Gallery
Description
Property Name: Mahmud Kashigar Mausoleum
Inventory No: 86-998-3
Date of infill of the inventory form: 2009-08-03
Country (State party): China
Province: Xinjiang
Town: Kashgar
Geographic coordinates: 39° 18′ 56.41″ N
75° 30′ 42.37″ E
Historic Period: 11th century, 1st half
Year of Construction: 11th century, restored 1985
Style: Karakhanid
Original Use: Mausoleum
Current Use: Mausoleum
Architect: Unknown
Significance
This complex was built in the name of Mahmud Kashigari in the 11th century. Mahmud Kashigari was a highly respected person as he was a member of an aristocratic family of the Karakhnaid Dynasty in the 11th century. He was a genius linguist as he is very famous with his magnum opus, the first Turkish dictionary, ‘Divan-ı Lügatit Turk (The Complete Turkish Dictionary), which was translated to 26 languages. This mausoeum is where he is buried in, but other than that this site is important because Mahmud Kashigari practiced and lectured here as he had a madrasa and science center here.
Selection Criteria
iv. to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history
vi. to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance
State of Preservation
The mausoleum complex has changed as a result of some interventions. The complex is known to be under 4 major interventions. It is recorded on the inscriptions that the mausoleum was repaired for two times in 1829 and 1897. There has been also a restoration project coordinated by Uighur architect Abuduryim Ashan, for the Institute of Preservation, dating 1985. Consequently, some original details have been lost.
• Site plan during the 1985 restoration, http://www.archnet.org
• Front (east) elevation, http://www.archnet.org
References
Michell, George; Vicziany, Marika; Gollings, John; Yen HuOasis, Tsui City. Oasis City on China’s Old Silk Road, Frances Lincoln ltd., 2008
Chang, Jing Qi. Islamic Architecture in China. In The Changing Rural Habitat; Volume 2 : Background Papers. Brian Brace Taylor (ed). Singapore: Concept Media/The Aga Khan Award for Architecture. 1982.
http://www.archnet.org