Amir Tura Madrasah — Attraction in Khiva

Amir Tura Madrasah – A Hidden Jewel of Khiva’s Educational Legacy.

Tucked along the quieter pathways of Ichan Kala, the Amir Tura Madrasah is a lesser-known but captivating stop on any cultural tour of Khiva. Built in the 1870s by Amir Tura, a member of the Khivan royal family and brother of Muhammad Rahim Khan II, the madrassah reflects the city’s continued commitment to Islamic education and architectural elegance even in the later years of the Khanate.

It follows the typical layout of a Central Asian Islamic school, with a central courtyard surrounded by student cells (hujras) and a main façade featuring arched niches and glazed tile decorations. The symmetry and balance of its design give it a quiet dignity that appeals to lovers of traditional Islamic architecture.

Its modesty contrasts beautifully with the grandeur of nearby structures, adding diversity to the urban fabric of Ichan Kala.

Today, the site is not open to the public, depriving visitors of the chance to discover this understated yet meaningful part of Khiva’s spiritual and architectural heritage. What a pity! In quiet solitude, the madrassa continues to whisper its story —a story that could inspire and move those who seek the lesser-known, but truly authentic monuments...

ヒヴァ旧市街の知識の殿堂 ─ アミル・トゥラ・マドラサ

本文

ウズベキスタン、ヒヴァ旧市街（イチャン・カラ）の北部、狭い通りの間に静かに佇むのが アミル・トゥラ・マドラサ（Amir To’ra Madrasa） です。建設はおよそ 1870年、当時のハーン国で権力を持った王族や宗教界と密接に関わる人物によって発願されたとされます。 

このマドラサは正面から見ると二階建てのファサードを備える一方で、裏庭側は一層構造という構成を取ります。  正面中央には高さを強調する八角形のニッチ付きポータル（玄関門）が設けられ、その両翼には二層構造のアーケード（回廊）が並び、建物に重厚な印象を与えています。 

一方で、外装装飾は比較的控えめであり、ファサードの大部分はタイル装飾を欠いています。その理由の一つとして、建設当時にロシア帝国軍の侵攻があったため、装飾作業が中断されたという記録があります。  ただし、角部の小塔（グルダスタ）や、マドラサの窓（フジュラ／学習室窓）には開放的な木格子（パンジャラ）細工が残されており、軽やかな装飾性が感じられます。 

内部の配置は伝統的なマドラサの構成を踏襲し、講義室（ダーラ／ダルスハナ）や祈祷堂（冬祈祷室・モスク）を備え、学習者用のフジュラ（細長い個室）が左右に配されています。 

近年、この建築は歴史的文化遺産に指定され、保護下に置かれています。2017年から2019年にかけて、中国文化遺産研究院の協力による修復工事が行われ、建物の安定化と保存が進められました。  また、マドラサは修復学校（レストレーション専門学校）の実習施設としての活用も計画され、観光客にも保存作業の過程を間近で見られる場とする構想があります。 

このマドラサは豪華さを競うものではなく、節度ある佇まいのなかに知と信仰を象徴する存在となっています。訪れる人は、静かな石の庭、格子のシルエット、控えめな装飾といった建築の余白にこそ、時代の息遣いと学びの精神を感じ取るでしょう。

行動促進文

ヒヴァ旧市街を歩く際は、ぜひこのアミル・トゥラ・マドラサへ足を向けてみてください。入口のあたりをじっと見つめれば、八角ニッチの影とパンジャラの透かし、そして静かに語りかける歴史が目に見えるはずです。保護と修復が同時に息づくこの場所で、建築と信仰の調和を感じてみてください。

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English

Title

The Scholarly Heart of Khiva — Amir Tura Madrasa

Body

Tucked away in the northern end of Khiva’s historic inner city (Itchan Kala) lies the unassuming yet profound Amir Tura Madrasa. Erected circa 1870, it was commissioned by Amir Tura, a brother of Muhammad Rahim Khan II, in an era when religious scholarship and state authority intertwined. 

From the street, the madrasa presents a two-story façade, yet when viewed from the courtyard, the structure recedes to a single level—a design meant to convey both grandeur and modesty.  The central portal rises with an elegant octagonal niche, flanked by wings of arcaded galleries, giving the entrance a stately presence. 

Interestingly, much of the exterior lacks ornate tile decoration, a fact attributed to construction disruption caused by the Russian campaign in the region.  Nonetheless, decorative detail survives in the corner turrets and in wooden latticework grilles (panjara) guarding the hujra windows. 

Inside, the madrasa follows a traditional layout: classrooms (darskhana), space for winter prayer, and rows of hujras for students and teachers.  In its more recent history, the madrasa gained official heritage protection. Between 2017 and 2019, restoration work mandated by a UNESCO framework and supported by Chinese cultural heritage institutes brought renewed structural stability to the building.  Plans envision it serving not only as a monument but also as a living workshop for restoration training, where visitors may observe conservation in action. 

