Egyptian Journal of Archaeological and Restoration Studies "EJARS" An International peer-reviewed journal published bi-annually Volume 9, Issue 1, June - 2019: pp: 97-113 www. ejars.sohag-univ.edu.eg Original article XI’AN DAXUEXI ALLEY MOSQUE: HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL STUDY Hagras, H. Islamic Archaeology dept., Faculty of Archaeology, Fayoum Univ., Fayoum, Egypt E-mail: [email protected] Received 3/7/2018 Accepted 12/3/2019 Abstract As a part of ongoing research on representative Muslim architecture, including Chinese Mosques, this paper seeks to shed light on the cultural development and artistic features of ancient architec- ture of Chinese Muslims. The objective of this paper is to explore the characteristics of design and architecture of Chinese mosques. This article first depicts mosque history and architectural charac- teristics (planning, direction, internal structure, material, art performance and construction subsi- diary, etc.). The mosque under consideration has a long history since its earliest construction during the Tang dynasty. It consists of a group of buildings forming introverted courtyard enclosed by halls and external walls which are known as Siheyuan. Chinese mosques are characterized by architectural forms different from the Islamic world architecture. Chinese Islamic architecture blends Islamic culture and content with traditional local Chinese heritage. This particular mosque is considered a typical ancient mosque, not only in Xi'an but also in China in general. Keywords: Xi’an, Mosque, Siheyuan, Prayer Hall, Gabled roofs, Inscriptions 1. Introduction Xi'an (西安) is a Chinese city, located the Chinese sources confirm this contact; on the Wei River basin of northwest in Volume 221 (Western Regions) (西域) China [1]. It is a strategic city and is the in the New Book of Tang (新唐书), an capital of the Shanxi province (陕西). The account of this embassy is as follows: ancient name of the city was Chang’an ―during the second year of the Yong Hui (长安) [2] which remained in use up to era (永徽), the court received an officially 1369. The city was given its current name Arab envoy, and the Arabs give greeting during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) from the king of the Arabs to the emp- [1], and was the second capital of a eror‖ [8,9]. Since the establishment of united China [3]. Xi'an was the first that embassy, contact between the Arabs Chinese city to be introduced to Islam. and Chinese became more frequent [10]. Chinese historians believe that Islam During the Abbasid era (750-1258), was introduced to China in 651 AD [4,5]. there were diplomatic relations between During the summer of the second year Arabs and the Tang dynasty [11-13], of the reign of the emperor Gaozong the most important of which occurred in (高宗) (649-683) of the Tang dynasty 757 when Emperor Suzong (肅宗) (756- (618-907) [6], the first Arab embassy 762) asked the Abbasid caliph al-Mansur was founded in Chang’an [7]. In fact, (754-775) to help quell an internal Tatar 97 revolt. The Caliph accordingly set a mil- of the Mediterranean. Two routes were itary campaign of 10.000 soldiers [11]. accessible in and out of China: the nort The Islamic forces were able to control hern route and the southern route [11]. the capital Chang’an. Many of those Muslims, Arabs and, Persians gradually soldiers settled in China and never retu- brought Islam to China as they settled rned to their homelands. Naturally, they and married Hans, converting them to married Chinese espouses, transplanted, Islam, while assimilating into the Chinese and started the formation of Muslim com- culture [16]. Traders flocked to China brin- munities in western China [12]. During ging along their religion and culture [17]. the 10th century, China witnessed succ- In fact, there are no accurate statistics on essive waves of Muslim immigration. the number of Muslims in China. Rese- Chinese sources refer to the advent of archers debated their numbers. Some sci- Muslim mercenaries during the Song entists estimate their numbers as 20 million Dynasty. In 1070, Emperor Shenzong [18-20], while others like Gladney believe of Song (神宗) (1067-1085) brought a that the numbers exceed sixty millions group of 5,300 Muslim mercenaries [21]. Chinese Muslims form one of the from Bukhara under the command of most recognized ethnic groups in China. Prince Sayid Sofeier (索菲尔) to help Chinese Muslims belong to ten ethnic him in his war against the Liao dynasty groups, the largest of which is the Hui (916-1125). As a result, the emperor (回 族), with a total population of appr- rewarded and granted them the right to oximately 10 million [22]. According to settle in China [14]. In 1080, another the census of 2015, the population of group of more than 10,000 Arab men Xi’an was 8.7 Million [23]. The majority and women are said to have arrived in of residents belong to the Han minority, China on horsebacks to join Sofeier. who makes up 99.1% of the total popul- These people settled in all provinces ation. There are around 81,500 people [15]. Another important form of conne- belonging to ethnic minorities living in ctions was, however, made possible by the city, including population with an est- trade. The silk route started around imation of 50,000 Muslims, the majority Chang'an and ended at the eastern shores of whom hail from the Hui group [23]. 2. Daxuexi Alley Mosque The Daxuexi Alley mosque Dàxu- 回万善寺). The mosque acquired its current éxíxiàng Qīngzhēnsì (大学习巷清真寺), is name during the reign of Emperor Hong located in Xi’an city in an area inhabited Wu (洪武) of the Ming dynasty. The mos- mainly by Chinese Muslims, in the street que has a long history since its constru- of Xidàjiēdàxuéxíxiàngnèi (西大街大学习 ction during the Tang Dynasty. It was 巷内) [24], fig. (1-a), near the Xi’an Hua- one of six mosques identified on the map juexiang mosque (化觉巷清真寺) –the great of Shaanxi Shaanxi Sheng Cheng Tu (陕 mosque–sometimes it is referred to as 西省城圖), which was created and publ- the Western Xi’an mosque (西大寺). In ished in 1893 during the era of Emperor 1956; it was recognized as a Chinese Guang Xu (光绪) (1875-1908) [24], fig. historical heritage [24]. The names of (1-b). Although the map does not include this mosque have varied since its cons- the names of the mosques, by comparison truction. During the Tang and the Song to Google maps reveals that the Daxuexi Dynasties, it was known as Tangmingsi Alley mosque is located to the west of (唐明寺). It became known during the the Huajuexiang mosque. Yuan dynasty as Huihui Wanshansi (回 98 a b Figure (1) Shows a. location of Daxuexi mosque, b. Location of the mosque in the map of Shaanxi Sheng Cheng Tu (1893) [25] 3. Approaching the Mosque The mosque is planned according external walls. The mosque combines to an East-West axis, and occupies a several units: the great screen wall (照壁), rectangular area (87 meters long and 37 the stone memorial archway (大门), the meters wide with a well-arranged layout), Triple Room (三间庭), the Minaret (省心 with a total area of 3220 square meters, 阁), the Prayer Hall (礼拜大殿), the North fig. (2). The mosque consists of a group and South Halls (南北厅), the Pavilions of buildings forming an introverted (碑亭), the Imam Office (阿訇斋), and the courtyard enclosed by the halls and Ablution Hall (沐浴室) [5]. Figure (2) Shows the plan of Daxuexi Alley mosque 4. External Façade and Entrance 4.1. The great screen wall The Screen wall, fig. (3) is located meters, a thickness of 1.75 meters, and opposite to the main entrance of the mos- a height of 7 meters. The wall ends at the que, it is very similar to its counterpart in top with a Chinese gabled roof, decorated Beijing, the Niujie mosque. It is a huge with Chinese decorative features such as wall built of blue limestone, extending ceramic tiles of roofs and animal sculp- from north to south with a length of 17 tures. 99 Figure (3) Shows the great screen wall 4.2. Facade The eastern façade is the main one middle columns are the largest and of the mosque, fig. (4), extending from surround the entrance gate. The arch is north to south with a length of 17 meters, decorated with floral motifs such as it is a stone arch consisting of eight square pomegranate, peony, and other flowers. columns topped by stone thresholds. The Figure (4) Shows the façade and the entrance 4.3. The entrance area The entrance area occupies a rect- meters wide). The Triple Room is a recta- angular area, which extends along the ngular area (the length from north to façade with a width of 3.6 meters. The south is 8.75 meters, and from east to western side is occupied by three archi- west is 7.6 meters), it is divided into tectural units: The middle represents the three spaces, the largest of which is the Triple Room Sānjiāntíng (三间庭) that middle space, and each covered with a leads into the mosque. On both sides, gable roof which is known as Xieshand- there are two units, each occupies a rec- ing (歇山顶). tangular space (5 meters long and 3.5 4.4. The forecourt The Triple room leads to the gate and the courtyard [11]. This space forecourt; this area is similar to its occupies a rectangular shape with a len- counterpart in Beijing's mosques such gth of 30.5 meters from north to south as Niujie mosque (北京牛街礼拜寺) and and width of 7.70 meters from east to Changying mosque (常营清真古寺).