Exploring Ningxia's Oldest and Largest Mosque: A Visit to Tongxin Great Mosque
[Internet Repost]
Visiting Ningxia's Oldest and Largest Mosque: A Field Journey to Tongxin Great Mosque
Abstract:
A field exploration of the architectural layout and historical environment of Tongxin Great Mosque. Documenting an ancient sanctuary that has stood tall through multiple major renovations since the Ming dynasty, and experiencing the solemnity and devotion of Muslims in Northwest China as they generation after generation safeguard their spiritual home.
As an autonomous region for Hui Muslims, Ningxia is dotted with mosques everywhere. But do you know which mosque in Ningxia is the oldest, largest, a national key cultural relic protection unit, and a famous revolutionary heritage site? That's right, it's the Tongxin Great Mosque (Tongxin Mosque).
Tongxin Great Mosque is located on a highland in the northern part of the old city of Tongxin County. Legend has it that it was built during the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty (1573–1620), boasting a history of over 600 years, and has undergone three large-scale renovations and expansions. Its architectural style is unique, seamlessly blending ancient Chinese traditional wooden architecture with Islamic culture. Despite weathering the vicissitudes of time, it still stands tall, majestic, rustic, and elegant.
On the wall near the entrance of the mosque courtyard, there are two stone-carved horizontal plaques bearing the inscriptions: "Renovated during the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty" and "Renovated in the fifth month of the Xinhai year during the 56th year of the Qianlong reign," indicating that the current site of Tongxin Great Mosque has a history of at least over four hundred years. The mosque features a traditional Chinese classical architectural style with a building area of 2,870 square meters. The entire temple is divided into inner and outer courtyards. The outer courtyard is relatively spacious, where Muslims often gather for congregational prayers during major festivals. In front of the mosque gate stands a 9-meter-long and 6-meter-high spirit wall (zhaobi) featuring a brick-carved pattern of "Cypress Hidden in the Moon." Matching the spirit wall are three brick-built arched gates engraved with Arabic brick carvings and floral patterns, executed with exquisite and lifelike craftsmanship. The central gate is inscribed with the three large characters "Mosque" (Qingzhensi), while the left and right arched gates bear the lintel inscriptions "Endurance of Heart" (Renxin) and "Patience" (Rennai) respectively. The outer courtyard also houses a 102-year-old Chinese wolfberry (goji berry) tree. The inner courtyard features a prayer hall on a high platform, flanked by 5-room lecture halls on the north and south, forming a three-sided courtyard layout with the main hall. The prayer hall is spacious, capable of accommodating over a thousand people for congregational prayer simultaneously. The exterior of the hall is exquisitely decorated with upturned eaves and dougong (interlocking wooden brackets), maintaining a solemn yet understated aesthetic.
Tongxin Great Mosque is famous not only for its unique architectural style, but also as a symbol of unity and cooperation between the Hui and Han ethnic groups. In 1936, during the Western Expedition of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, the founding assembly of the "Yuhai County Hui People's Autonomous Government of the Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region" was held at this very mosque.
According to staff inside the mosque, a mosque with such a long history was almost destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. At the time, Red Guards were preparing to demolish the mosque the very next day. Fortunately, perhaps due to the mosque's status as a revolutionary cultural relic, instructions came down from higher authorities that same day dictating that this mosque must not be demolished and had to be preserved. Thus, Tongxin Great Mosque narrowly escaped disaster and was very fortunately preserved.
Visiting Ningxia's Oldest and Largest Mosque: A Field Journey to Tongxin Great Mosque
Abstract:
A field exploration of the architectural layout and historical environment of Tongxin Great Mosque. Documenting an ancient sanctuary that has stood tall through multiple major renovations since the Ming dynasty, and experiencing the solemnity and devotion of Muslims in Northwest China as they generation after generation safeguard their spiritual home.
As an autonomous region for Hui Muslims, Ningxia is dotted with mosques everywhere. But do you know which mosque in Ningxia is the oldest, largest, a national key cultural relic protection unit, and a famous revolutionary heritage site? That's right, it's the Tongxin Great Mosque (Tongxin Mosque).
Tongxin Great Mosque is located on a highland in the northern part of the old city of Tongxin County. Legend has it that it was built during the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty (1573–1620), boasting a history of over 600 years, and has undergone three large-scale renovations and expansions. Its architectural style is unique, seamlessly blending ancient Chinese traditional wooden architecture with Islamic culture. Despite weathering the vicissitudes of time, it still stands tall, majestic, rustic, and elegant.
On the wall near the entrance of the mosque courtyard, there are two stone-carved horizontal plaques bearing the inscriptions: "Renovated during the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty" and "Renovated in the fifth month of the Xinhai year during the 56th year of the Qianlong reign," indicating that the current site of Tongxin Great Mosque has a history of at least over four hundred years. The mosque features a traditional Chinese classical architectural style with a building area of 2,870 square meters. The entire temple is divided into inner and outer courtyards. The outer courtyard is relatively spacious, where Muslims often gather for congregational prayers during major festivals. In front of the mosque gate stands a 9-meter-long and 6-meter-high spirit wall (zhaobi) featuring a brick-carved pattern of "Cypress Hidden in the Moon." Matching the spirit wall are three brick-built arched gates engraved with Arabic brick carvings and floral patterns, executed with exquisite and lifelike craftsmanship. The central gate is inscribed with the three large characters "Mosque" (Qingzhensi), while the left and right arched gates bear the lintel inscriptions "Endurance of Heart" (Renxin) and "Patience" (Rennai) respectively. The outer courtyard also houses a 102-year-old Chinese wolfberry (goji berry) tree. The inner courtyard features a prayer hall on a high platform, flanked by 5-room lecture halls on the north and south, forming a three-sided courtyard layout with the main hall. The prayer hall is spacious, capable of accommodating over a thousand people for congregational prayer simultaneously. The exterior of the hall is exquisitely decorated with upturned eaves and dougong (interlocking wooden brackets), maintaining a solemn yet understated aesthetic.
Tongxin Great Mosque is famous not only for its unique architectural style, but also as a symbol of unity and cooperation between the Hui and Han ethnic groups. In 1936, during the Western Expedition of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, the founding assembly of the "Yuhai County Hui People's Autonomous Government of the Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region" was held at this very mosque.
According to staff inside the mosque, a mosque with such a long history was almost destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. At the time, Red Guards were preparing to demolish the mosque the very next day. Fortunately, perhaps due to the mosque's status as a revolutionary cultural relic, instructions came down from higher authorities that same day dictating that this mosque must not be demolished and had to be preserved. Thus, Tongxin Great Mosque narrowly escaped disaster and was very fortunately preserved.
