Datongxin Mosque
The Datongxin Mosque is the most famous in the southern mountainous areas of Ningxia. Sitting in the old county seat of Tangxin, the mosque was built during the reign of Emperor Wanli (1572-1620) of the Ming Dynasty, rebuilt during the 56th year (1791) of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, and expanded in the 33rd year (1907) of the Qing Emperor Guangxu. In 1982-83, the local government allocated funds for renovations. This is a place where many noted Muslim scholars once studied.
The mosque complex sits on a 10-m-high irregularly shaped brick platform that rises 7 m from the ground. The structures are oriented along an east-west axis atop the platform, accessed by a series of steps at the gateway.
In front of the main gate stands an imitation wood-brick screen measuring 9 meters long and 6 meters high. On it are exquisitely carved designs of the moon hidden among pine and cypress trees. Facing the screen wall are three brick arched doors, engraved with Arabic script and floral designs. On the middle arched door, the three large Chinese characters “清真寺” (Purity and Truth Temple) are inscribed. The Chinese characters “忍心” (forbearance）are inscribed on the left door, with “忍耐” (Tolerance) inscribed on the right door. Through the arched doors, a path leads up to the top of the 10-meter-high platform. What first meets the eye on the platform is the two-story quadrangular minaret, from where the Akhund calls for prayer. The minaret is covered with carved bricks and decorated with carved hardwood. Through a door on the wide wall, one enters a spacious courtyard surrounded by the main prayer hall and two side-halls for preaching.
The prayer hall, which is 35 meters long and 20 meters wide, dominates the platform. It has a shallow crucifix plan composed of three sections: the entry portico, central hall and qibla iwan projecting west. Its timber-frame is encased in brick. The roof of the central hall rests on four columns, moved out of alignment with the columns of the portico and the qibla area, to create a rather dynamic interior. Three distinct yet linked roofs mark the three successive spaces of the exterior. The central hall and the qibla area have pitched roofs, whereas the portico is sheltered by the round bulge of a lower rolled-shed roof. It is large enough to hold more than 1,000 people.
The elaborate details of the structural wooden elements of the mosque are unique to Ningxia, and to Gansu and Qinghai to the west (see the Great Mosque of Xining). Supporting the roofs are five tiers of ruyi-type dougong brackets. The convex eaves of the roof reveal the numerous rafters of the wooden structure.
