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Protectorate of the Western Regions

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Garrisons of the Han dynasty
The modern Tarim Basin and surrounding areas.
Part of a series on the
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

Historical cities of the Tarim Basin
City states of the Western Regions (from the Book of Han)
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)
    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.
    The Han dynasty (yellow) in 1 AD.
  • Modern Xinjiang, showing   the Tarim Basin   Dzungaria .
    Modern Xinjiang, showing
      the Tarim Basin
      Dzungaria
    .
  • 1st century BC
    1st century BC

See also

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b "Xiyu Duhu" Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Cosmo 2009, p. 98.
  6. ^ Twitchett 2008, p. 421.
  7. ^ 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)
  8. ^ 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

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