The Great Mosque, Xian is located to the northwest of the Drum Tower (Gu Lou) on Huajue Lane and enjoys an enviable status of being one of the oldest, largest and best preserved Islamic mosques in China. Historical records engraved on a stone tablet inside the Great Mosque, Xian indicate that this mosque was built in 742 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). This was around the same time when Arab merchants and travelers from Persia and Afghanistan introduced Islam into Northwest China. These travelers came to Xian during the mid-7th century and some of them chose to settle down in China and married women of Han Nationality. Most of the Muslims present in China today are descendants of these merchants and travelers.
The Muslims played a very crucial role during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties in the unification of China. Thus, a number of mosques were built during these times to honor them. However, Great Mosque in Xian preceded the construction of all these mosques and is as famous for its centuries old history as for its unique architectural design that was a combination of traditional Muslim and Chinese styles of construction.
The Great Mosque, Xian occupies a total area of over 12,000 square meters and is divided into four courtyards. Each of these courtyards is 250 meters long and 47 meters wide and has a well planned layout. Beautifully manicured gardens surround these courtyards with paved paths leading to the interior. The tranquil ambience of this mosque makes one feel at peace as soon as one steps into it.
The first courtyard in Great Mosque in Xian features a nine meters high, elaborately carved wooden arch that is covered with glazed tiles dating back to the 17th century. A stone arch with two steles erected on both sides rests in the middle of the second courtyard. While one of these steles illustrates the script of a famous calligrapher named Mi Fu of the Song Dynasty; the other stele has been inscribed by Dong Qichang, a noted calligrapher of the Ming Dynasty. These calligraphic scripts are considered to be a great treasure in the art of handwriting due to their elegant yet powerful characters.
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