Huaisheng Mosque
The Huaisheng Mosque ( 懷 聖 寺 / 怀 圣 寺 , Huáishèngsì , English Huaisheng Mosque / Lighthouse Mosque ) on the street called Guangta Lu in Guangzhou (Canton), China, is considered to be the oldest mosque in China. It was built in the 7th century during the Tang Dynasty . The Chinese name Huaisheng means that it was built in memory of Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah.
Other Chinese names are Guangtasi 光 塔寺, Huaisheng Guangtasi 怀 圣光 塔寺 and Longfengsi 龙凤 寺.
Its cylindrical brick minaret with the Chinese name Guangta (光塔 "Pagoda of Light" or "Smooth Pagoda"; Cantonese Kwang-tba) is noticeably high at over 36 meters and - a Chinese curiosity - designed in Arabic. The minaret stood on the river bank and also served as a lighthouse for the ships on the Pearl River .
The Islamic missionary Abu Waqqas , one of the companions and companions of the Prophet Mohammed , is associated with the establishment of the mosque at the time of the reign of Yonghui (永徽 Yǒnghuī, 650–655) of Emperor Tang Gaozong唐高宗 (r. 649–683) , but probably it was founded by Arab merchants at the beginning of the Tang dynasty.
The current building dates from the Qing period. After a fire in the middle of the 14th century, the mosque was rebuilt. It has also been restored several times since then.
The mosque and the minaret of the Tang Period ( 怀 圣 寺 光塔 , Huaishengsi guangta ) have been on the list of monuments of the People's Republic of China in Guangdong (4–85) since 1996 .
literature
- Wang Lianmao: Return to the City of Light. Quanzhou. An eastern city shining with the splendor of medieval culture. = Ch'ung-fan-kuang-ming-chih-cheng. Fujian People's Publishing House, Fuchou 2000, ISBN 7-211-03699-0 .
Web links
Coordinates: 23 ° 7 '31.7 " N , 113 ° 15' 12.7" E