Shouxian Mosque

Shouxian Mosque

Shouxian Mosque is a national key cultural relics protection unit.

A provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit, located in the southwest corner of Shouxian County, it is known as the "No. 1 Mosque in East China." The mosque complex stretches 128 meters from east to west and 44 meters from north to south, with a central axis featuring three courtyards in sequence, covering an area of 5,632 square meters. Built during the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty, it consists of the main gate, second gate, main hall, rear hall, side rooms, and enclosing walls. On both sides of the main gate are side entrances. The main prayer hall, named Wu Xiang Bao Dian, features a unique two-hall integrated structure modeled after the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City. The mosque complex includes 49 rooms with a total floor area of 936 square meters. The corner pillars and corridor posts are concave-style plum blossom columns, while the interior column bases are drum-shaped, adorned with intricately carved lotus petals on the upper and lower sections. The roof is covered with overlapping cylindrical tiles and decorated with coin-patterned ridges. The entire structure is a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, tall, solemn, and harmoniously integrated, making it the largest mosque in the Jianghuai region. Ancient ginkgo trees in the courtyard tower above, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere.

A mosque is an Islamic place of worship where Muslims, particularly the Hui people, perform their prayers, hence also called a prayer hall. While many places have such structures, the design, architecture, and grandeur of this mosque in Shouxian County are quite rare. The book "Islamic Architecture in China" describes it as "a relatively rare and magnificent Islamic building in China."

The mosque is situated in Mosque Lane on West Street. It is said to have been originally built during the Tang Dynasty, but research confirms it as a Ming Dynasty structure. During renovations in 1981, two inscribed bricks were discovered hidden in the roof, one bearing the inscription "Built in the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty, renovated in the Daoguang era," and the other "Renovated in the Guangxu era." The mosque faces east and covers a total area of over 5,600 square meters. It has three courtyards in sequence: the front courtyard’s main gate is the Da Zhong Men, with the main prayer hall, Wu Xiang Bao Dian, located at the center. In front of the hall is a stone platform, and the side rooms serve as Arabic teaching facilities. The rear courtyard is enclosed by walls surrounding the main prayer hall. The courtyard contains four towering ginkgo trees providing dense shade, lending the mosque a solemn and dignified ambiance.

Legend has it that during the Tang and Song dynasties, the Shouxian Mosque was built in the northwest corner of the county town and was relocated to its current site during the Ming Dynasty. The Shouxian Annals from the Guangxu era record: "The mosque is located at Liudu Square in the county town, built in the Kangxi era." During repairs in 1977, four inscribed bricks were found on the roof of the main hall, reading: "Built in the Tianqi era, renovated in the 60th year of the Guangxu era (Gengyin), supervised by Zhu Cailiang"; "Renovation of the main hall supervised by Imam Liu Guozhi, religious leaders Mei Yinghui, Mei Chuntian, Zhao Tianpei, and Mei Wenquan, completed in mid-winter"; "Board members Yang Deshan, Zhu Huailiang, Wang Yuanxing, and Zhao Yuanbiao, erected in the 2nd month of the Jiayin year of the Daoguang era"; the fourth is in Arabic, translating to "Pray to God to open the door of mercy for us." In 1981, two inscribed bricks were found hidden in the roof, one reading "Built in the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty, renovated in the Daoguang era," the other "Renovated in the Guangxu era." In 1986, during major repairs to the main hall, ink inscriptions on the rafters reading "Renovated in the 29th year of the Republic of China" were discovered.

The mosque complex spans 128 meters from east to west and 44 meters from north to south, with three courtyards arranged along the central axis: the front courtyard’s main gate is the Da Zhong Men, with side entrances on both sides; the main structure is the second gate, also with side entrances; the middle courtyard is the second yard, with the main prayer hall, Wu Xiang Bao Dian, at its center. The hall is five bays wide and seven bays deep, surrounded by corridors with stone pillars, featuring floor-to-ceiling partition doors on the front and five arched doorways on each of the south and north sides. The two sections form a unified double-eaved hip-and-gable roof connected via an interlocking design. The hall contains 50 interior columns, encompassing 49 and a half rooms, covering 936 square meters. Both its structure and carvings exhibit characteristics of Ming Dynasty architecture. Originally, twenty plaques bestowed between the Kangxi and Xuantong eras of the Qing Dynasty hung inside the hall, but these no longer exist. However, six stone tablets from the Qianlong to Guangxu periods remain. In front of the hall is a platform, and the original north and south side rooms served as classrooms for Arabic primary, secondary, and higher education, as well as washing areas. The north side room connects to the west with the "Saihai Cave." The rear courtyard is enclosed by walls around the main prayer hall. Viewed from the south or north, the sweeping eaves and upturned corners create a seamless and integrated appearance; viewed from the east or west, the structure appears majestic and grand, forming a unified whole. Five towering ginkgo trees exude a solemn and dignified aura.

Protected Area:

Southern section covers approximately 0.8 hectares, bounded to the north by approximately 5 meters outside the mosque’s northern wall, to the west by approximately 5 meters outside the western wall, to the south by approximately 5 meters outside the southern wall, and to the east by the western side of Mosque Lane outside the main gate.

Northern section covers approximately 0.1 hectares, bounded to the north by the outer wall of residential buildings about 10 meters north of the women’s mosque’s northern wall, to the west by Mosque Lane, to the south by the outer wall of residential buildings about 5 meters south of the women’s mosque’s southern wall, and to the east by the western side of an elementary school building about 10 meters east of the women’s mosque’s eastern gable wall.

Construction Control Zone:

Western plot — bounded to the north by Xu Family Lane, to the west by the northwest sidewalk of Guan Di Temple, to the south by Guan Di Temple Lane, and to the east by Mosque Lane.

Eastern plot — bounded to the north by the outer wall of the remaining structures of the former women’s mosque, to the west by Mosque Lane, to the south by Liu Du Ci Lane, and to the east by the western boundary of the Da Fu Di architectural complex.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units