Protectorate of the Western Regions
| History of Xinjiang |
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The Protectorate of the Western Regions (simplified Chinese: 西域都护府; traditional Chinese: 西域都護府; pinyin: Xīyù Dūhù Fǔ; Wade–Giles: Hsi1-yü4 Tu1-hu4 Fu3) was an imperial administration (a protectorate) of Han China in the Western Regions.[1]
The "Western Regions" referred to areas west of Yumen Pass, especially the Tarim Basin. These areas would later be termed Altishahr (southern Xinjiang, excluding Dzungaria) by Turkic-speaking peoples.[2] The term "western regions" was also used by the Chinese more generally to refer to Central Asia.
The protectorate was the first direct rule by a Chinese government of the area.[2][3] It consisted of various vassal states, placed under the authority of a Protector-General of the Western Regions, who was appointed by the Han court.
History
During the Han–Xiongnu War, the Chinese empire established a military garrison at Wulei (near present-day Cedaya 策达雅, in Bugur/Luntei County). The Chinese sought to control the Western Regions in order to keep the Xiongnu away from Inner China, and to control the valuable Silk Road trade that passed through the area. The local inhabitants of the Western Regions were diverse, and the area contained several groups who originated in Western Eurasia and/or spoke Indo-European languages. These groups included Tocharian-speaking city-states like Ārśi (Arshi; later Agni/Karasahr), Kuča (Kucha), Gumo (later Aksu), Turfan (Turpan), and Loulan (Krorän/Korla). Additionally, residents of the oasis city-states of Khotan and Kashgar spoke Saka, one of the Eastern Iranian languages.[4]
The position of Protector-General was officially established in 59 or 60 BCE. It was the highest Han dynasty military position in the west during its existence. During the peak of the Protectorate's power in 51 BCE, the Wusun nation was brought under Han submission.[3] The post was abandoned in 23 CE, during the tumultuous Xin dynasty of Wang Mang. By then, at least 18 different people had served as protector-general, though only 10 of them have known names.
During the second half of the first century CE, at the time of the Eastern Han dynasty, Chinese armies led by Ban Chao, Dou Gu, and Guo Xun brought the Western Regions back under Han control. The Protectorate was thus re-established.[5]
In 74 CE, Emperor Ming of Han and his successor awarded the position of Protector-General (now with administrative obligations as well) to general Chen Mu. In 83 CE, the office of Chief Official of the Western Regions was established and awarded to Ban Chao. The position of the Chief Official was beneath that of the Protector-General. Ban Chao would later be made Protector-General in 91 CE.[6]
During the Eastern Han, the seat of the Protectorate was for a time shifted to Taqian (or Tagan; near modern Kucha).[7]
On 29 July 107, a series of Qiang uprisings in the areas of Hexi Corridor and Guanzhong forced the abandonment of the post,[7] although it was resumed in 119.
In the 7th century, a successor administration, the Protectorate General to Pacify the West was established by the Tang Dynasty at Xizhou (Turpan) and was later moved to Kucha.
