Mamichang Ma’s Mosque in Weishan County, Dali

The Ma Family Mosque (马姓清真寺) is located in Mamicang (马米厂), Yongjian Township (永建乡), Weishan County (巍山县), Yunnan Province (云南省), China. It was originally built in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, and rebuilt in 1991. The current total construction area is 1,947 square meters. The mosque serves the Hui Muslim community and follows the teachings of Islam.

• Chinese Name: 马米厂马姓清真寺
• Religion: Islam (伊斯兰教)
• Country: China (中国)
• City/County: Weishan County (巍山县), Yunnan Province (云南省)
• Year of Reconstruction: 1991
• Deity Worshipped: Allah (安拉真主)
• Postal Code: 672401
• Current Imam: Ma Huapeng (马化鹏)
• Current Head of Education: Ma Junxiong (马俊雄)

Historical Development

The mosque was initially constructed in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. In 1872 (the 11th year of Emperor Tongzhi’s reign), the main prayer hall was destroyed. However, the six-sided pyramidal-roof minaret survived. The hall was rebuilt in 1910 with a single-eaved hip roof style (单檐歇山式), and expanded in 1976, reaching a building area of 596 square meters. In 1991, the original minaret was dismantled and rebuilt.

Scale and Layout

The mosque adopts a hexagonal, pyramidal-roofed platform structure (六角攒尖台式), with three stories above a base level. The minaret covers a floor area of 600 square meters. Several side rooms are used as classrooms and dormitories. The total building area of the mosque is 1,947 square meters, and the complex occupies approximately 8 mu of land (about 5,333 square meters).

Religious and Educational Exchange

The mosque serves 240 Hui households, totaling more than 1,400 people, all following the Gedimu (格迪目) tradition. There are currently 63 imams (阿旬), 7 Hajj pilgrims (哈吉), and 1 Arabic school (阿文学校) with 30 scripture students (满拉).

The village has a deep religious foundation. The current imam, Ma Huapeng (马化鹏), is fluent in both Chinese and Arabic, and serves as president of the Weishan Islamic Association (县伊协会长) and vice chairman of the Dali Prefecture Political Consultative Conference (州政协副主席).

Geography and Transportation

Mamicang (马米厂) is located in Yongjian Township (永建乡), Weishan County (巍山县), Yunnan Province (云南省). The Ma family settlement is situated northwest of the Mi family village (米姓), the two communities being adjacent. It borders the Shengou River (深沟河) to the north and connects to Yongjian Basin (永建坝子) in the northwest.

The village is elevated with layered terraces, historically serving as a high observation post to “watch the moonrise.” It was known for using sea-fire signals to inform nearby Hui villages about the start and end of Ramadan (菜买丹月) and fasting times.