Xian
Great Mosque
西
安清真寺 xī'ān qīng zhēn sì
This
unique mosque 清真寺 qīng zhēn sì in Xian 西安 xī'ān is
also known as the Grand Mosque and the Great Mosque of
Xian. The
following is obtained from the information board just outside the
清
真寺 qīng zhēn sì.
According to the stone tablets still housed inside the mosque
compound, this place of worship
was established during the Tang
Dynasty 唐代 táng dài in 742CE. The mosque 清
真寺 qīng zhēn sì
was improved upon in the following dynasties
namely the Song 宋代 sòng dài , Yuan 元朝 yuán cháo,
Ming 明代 míng dài and Qing 清朝 qīng cháo.
The mosque 清
真寺 qīng zhēn sì covers
a total area of 13,000 square metres and is divided into four
courtyards. The Imperial Hall in the third courtyard is the
oldest structure here. The "Introspection Tower" - the tallest
building in the compound - serves as the minaret for azan,
the call for prayers.