At Ox Street (Niu Jie) a wide but not very conspicuous main street cutting North-South through the Xuanwu district , we find Ox Street Mosque, the main Temple of the Hui'. The hui are China's most ancient Islamic Minority (others are the Uygurs) and have a status as such. Browse around the interesting Mosque , the main prayer hall is reserved for Muslims only. Get the ethnic feeling of the Hui district by walking the hutong streets.
Don't forget the Hui Islamic Headquarters of China located just around the Corner to the South ! Combined with a visit to the Fayuansi , just East of Ox street hidden in the Hutong , a visit to Niu Jie can be a joyfull change from the usual Chinese crowds and neighborhoods.
On the outside Dong Si Mosque impresses as only a very small and modest Mosque and not as a large structure. It is however the largest Mosque in Beijing. Resembling a Chinese neighborhood Temple, today's Dong Si Mosque stands along the southern section of the street baring the same name, the Dong Si Nan(=South) Dajie'. In the Time of the Empire, the nearby Dong Si Gates
very high religious and social status. Society was divided among Tribal Lines. The Mosque served as the Court House and the Qadi was respectfully called master by the court. Dong Si Mosque and Niu Jie Mosque are two among the 11 remaining historic Mosques in China entire and rank as Number One National Cultural Heritage Sites.
Since the Establishment of the Peoples Republic of China in October of 1949 AD, Dong Si Mosque has undergone two major renovations. The first reparations after half a century of poverty and internal unrest in China occured in 1952 AD when all the dilapidated buildings were redecorated. In 1974 AD, at the end of the Cultural Revolution Era, a second renovation was done before the re-opening of this important Mosque. Christian Churches in Beijing (such as small DongJiaoMin Xiang Catholic Church) would have to wait considerably longer before being allowed to re-open their doors.
Dong Si Mosque Today
As is commonly seen in Chinese Mosques, the whole complex seems to be camouflaged and presented as a Chinese Temple Complex. The Exterior Gate, freshly repainted in 2005, boasts Chinese Language Sings only. On closer inspection inside however, the interior structures of the mosque complex do combine Chinese and Arabic styles in a subtle way.
In this way Dong Si Mosque is similar to the Niu Jie Mosque. Equally, Dong Si Mosque has it's very own Star Gazing Tower which however is not easily noticed due to the fact that Dong Si Mosque has it's Gate facing the East, while Niu Jie Mosque has it's Main Gate facing the West and the City of Mekka. To view the Star Gazing Tower be polite and ask the Warden. If situations allow, you can be allowed to enter and have a small and quick tour of the Mosque.
Although seemingly small on the exterior Dong Si Mosque covers no less than 10.000 square meters and has two courtyards. Wit this, before renovations of the Niu Jie Mosque, it was the largest Mosque in Beijing since it's opening in 1356 AD (Liao Dynasty).
According to our sources the mosque's library, known as the Repository Hall, houses valuable historic copies of manuscripts of the Koran, the Hadith, Islamic law and other works of Islamic philosophy. The Repository Hall is located behind the main prayer hall, and is a beamless all wooden building decorated with motifs in bright and flaming colors. It's architecture, as with the other historic parts of the Mosque, is of the Ming Dynasty Style. On the surface of the dome-shaped roof the words of the Koran are engraved in Kufic script, the form of Arabic calligraphy reserved for religious and official purposes.
Among the Treasures is a Copy of a Yuan Dynasty Era Copy of the Holy Quran. The Library further Houses historic works and literature published in Egypt, India, Turkey and Pakistan. All Islamic influences carried on the Silk Road and through the wide trading and cultural contacts of previous dynasties, such as the Han, The Sui, The Tang and the Yuan, the latter of whom at one time held the largest Empire in World History.
The Second Courtyard of the Mosque holds the original Stele commemorating the Reconstruction of the Mosque into the Largest One of the City in 1447 AD. The Stele is inscribed in both Chinese and Arabic Language, in that order. Last but not least the Mosque still treasures the now broken remnants of the original bronze cast top of the Minaret that was added to the reconstructed Mosque in 1468 AD and was the only Minaret to stand in Beijing. The Minaret stood at Dong Si for 440 years until it finally fell down in disrepair in the year 1908 AD. Today's remnants still display the text "cast in 1468 AD".
Construction works ongoing in front of the freshly repainted Main Gate of Dong Si Mosque in May of 2005 AD.
ChaoYangmen Dajie'.
The Mosque is wedged between various modern buildings and the rest of DongSi Nan Dajie' continues with rows of small but modernized shops. Look well and you will find it no doubt !
DongSi's modest main 'Gate stands along the Northern End of Dong Si Nan Dajie' just a few steps from the intersection with ChaoyangMen Dajie.
