Kuqa Mosque

It was said that Kuqa Mosque was built by Yisihake Wali in the 16th century, who was the founder of the Xinjiang Yichan Branch of Islamism, when he delivered a sermon in Kuqa. It lied in a high land in east of Kuqa city and was the second largest mosque in Xinjiang. Its scale took second place of yitier Mosque’s. And it was destroyed in 1931 and was rebuilt by the rich Halimu Aji.

The Mosque consisted of Religious Service Hall, Declaring Service Tower, Learning the Koran Hall and Religious Court. It occupied 1,165 square meters. This structure was made of the red brick, stone, gypsum and white mulberry. The style of this structure was simple and vigorous. Three 16-meter Declaring Service Tower were built near the gate and you could overlook the whole city when you were on the top of it. In the Hall, the carving art, fresco and handwriting were exquisite. The elegant niches, wells, windows and doors were in accordance with the Uygur’s style. It was and important religious activities center in Zhuma Day and other holidays. It could accommodate 5,000 people who do religious service at ordinary time and there were more than 10,000 people in holidays.

Translated by Beijing Star-light Translation Center
Written by www.travel-silkroad.com
February 13, 2001