Dongguan Giant Mosque
Edition HistoryEdit Introduction:
View 0 photos, or upload your photo.
The Dongguan Giant Mosque was built in the Hongwu Reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1398). It has been a history of more than 600 years as yet. The mosque covers a total area of 13,602 square meters. The majestic building blends the features of ancient Chinese architecture and Islam. It faces north. The former main entrance of the mosque is the “First Three Gates”, namely, one big and two small green west-style gates. They are 10 meters high and 15 meters wide. There is a stele hung at the top of the gate, with eight clinquant Chinese words” Xi Ning Dong Guan Qing Zhen Da Shi”. (Now, the First Three Gates is in front of the storied building facing the street.)
Enter the First Three Gates and then walk about over 30 meters. Five flat-topped arched gates stand on the granitic pedestal with dozens of steps. They are called the “ Middle Five Gates”. They are about 10 meters high and 21 meters wide. When the mosque was rebuilt in 1998, a three-storied main building with the new main entrance was built in front of the Middle Five Gates. The building is located in the same axis with the former Middle Five Gates and the main hall. There are five round arches at the lower part of the main building. A 4.5-meter-high round-vault minaret is built at the each side of the top of the main building. There is an underground park under the building. At one side of the main building, which faces the street, is a six-storied commercial integrated building. A five-storied building is located in the south side, which acts as the office of the management committee of the mosque, the reception room, dormitory, classroom, dining-room, etc..
At the south and north side of the Middle Five Gates stand two minarets. People walk up along the stone step, and then see some iron-word patterns. They are regularly and clearly embedded on the steles of the second gate and minarets. Give people a strong artistic appeal. Step into the second gate, a large clean black-brick square appears. When people arrive here, they all feel they put themselves into the peaceful temple.
Two old-style wooden building is located in the south and the north. The north building acts as the reception room, the room for storing sutra, the meeting room, etc.. The south building is the classroom of the imam retraining course, the dormitory, staff room, etc.. At the back of the south building are the men’s and women’s bathrooms and the funeral room. Between the two buildings is a large courtyard, covering an area of 4,490 square meters. The main hall is located in the west of the courtyard. It’s stands on a stone base.
The main hall is called “ Phenix Opening Out One Wing”, It covers an area of 1,136 square meters. The ancient architectural style makes an old and strong impression. The whole outer wall is made of black wood. It’s very firm. The weather-beaten wall is still in good condition. All kinds of well-engraved patterns are distributed on the two sides of the front corridor. On the center of the hall erects three golden columns with sutra, glittering. On the two sides of the gate of the hall are nine brick screens, which are engraved with some ingenious flower patterns. Until now, these simple and elegant screens have still been art treasures. The ground in front of the hall and inside the hall is floored with boards, which injects the temple with a little dignity and simplicity.
The whole mosque is well designed. The front gate, the second gate, the special double-gate of the main hall is arranged in order. The whole design shows that the three gates are stately; the five gates are elegant; the minarets rise erectly; two wings of the building stand towering. The main hall is more majestic and simple. It adds an atmosphere of grandeur. There are five gold-plating sutra columns. Three are erected in the center of the main hall and two are installed at the six-angle roof of the minarets. They look very particular when they are set against the green. They seem to be created by nature. The scenery of the Dongguan Giant Mosque appears more attractive in the noon sunlight. It makes people have much enjoyment and forget to go back home.
Help us improve our web site by Editing This Article.
There are 1 comments about Dongguan Giant Mosque:
lavender0108 Says:2008-3-20 2:31:00
There are 0 questions about Dongguan Giant Mosque:
Accessibity:
Natural Scenery:
Culture & history: