Sculpted were once carved with floral motifs. Sculpted dragons and flowers decorate the roof ridges dragons and flowers decorate the roof ridges and crests. Notably, figurative sculpture can and crests. Notably, figurative sculpture can only be found atop the roofs of the mosque only be found atop the roofs of the mosque complex and not along paths or flanking complex and not along paths or flanking gateways, quite unlike a Buddhist temple.gateways, quite unlike a Buddhist temple.

Second courtSecond court

In the second court, separated froIn the second court, separated from the first by a shallow roofed pavm the first by a shallow roofed pavilion, stands a rectilineal stone ilion, stands a rectilineal stone paipailoulou built to resemble a wooden str built to resemble a wooden structure. It's three doorways, the ceucture. It's three doorways, the central of which is higher and wider ntral of which is higher and wider than the two flanking, each bear athan the two flanking, each bear an inscription. n inscription.

PiersPiers

Two freestanding vertical brick piers, Two freestanding vertical brick piers, carved with ornate floral motifs and crcarved with ornate floral motifs and crowned with tiled roofs with upswept eowned with tiled roofs with upswept eaves and aves and dougongdougong brackets, follow the brackets, follow the stone stone pailoupailou. These monumental piers,. These monumental piers, which are repeated again in the third which are repeated again in the third courtyard, house stone tablets with Arcourtyard, house stone tablets with Arabic inscription in their central arched abic inscription in their central arched niches. niches.

Residential spaceResidential space

Reception rooms, now used as shoReception rooms, now used as shops and residential space, flank the ps and residential space, flank the second court. The area to the soutsecond court. The area to the south of this courtyard was originally h of this courtyard was originally designated for Hui burial, althougdesignated for Hui burial, although this practice never fully developh this practice never fully developed.ed.

Third courtyardThird courtyard Through another roofed pavilion is the thThrough another roofed pavilion is the th

ird courtyard, the ird courtyard, the Qing Xiu DianQing Xiu Dian, or "Plac, or "Place of Meditation". Here, the commanding e of Meditation". Here, the commanding structure is the octagonal "Pavilion for Intstructure is the octagonal "Pavilion for Introspection", also known as the "Tower of rospection", also known as the "Tower of the Visiting Heart" (the Visiting Heart" (Xing Xin TingXing Xin Ting or or ShenSheng Xin Loug Xin Lou). This brick tower is over ten m). This brick tower is over ten meters tall with three stories separated by eeters tall with three stories separated by eaves and wrapped by wooden balconies. aves and wrapped by wooden balconies.

Bangke towerBangke tower Unlike its predecessors, where the Unlike its predecessors, where the

bangke towerbangke tower (moon watching pav (moon watching pavilion) is separate from the minaret,ilion) is separate from the minaret, this Ming mosque merges the min this Ming mosque merges the minaret and the aret and the bangke towerbangke tower into the into the tallest structure of the complex. tallest structure of the complex.

EavesEaves

Its eaves are decorated with blue gIts eaves are decorated with blue glazed tiles and dragon heads are calazed tiles and dragon heads are carved into the ridges. rved into the ridges. Dougong bracDougong bracketskets are seen below the raised eav are seen below the raised eaves of the roof. Inside, a moveable ses of the roof. Inside, a moveable staircase leads up to the ceiling caistaircase leads up to the ceiling caissons, which are carved and brightlsons, which are carved and brightly painted with lotus flowers. y painted with lotus flowers.

RoomsRooms The third courtyard has a series of The third courtyard has a series of

rooms along its north and south walls. rooms along its north and south walls. These rooms are internally divided and These rooms are internally divided and once hosted the library and the imam's once hosted the library and the imam's quarters, with a narrow courtyard for quarters, with a narrow courtyard for ablutions. The paneled wooden ablutions. The paneled wooden partitions of these rooms are covered partitions of these rooms are covered with painted carvings of with painted carvings of chrysanthemums, lotus flowers and chrysanthemums, lotus flowers and peonies. peonies.

Fourth courtyardFourth courtyard

The fourth courtyard is entered The fourth courtyard is entered via three marble gates with via three marble gates with wooden doors. The prayer hall, wooden doors. The prayer hall, preceded by a large platform, is preceded by a large platform, is at the western end of the at the western end of the courtyard. courtyard.

Phoenix PavilionPhoenix Pavilion

Before this platform stands the PhBefore this platform stands the Phoenix Pavilion or the oenix Pavilion or the Feng Hua TiFeng Hua Tingng. Built during the Qing Dynasty, . Built during the Qing Dynasty, the pavilion is said to resemble a pthe pavilion is said to resemble a phoenix with its outstretched wings hoenix with its outstretched wings and interrupts direct view to the pand interrupts direct view to the prayer hall. rayer hall.

