
Binju Mosque in Binchuan County, Dali
Binju Mosque (宾居清真寺) is located in Binju Town (宾居镇), Binchuan County (宾川县), Yunnan Province (云南省). It was originally built during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty. The mosque covers an area of 6 mu and features a Chinese classical-style main prayer hall. Currently, there are three prayer halls within the complex, one of which has a gilded Arabic inscription plaque hanging inside.
- Chinese Name: 宾川县宾居清真寺
- Address: Binju Street (宾居街), Binju Town (宾居镇), Binchuan County (宾川县), Yunnan Province (云南省)
- Postal Code: 671600
- Current Imam: Ma Xueqing (马学清)
- Current Mosque Director: Wu Yongqing (吴永庆)
Historical Background
The mosque was established during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty, reflecting the long-standing presence of Islam in the region.
Structure and Layout
The main hall is designed in the traditional Chinese classical style and covers an area of 6 mu. The current three prayer halls were rebuilt in 1933. Inside one of the halls hangs a gold-gilded Arabic calligraphy plaque. Above the entrance to the prayer hall is a black wooden board inscribed with the phrase “The True Source of All Existence” (万有真源).
A pair of wooden couplets reads:
- “One scripture refines the original meaning of the faith and reflects the myriad of things.”
- “Undivided and pure, the path embraces heaven, earth, and the three talents.”
On the northern exterior wall, there is a rough-cut stone stele inscribed with the characters “Ancient Qingzhen” (古清真). The minaret features a plaque that reads “The Radiance of the Heavenly Scripture” (天经焕彩).
Community and Religious Activities
The mosque serves a local Hui Muslim community consisting of 40 households and 167 people, all belonging to the Gediguo (格迪国) religious circle. The mosque currently has 3 imams (阿訇) and 5 mosque directors (学董), and it houses 3 collections of Arabic-scripture classics.
Geography and Transportation
Binju Mosque (宾居清真寺) is situated in Binju Town (宾居镇), Binchuan County (宾川县), Yunnan Province (云南省), and is accessible via local transportation networks.