In the southern Tarim Basin, coins from the period of the Protectorate's existence have been found with inscriptions in both Chinese and the Kharoshthi script, which was used for local Indo-European languages.[8]
Thirty-six city states
| City | Households | Population | Soldiers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beilu | 277 | 1,387 | 422 |
| Further Beilu | 462 | 1,137 | 350 |
| Danhuan | 27 | 194 | 45 |
| Guhu | 55 | 264 | 45 |
| Gumo | 3,500 | 24,500 | 4,500 |
| Hanmi | 3,340 | 20,040 | 3,540 |
| Jie | 99 | 500 | 115 |
| Jingjue | 480 | 3,360 | 500 |
| Eastern Jumi | 191 | 1,948 | 572 |
| Western Jumi | 332 | 1,926 | 738 |
| Jushi | 700 | 6,050 | 1,865 |
| Further Jushi | 595 | 4,774 | 1,890 |
| Loulan | 1,570 | 14,100 | 2,912 |
| Moshan | 450 | 5,000 | 1,000 |
| Pishan | 500 | 3,500 | 500 |
| Pulei | 325 | 2,032 | 799 |
| Further Pulei | 100 | 1,070 | 334 |
| Qiangruo | 450, | 1,750 | 500 |
| Qiemo | 230 | 1,610 | 320 |
| Qiuci | 6,970 | 81,317 | 21,076 |
| Qule | 310 | 2,170 | 300 |
| Quli | 240 | 1,610 | 300 |
| Shule | 1,510 | 18,647 | 2,000 |
| Suoju | 2,339 | 16,373 | 3,049 |
| Weili | 1,200 | 9,600 | 2,000 |
| Weitou | 300 | 2,300 | 800 |
| Weixu | 700 | 4,900 | 2,000 |
| Wensu | 2,200 | 8,400 | 1,500 |
| Wulei (Central Command) | 110 | 1,200 | 300 |
| Wutanzili | 41 | 231 | 57 |
| Xiaoyuan | 150 | 1,050 | 200 |
| Xiye | 350 | 4,000 | 1,000 |
| Yanqi (colony) | 4,000 | 32,100 | 6,000 |
| Yulishi | 190 | 1,445 | 331 |
| Yutian | 3,300 | 19,300 | 2,400 |
List of Protectors-General
Western Han and Xin
- Zheng Ji 60－48 BCE
- Han Xuan (韓宣) 48－45 BCE
- Unknown (3rd) 45－42 BCE
- Unknown (4th) 42－39 BCE
- Unknown (5th) 39－36 BCE
- Gan Yanshou (甘延壽) 36－33 BCE
- Duan Huizong (段會宗) 33－30, 21－18 BCE
- Lian Bao (廉褒) 30－27 BCE
- Unknown (9th) 27－24 BCE
- Han Li (韓立) 24－21 BCE
- Unknown (11th) 18－15 BCE
- Guo Shun (郭舜) 15－12 BCE
- Sun Jian (孫建) 12－9 BCE
- Unknown (14th) 9－6 BCE
- Unknown (15th) 6－3 BCE
- Unknown (16th) 3 BCE－1 CE
- Dan Qin (但欽) 1－13 CE
- Li Chong 13－23 CE
Eastern Han
Maps
-
Asia in 1 AD. The Western Regions were at the centre of the map (south-west of the Xiongnu) -
The Han dynasty (yellow) in 1 AD. -
Modern Xinjiang, showingthe Tarim Basin. -
1st century BC
.svg)
See also
- Chief Official of the Western Regions
- Han–Xiongnu War
- War of the Heavenly Horses
- Sogdia
- Tang dynasty in Inner Asia
References
- ^ Tikhvinskiĭ, Sergeĭ Leonidovich; Perelomov, Leonard Sergeevich (1981). China and her neighbours, from ancient times to the Middle Ages: a collection of essays. Progress Publishers. p. 124. OCLC 8669104.
- ^ a b "Xiyu Duhu" Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Yu, Taishan (2003). A Comprehensive History of Western Regions (2nd ed.). Zhengzhou: Zhongzhou Guji Press. pp. 57–59. ISBN 7-5348-1266-6.
- ^ Tremblay, Xavier (2007). "The Spread of Buddhism in Serindia: Buddhism Among Iranians, Tocharians and Turks before the 13th Century". In Heirman, Ann; Bumbacker, Stephan Peter (eds.). The Spread of Buddhism. Leiden: Koninklijke Brill. p. 77. ISBN 978-90-04-15830-6.
- ^ Cosmo 2009, p. 98.
- ^ Twitchett 2008, p. 421.
- ^ a b Yu, Taishan (Oct 2006) [June 1995]. "A Study of the History of the Relationship Between the Western and Eastern Han, Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties and the Western Regions" (Document). Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. pp. 56, 68–71.
{{cite document}}: Unknown parameter|series=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|url=ignored (help) - ^ James A. Millward (2007). Eurasian Crossroads: A History of Xinjiang. Columbia University Press. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-231-13924-3.
Bibliography
- Cosmo, Nicola Di (2002), Ancient China and Its Enemies, Cambridge University Press
- Cosmo, Nicola di (2009), Military Culture in Imperial China, Harvard University Press
- Twitchett, Denis (2008), The Cambridge History of China: Volume 1, Cambridge University Press
External links
- Ma, Yong. "Xiyu Duhu" ("Protector General of the Western Regions"). Encyclopedia of China (Chinese History Edition), 1st ed.
- The Grand Game in Afghanistan
- Maps of Xinjiang
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