BOSNIAN WOODEN MOSQUE CONSTRUCTED WITHOUT NAILS|卯榫工法不用一根釘 木造清真寺屹立百年

A unique mosque in Bosnia has stood the test of time, welcoming numerous visitors for almost two centuries. What makes this architecture so special is that it was built entirely out of wood, without the use of a single metal nail. An early 19th century mosque made entirely of interlocking wood lies quietly amid households in Buzim, a small town in north western Bosnia. The mosque was built by Bosnian carpenters who used locally-grown oak wood and traditional building methods. ==EMIN GROSIC Imam of the mosque== Not only was this mosque built by hand, but it also has other unique features. At the time when it was built, innovative (construction) techniques did not reach this remote area, so the builders resorted to the old, traditional construction method that had previously worked well, for other structures in this area. Therefore, no metal, not even a single nail or a screw was used in the construction of this mosque. The endowment of the then-Ottoman governor of Bosnia, Mehmed Vecihi Pasha, the nearly 300-square-metre mosque looks impressive, with a balcony that folds around the entire length of its interior walls. Over the past two centuries, strong winds and several earthquakes have hit this area, but the mosque has resisted the forces of nature. While the mosque is typically full to capacity during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, its regular, smaller congregation is mostly comprised of elderly people drawn by its unique charm. ==IBRAHIM SAHINOVIC local worshiper== I am used to praying in this mosque on Fridays and other days. I am used to praying in this mosque. Other, modern mosques have their own charm, I guess, but the allure of this one is unique. The wooden spiral staircase leading up to the minaret of the mosque hides another unique feature, a 30-metre tall central pillar that it twists around and is made from a single oak tree. In 2003, Bosnia's commission for the preservation of cultural heritage added the wooden mosque to its list of protected natural monuments. TRANSLATED BY：ARIEL HSIEH