History of the Dong Si Mosque
The Dong Si Mosque was first built in the Year 1356 AD under the Mongol Kublai's of the Yuan Dynasty.The Original Temple was built with the finances donated by an Influential Muslim General of the Yuan Era, named Chen You. It was reconstructed in the year 1447 AD under the Reign of none other than the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368 AD-1644 AD). The Yongle Emperor was the third Emperor who, after a bloody Civil War, gained The Throne from his Brother the 2nd Emperor
and subsequently moved the Chinese Capital City from Nanjing to Beijing. Thus, the Mosque was reconstructed constructed in the direct aftermath of the construction of the Ming Dynasties new Palace at Beijing (Forbidden City) and during the transformation of the City into the new Dynastic Capital of China.
With the Nui Jie' or Ox Street Mosque the number one Mosque in Beijing since the year 996 AD and the Tenth Century, Dong Si Mosque, located in the prosperous Dong Cheng District of the City would become the Second Ranked Mosque in Beijing. Due to it's proximity to the Imperial Palace and location inside the Imperial City Walls was used to house Members of Tributary Missions send from the Muslim Lands in the West and South-East Asia.
The Three Old Mosques in the Old City of Beijing are first and foremost - Ox Street (Niu Jie' Mosque), part of the Ethnic
Fresh Paint, Colorful Decorations versus Piles of Rubble and the neighbors old refrigerator. Dong Si is a well-merged part of Local Hutong and Folklore.
The Interior Courtyard of Dong Si Mosque and the hidden star gazing tower in the back of the Mosque.
Interestingly, in the 10Th Century and during the Yuan Dynasty, ethnic travelers and new comers of the Silk Road path were mainly expected to stay outside of the City Walls in Xuanwu District. In the same way, Father Mattheo Ricci the Christian Missionary was forced to set up his shop, the South Cathedral, near (former) Xuanwu Gate and the City Wall, albeit that
Court, and was allowed to station himself just within the Gate and Walls, a more privileged position. There, on the fringes of the real City, the foreigners had little influence and few options to mingle in the affairs of the more powerful and influential Chinese, who resided within the safety of the City Walls. They were being kept at arms length, so to speak.
In fact, in the case of the Muslim Hui, they were outside Chinese Legal Society as well. Wherever the Hui Minorities from the Western Lands were of large number, a local Department of Qadi was set up to handle religious, civil and penal affairs among Muslims. It was a theocratic society within the Chinese System, naturally under ultimate sovereignty of the Emperor. The Qadi was the supreme religious Leader, a Mullah or Imam, but also judicial and executive officer authorized by the Han Court. Thus, similar to Islamic nations such as Pakistan and Iran today the Qadi was the central person on the local community of the Muslims. enjoyed
Mouse over Image - Approach the Front Gate of Dong Si Mosque (Photo May 2005).
that Father Mattheo received preference for his scientific achievements at the
Dong Si Mosque - Prayer Times
Although Dong Si is first and Foremost a Historic Mosque, it also functions as the Seat of the Headquarters of the Beijing branch of China Islamism Association.
Main Imam is Mister Imam Dawud Shi Kunbin. Visiting Imams may lead in Prayers and there is a historic theological Library available on site.
Not Five but Three services are held Daily. The First is early at dawn, then mid-day at 1pm and in the afternoon at 4pm. On average 500 to 600 worshipers attend Friday prayers at Niu Jie, the largest of the 40 mosques that serve Beijing's (Peking) 180,000-strong Muslim community.
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Minority Village named LiuHe in Xuanwu District lying originally outside the City Walls. Secondly, the Dong Si Mosque of the 15Th Century, and Thirdly the West Flower Market Street Mosque (Huashi) of 1415 AD, located outside in the (now demolished) Uygur Islamic Hutong of the (former) Chongwen Gate in Chongwen District.
were the Eastern Gates and Entrance into the secluded Imperial City, reserved for the Cities Elite.
Find the seemingly small and unimportant Temple-Mosque near the northern end of this part of busy traveled road, just 50 meters away from the intersection with large East-West traffic artery
Musical Bonus : A Classical Folk Song from Xinjiang Province on Bamboo Flute and Bowed String.
Map of DongCheng District with Location of Dongsi Mosque. Click Map to go to Full Version.
DongCheng District Map
Asia Report - Maps - Distribution Islamic Faith Asia, Africa , Europe
A Demographic Map depicting the Distribution of the Islamic Faith in China and Asia, as well as Europe and the majority of the continent of Africa.
Sunni Islamic Areas are depicted in Green, whereas the Shia (Minority) Areas are depicted Darker Green.
The predominantly Muslim Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region of China, Parts of Gansu Province and Small Ningxia Hui clearly stand out as the main muslim areas in China.
Islam in China
For more information on Islam, Muslim's and Muslim Ethnic Minorities in China please refer to the adjacent Map of the Distribution of the Islamic Faith (Europe, Africa, Asia + China) with a simplified view of Demographics and lenghty explanation or find our Culture Section and included Page on the History of Islam and Islamic Culture in China.
Full Map of the Beijing Subway System of 2008 AD, New Dong Si Station - Click Map for FULL Version !
