|
|
|
|
| Tomb of Hami Muslim Princes, Hami |
| |
The tomb is situated in the Muslim Town in the southwestern suburbs of Hami City. In the 35th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi (r. 1662-1723), the Uygur ruler of Hami, Darhan Hanbok Abeydulla, submitted to the authority of the Qing court. The emperor made him the local Muslim prince, whose family ruled through nine generations for the next 231 years. In 1868, the court posthumously honored the seventh Muslim Prince Boxir as "Prince of Peace and Prosperity" and granted 20,000 taels (one tael equals about 38 grams) of silver to build him a tomb. The project was completed in 20 years. The structure was completely renovated with government funding in the 1980s. Today, the site houses the largest mosque and assembly center for Muslims in the Hami area.
The styles of the two main buildings differ yet complement each other. The mausoleum itself is in genuine Islamic style, with walls covered with glazed tiles, an imposing entrance arch and a magnificent dome. The mosque is built primarily of wood in the central plains pavilion style. Its octagonal roof bears a central ornament shaped like a Mongolian helmet and has upturning eaves decked with animal figures. |
| |
|