Rather than ostentation, the Madrasa speaks in quiet elegance: stone walls, shadowed niches, and lattice silhouettes anchor its place in Khiva’s spiritual landscape. For the visitor, its most moving stories may lie in what is absent—mere lines carved in wood, light filtering through lattice, and the hushed symmetry of centuries-old design.

Call to Action

When wandering through the ancient alleys of Itchan Kala, pause for a moment at Amir Tura Madrasa. Let your eyes trace the octagonal recesses, the lattice patterns, and the subtle union of strength and learning. In that contemplative gaze, you will hear the echoes of Khiva’s spiritual and educational past alive in stone...

Amir Toʻra madrasasi – Oʻzbekistondagi Xiva sharining tarixiy markazida joylashgan madaniy meʼros obyekti. Meʼmoriy yodgorlik sifatida davlat muhofazasiga olingan1]. Ichan qalʼaning shimoliy qismida joylashgan. Amir Toʻra madrasasi oʻzbek hukmdori Muhammad Rahimxon IIning (1864—1910) akasi Amir Toʻra donatorligida Xiva xonligining poytaxtida, Ichan qalʼaning ichkarisida, shaharning shimoliy Bogʻcha darvozasi yaqinida[2], Hasan Murod qushbegi masjidining roʻparasida bunyod etilgan[3]. Baʼzi bir manbalarda inshootning qurilgan yili sifatida 1870-yil koʻrsatilsa[4, boshqalarida 1872-yil koʻrsatiladi2].

Aytilishicha, Amir Toʻra madrasaning qurilishi Muhammad Rahimxon madrasasi qurilishi bilan bir davrga toʻgʻri kelganligi sababli, Amir Toʻra gʻisht va mohir ustalarning yetishmasligidan biroz aziyat chekkan. Keyinchalik u bu muammoni oson yechib, oʻz qaramogʻidagi Toʻrtkoʻl va Shoʻroxon ustalarini olib kelgan ekan[2].

Madrasaning ichki sahni koshin bilan qoplanib, peshtoq oldi koshin bilan bezatilmay qolib ketgan. Buning sabablaridan biri sifatida Rossiya imperiyasining 1873-yildagi Xiva yurishi koʻrsatiladi. 2014-yilda Amir Toʻra madrasasini UNESCO donorligida taʼmirlash rejalashtirilgan[5].

2017—2019-yillar mobaynida Amir Toʻra madrasasida 2 bosqichda restavratsiya ishlari amalga oshirilgan[6]. 2020-yil 9-yanvarda Amir Toʻra madrasasi Xitoyning „Chinese academy of Cultural heritage“ tashkiloti tomonidan investitsiya mablagʻlari oʻzlashtirilishi hisobiga tamirlanganligi haqida xabar berilgan[7. Uch oydan soʻng, 12-martda Ichan qalʼa majmuasiga tashrif buyurgan Oʻzbekiston prezidenti Shavkat Mirziyoyev Amir Toʻra madrasasida amalga oshirilgan restavratsiya ishlari bilan tanishgan[9].

Madrasa binosini Xiva restavratsiya maktabiga tekin foydalanish huquqi asosida berish hamda unda namunali asrashga doir ishlarni namoyish qilish, amaliy koʻrgazmalar oʻtkazish, yangi ekspozitsiyalar yaratish hamda turistlar tomonidan asrashga doir ishlarni toʻgʻridan-toʻgʻri kuzatish uchun shart-sharoitlar yaratish rejalashtirilgan edi[10]. Xabar berilishicha, Xiva restavratsiya maktabi faoliyati yoʻlga qoʻyilib, moddiy madaniy merosning koʻchmas mulk obʼektlari sohasidagi restavrator-ustalar va boshqa mutaxassislar uchun malaka oshirish tizimi yaratilgan[7]. Chortoq tarhli (52,6x36,7 metr), peshtogʻi mahobatli, ikki yon tomonida qoʻshqavatli uch juft hujra bor. Toʻrt burchagidagi guldastalar parchin belbogʻli, mavj usulida bezatilgan. Masjid va darsxonaning tuzilishi bir xil. Masjid janubidagi ayvon gumbaz tomli, gumbaz osti toqilari olti qirrali, unga uch qator muqarnas ishlangan[11].

Hovlining (30,7x19,35 metr) ikki yon tomoniga bir qavatli, oldi ravoqli koʻndalang hujralar ishlangan. Hovli burchaklaridagi hujralarga dahlizdan kiriladi. Hujralar balxi gumbazli, darchalariga panjaralar oʻrnatilgan. Uch gumbazli miyonsaroyning ikki yon tomonida darsxona bor. Amir Toʻra madrasasi 1970-yilda taʼmirlangan, bosh tarzi oldiga savdo rastasi...