Chin Mosque

Chin mosque (Azerbaijani: Çin məscidi) is a historical mosque of the XIV century. It is a part of Old City and located on Kichik Gala street, near Palace of the Shirvanshahs, in the city of Baku, in Azerbaijan. The building was also registered as a national architectural monument by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated August 2, 2001, No. 132.[1]

Chin mosque
Azerbaijani: Çin məscidi
Interior of Chin mosque
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Status	restored; operating as Numismatic Museum
Location
Location	Old City, Baku
Country	Azerbaijan
Location within Azerbaijan
Geographic coordinates	40.365957°N 49.832596°E
Architecture
Style	Islamic architecture, Shirvan-Absheron architectural school
Founder	Fazlullаh Imаm ibn Оsmаn Shirvаni
Completed	1375-1376

History

According to the epigraphic inscription on facade, on top of the entrance door, the mosque was built in 1375 (Hijri 777). It is also noted that, the mosque was constructed by the will of Fazlullаh Imаm ibn Оsmаn Shirvаni. For this reason, sometimes the mosque is called by his name.[2][3]

It gets clear from the other epigraphic writing on the facade that the monument was restored in 1772-1773 (Hijri 1186) by Masood Ali.[2][3]

In 2012, substantial repair and restoration works were held on the museum by Old City State Historical-Architectural Reserve Department.[3]

Architectural features

Stalactic mihrab, which consists of five tiers framed with a rectangle on the southern wall of the interior, forms certain motifs of Shirvan-Absheron architectural school as a whole.[4] At edges small niches are placed.[2]

The main facade of the mosque is asymmetrical and its rigid, voluminous composition is emphasized with classic-type portal-entrance.[2][3]

Accurately profiled rectangular frame of the portal, profiled cavity and epigraphic heading of Arabic are represented in classic form, in the background of the entire wall of the facade. Among eastern style portals of middle ages of the city, the portal of this mosque is the most classic.[2][3]

Exposition

Ancient coins and coins are exhibited and preserved in the mosque. The main exposition of the museum is currency units and coins and other interesting ancient exhibits from the era of the Sasanids, Safavids, Shirvanshahs and others, which existed in various periods since the beginning of money circulation in Azerbaijan. The exhibits are divided into separate periods and grouped in various showcases. The general features of the period, specifications, types and information about the location of currency units of that period are placed on a separate board outside the showcases.[4]

Gallery

• Different views of the mosque
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See also

• Old City

References

1. "Azərbaycan Respublikası ərazisində dövlət mühafizəsinə götürülmüş daşınmaz tarix və mədəniyyət abidələrinin əhəmiyyət dərəcələrinə görə bölgüsünün təsdiq edilməsi haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikasi Nazirlər Kabinetinin qərarı". e-qanun.az. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
2. ""Çin" məscidi" (in Azerbaijani). scwra.gov.az. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
3. "ÇİN MƏSCİDİ" (in Azerbaijani). icherisheher.gov.az. Archived from the original on 19 January 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
4. ""Çin" məscid - qədim sikkələrin nümayiş olunduğu məkan" (in Azerbaijani). azertag.az. Retrieved 15 March 2018.