China Mosque Travel Guide: Eight Historic Mosque Complexes in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan (Part 3 of 5)
Reposted from the web
Summary: This China mosque travel guide covers eight historic mosque complexes in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan, with local Hui Muslim heritage and mosque travel details kept in clear English.
Shanjie South Mosque was first built in 1768 (the 33rd year of the Qianlong reign). The local Hui Muslims are surnamed Ma, and the imams who have taught there include Ma Baochu, Zheng Liansheng, Li Bashan, Ma Fucheng, Ma Daocheng, and Ma Fu'en.
Ma Yingdong, a local resident, went to study in Japan in 1905 and joined the Tongmenghui. In 1907, he helped organize the 'Eastern Islamic Education Association' and founded its journal, 'Awakening the Hui' (Xing Hui Pian). After returning home from his studies, Ma Yingdong dedicated himself to Hui Muslim education and founded the modern Gongjin Primary School at Shanjie South Mosque, where he served as principal.
It is a pity that the Shanjie South Mosque was locked when I visited, so I could not go inside.
Luobai Mosque was first built in 1933, and the local community members are of the Ding surname. Hui Muslims moved to Luobai in the early Qing Dynasty. For a long time, they were affiliated with the Shanjie South Mosque, but the distance made it very inconvenient. In 1933, Imam Ding Zhenyi, a Luobai Hui Muslim who taught at the Gansu Hui Language Institute, resigned from his teaching position to return home and organize the construction of a mosque. Imam Ding traveled everywhere to raise funds and finally built Luobai Mosque at the top of the Yaolong residential area in Luobai.
Imam Ding Zhenyi taught at the Luobai village primary school in 1939, and during that time, he started an introductory class for Islamic studies at Luobai Mosque. Later, he served as the imam of Hetian Mosque in Shaoyang and Liutang Mosque in Guilin, Guangxi. He also worked as a teacher at the primary school attached to Guilin Chengda Normal School, dean and professor at the Guilin Hui Language Institute, and professor at the Hainan Hui Language School. He helped organize the Wugang Branch of the Hunan Chapter of the China Islamic National Salvation Association and served as its general secretary.
Luobai Mosque was torn down in 1970, rebuilt in 1985, and rebuilt again in 2000 into the building that stands today. The mosque still has the original door plaque reading "Islamic Mosque" (Qingzhen Jiaotang) and a pair of couplets by the Republican-era educator Ma Linyi: "When seeking the source of the truth, why ask about Jesus, Buddha, or others? To unite with Heaven is to enter the path of the sages; ancient and modern, East and West, the principle is the same."
Niejiaoting Mosque was first built in 1926, and the community members are of the Ma, Hai, and Su surnames. Most of the Hui Muslims in Beishan Township, where Niejiaoting is located, moved there from other places in the late Qing Dynasty. Because it was inconvenient to perform namaz, Ma Youde, Ma Daofeng, Hai Liancheng, and others raised funds to build the mosque. The imams at the mosque include Ma Chunming, Ma Youlin, Imam Bu, Imam Zhang, Hai Siquan, and Deng Mengjun. Niejia Pavilion Mosque was destroyed after 1966, rebuilt later, and then rebuilt again in 2008.
The mosque houses the 1948 "Zhaoxiu Mosque Stele," which serves as a precious historical witness.
Summary: This China mosque travel guide covers eight historic mosque complexes in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan, with local Hui Muslim heritage and mosque travel details kept in clear English.
Shanjie South Mosque was first built in 1768 (the 33rd year of the Qianlong reign). The local Hui Muslims are surnamed Ma, and the imams who have taught there include Ma Baochu, Zheng Liansheng, Li Bashan, Ma Fucheng, Ma Daocheng, and Ma Fu'en.
Ma Yingdong, a local resident, went to study in Japan in 1905 and joined the Tongmenghui. In 1907, he helped organize the 'Eastern Islamic Education Association' and founded its journal, 'Awakening the Hui' (Xing Hui Pian). After returning home from his studies, Ma Yingdong dedicated himself to Hui Muslim education and founded the modern Gongjin Primary School at Shanjie South Mosque, where he served as principal.
It is a pity that the Shanjie South Mosque was locked when I visited, so I could not go inside.
Luobai Mosque was first built in 1933, and the local community members are of the Ding surname. Hui Muslims moved to Luobai in the early Qing Dynasty. For a long time, they were affiliated with the Shanjie South Mosque, but the distance made it very inconvenient. In 1933, Imam Ding Zhenyi, a Luobai Hui Muslim who taught at the Gansu Hui Language Institute, resigned from his teaching position to return home and organize the construction of a mosque. Imam Ding traveled everywhere to raise funds and finally built Luobai Mosque at the top of the Yaolong residential area in Luobai.
Imam Ding Zhenyi taught at the Luobai village primary school in 1939, and during that time, he started an introductory class for Islamic studies at Luobai Mosque. Later, he served as the imam of Hetian Mosque in Shaoyang and Liutang Mosque in Guilin, Guangxi. He also worked as a teacher at the primary school attached to Guilin Chengda Normal School, dean and professor at the Guilin Hui Language Institute, and professor at the Hainan Hui Language School. He helped organize the Wugang Branch of the Hunan Chapter of the China Islamic National Salvation Association and served as its general secretary.
Luobai Mosque was torn down in 1970, rebuilt in 1985, and rebuilt again in 2000 into the building that stands today. The mosque still has the original door plaque reading "Islamic Mosque" (Qingzhen Jiaotang) and a pair of couplets by the Republican-era educator Ma Linyi: "When seeking the source of the truth, why ask about Jesus, Buddha, or others? To unite with Heaven is to enter the path of the sages; ancient and modern, East and West, the principle is the same."
Niejiaoting Mosque was first built in 1926, and the community members are of the Ma, Hai, and Su surnames. Most of the Hui Muslims in Beishan Township, where Niejiaoting is located, moved there from other places in the late Qing Dynasty. Because it was inconvenient to perform namaz, Ma Youde, Ma Daofeng, Hai Liancheng, and others raised funds to build the mosque. The imams at the mosque include Ma Chunming, Ma Youlin, Imam Bu, Imam Zhang, Hai Siquan, and Deng Mengjun. Niejia Pavilion Mosque was destroyed after 1966, rebuilt later, and then rebuilt again in 2008.
The mosque houses the 1948 "Zhaoxiu Mosque Stele," which serves as a precious historical witness.
