ABSTRACT
Most nusi (women’s mosques) are located in the courtyards of nansi (men’s mosques) and are often seen as subordinate to nansi. Their revenue and expenditure are usually under the control of the nansi; and the main religious celebrations are also organised by the nansi. However, mosques established by women and by donations from women are independent. A number of initially dependent nusi have developed and gradually separated from the administration of the men’s mosque. These self-administered nusi have challenged many traditional ideas, and exercised a profound and lasting positive impact on women’s position in the religious world. The economy of nusi has grown quickly since China began to reform and open to the outside world in the 1980s. The growth has laid a necessary material foundation for the development of women’s religious culture.
