Architectural and Art Museum “Zharkent Mosque”
The Museum of Architecture and Fine Arts "Zharkent Mosque" is one of the most unique and highly valuable architectural monuments in the history of architecture, art, and religious culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This structure represents not only a religious site but also an outstanding example of the synthesis of national craftsmanship, construction technologies, and ornamental artistic traditions.
The foundation of the mosque was laid in 1887, and construction was fully completed in 1892. The project was initiated by first-guild merchant Ualikhan Yuldashev, a well-known public figure of the Zharkent region. The construction was funded through voluntary donations from the local population. The architectural design was developed by the renowned Chinese architect Hon Pik, who personally supervised the construction process. His design harmoniously combines traditional building methods of the peoples of Kazakhstan and Central Asia with elements of classical Chinese architecture.
The total area of the architectural complex is approximately 1 hectare. The original plan included a main gate, a large Friday mosque, a small mosque, madrasas for boys and girls, utility rooms, and decorative enclosing walls. The main entrance and its architectural elements are adorned with ornamentation and sacred ayats written in Arabic script.
The facade of the architectural and artistic museum is traditionally oriented to the east. The minaret, standing at 19 meters, is one of the most striking architectural features. The interior of the large Friday mosque accommodates between 1,500 and 1,600 worshippers. The prayer hall includes ten doors, twenty windows, and a staircase leading to the minaret from which the azan (call to prayer) is recited. Inside, there are 122 support columns made from yellow Tien Shan pine. These trees were pre-cleaned, sun-dried, glued with a special compound, wrapped in fabric, and coated with durable blue paint, which has ensured their longevity for decades.
The small mosque, measuring 11 meters in length and 5 meters in width, was designed to accommodate around 150 people. It was used for the five daily obligatory prayers. Surrounding the small mosque are corridors that connect to the southern gate of the complex. The girls’ madrasa is adjacent to the small mosque, while the boys’ madrasa is connected to the northern high gate. Under the mosque's dome are rooms allocated for the imam, muezzin, accountant, and teachers. This layout corresponds to the traditional structure of Islamic educational institutions.
The Museum of Architecture and Fine Arts represents a complex architectural ensemble that demonstrates a fusion of Kazakh, Uyghur, Chinese, and Islamic architectural elements. Both local and international architects and artisans took part in its construction. Today, the mosque building functions as a museum and is included in the list of protected historical and cultural monuments under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Since the mid-20th century, the mosque has been the subject of academic interest among researchers. The first archaeological and ethnographic studies devoted to the structure began to be published in the 1970s. Today, the complex continues to attract the attention of both domestic and international architects and art historians.
The museum is a vivid reflection of the spiritual worldview of the Kazakh people, their craftsmanship, and cultural interaction. Combining architecture, art, religion, and history, this monument occupies a special place in the system of national values. Its transformation into a museum continues its historical mission and serves as an important means of spreading religious, artistic, and historical knowledge to a wide audience.