Overview
China’s last major mosque, the Grand Mosque of Shadian, located in Yunnan province, has recently undergone a radical renovation, removing its Arabic-style architectural features.
Transformation of the Mosque
Before the renovation, the mosque was a large building with a tiled green dome at the top adorned with a crescent moon. It featured four long minarets and two small domes flanking the main dome.
After the renovation, the dome has been replaced with a Han Chinese-style pagoda rooftop, and the minarets have been converted into pagoda towers. Some remnants of the original Arabic design, such as the crescent moon and star tiles, can still be seen.
Sinification of Islam in China
China’s government has been promoting the “sinification of Islam” as part of a larger plan to resist foreign architectural styles and promote Islamic architecture with Chinese characteristics.
In a leaked memo, local authorities were instructed to prioritize demolishing existing structures and replacing them with more Chinese-influenced designs.
Impact on Communities
Anthropologist Ruslan Yusupov noted that the sinicisation of the mosques in Yunnan signifies the success of the campaign, making it challenging for local communities to preserve Arab-style mosques.
Historian Hannah Theaker mentioned that the mosque sinicisation campaign has been progressing province by province, with Yunnan being one of the last regions to undergo this transformation.
Historical Significance
The Grand Mosque of Shadian, originally built in the Ming dynasty, holds historical importance and was destroyed during the cultural revolution in an event known as the Shadian incident.