RooflineRoofline

Its roofline connects three distinct pavIts roofline connects three distinct pavilions, extending from the central hexilions, extending from the central hexagonal structure towards two pyramidagonal structure towards two pyramidal roofed gazebos. This apparently Chial roofed gazebos. This apparently Chinese roofline conceals the wooden cupnese roofline conceals the wooden cupola that crowns the central space, carrola that crowns the central space, carried on squinches, attesting to the contiied on squinches, attesting to the continued use of imported Islamic elementnued use of imported Islamic elements in interior space. s in interior space.

HallsHalls

Lecture halls also flank this courtyard. Lecture halls also flank this courtyard. The South Hall serves as a gallery for The South Hall serves as a gallery for inscribed tablets that record the inscribed tablets that record the history of the mosque. Beyond the history of the mosque. Beyond the Phoenix Pavilion are two small pools, Phoenix Pavilion are two small pools, now containing fountains, set astride now containing fountains, set astride the central axis, followed by the stone the central axis, followed by the stone "Cloud Gateways" of the granite "Moon "Cloud Gateways" of the granite "Moon Platform" preceding the prayer hall.Platform" preceding the prayer hall.

Prayer hallPrayer hall

The prayer hall, which is the focus of tThe prayer hall, which is the focus of this ceremonial layout, is comprised of his ceremonial layout, is comprised of a porch and a great hall with a projectia porch and a great hall with a projecting qibla bay. These three sections covng qibla bay. These three sections cover an area of about 1,270 square meterer an area of about 1,270 square meters. They are covered by a single roof wis. They are covered by a single roof with three distinct segments, a common th three distinct segments, a common feature of Ming era mosques taken frofeature of Ming era mosques taken from Han palace architecture. m Han palace architecture.

RoofRoof

The joined hipped roofs of the porThe joined hipped roofs of the porch and the main hall roof have parch and the main hall roof have parallel north-south ridges. The hippeallel north-south ridges. The hipped roof of the projecting qibla iwan d roof of the projecting qibla iwan is perpendicular to that of the maiis perpendicular to that of the main hall. The heights of the roofs are n hall. The heights of the roofs are kept proportional to the depth of tkept proportional to the depth of the space, following Hui tradition.he space, following Hui tradition.

PorticoPortico

The portico, hall and iwan are differThe portico, hall and iwan are differentiated by separate roofs, a commoentiated by separate roofs, a common feature of early Hui mosques taken feature of early Hui mosques taken from Han palace architecture. The n from Han palace architecture. The open portico, carried on six columns,open portico, carried on six columns, is covered by the gentle bump of a r is covered by the gentle bump of a rolled-shed roof, which dips down to olled-shed roof, which dips down to join the roof of the great hall. join the roof of the great hall.

ColumnsColumns

This large hall, of equal width to tThis large hall, of equal width to the portico, sports a pitched roof rahe portico, sports a pitched roof raised above the others on two rows ised above the others on two rows of six columns. It is curtailed at thof six columns. It is curtailed at the back by the hipped roof of the qie back by the hipped roof of the qibla iwan, whose eaves are supportbla iwan, whose eaves are supported on twelve external columns. ed on twelve external columns.

WoodworkWoodwork

The rounded timber columns supThe rounded timber columns supporting these roofs are marvelouslporting these roofs are marvelously decorated with low relief woodwy decorated with low relief woodwork. There is more sculptural wooork. There is more sculptural woodwork on the lambrequins and the dwork on the lambrequins and the heavy heavy dougong bracketsdougong brackets. .

PolychromePolychrome

Six hundred polychrome panels Six hundred polychrome panels with floral motifs and carved with floral motifs and carved brackets decorate of the ceiling. brackets decorate of the ceiling. Heavy cylindrical columns, painted Heavy cylindrical columns, painted deep red like the walls, divide the deep red like the walls, divide the first two spaces into seven bays. first two spaces into seven bays. Blue scrolls bearing Arabic Blue scrolls bearing Arabic calligraphy are hung from the calligraphy are hung from the porch columns. porch columns.

Qibla bayQibla bay The qibla bay at the western end of the The qibla bay at the western end of the

prayer hall is dimly light with two skyliprayer hall is dimly light with two skylights. The two meter tall pointed arch oghts. The two meter tall pointed arch of the mihrab is decorated with carved af the mihrab is decorated with carved arabesques and calligraphy and painted rabesques and calligraphy and painted with in darker hues of red, brown than with in darker hues of red, brown than the central space. the central space.

InscriptionInscription

Four bands of Quranic inscriptions encirclFour bands of Quranic inscriptions encircling the mihrab reveal the influence of Chiing the mihrab reveal the influence of Chinese calligraphy on Arabic lettering; one snese calligraphy on Arabic lettering; one such inscription is embedded in a pool of louch inscription is embedded in a pool of lotuses.tuses.Behind the prayer hall, and accessed by twBehind the prayer hall, and accessed by two circular "moon gates" on either side of tho circular "moon gates" on either side of the portico wall, is the fifth court with two se portico wall, is the fifth court with two small constructed hills used for the ceremomall constructed hills used for the ceremonial viewing of the new moon.nial viewing of the new moon.