Gaochang

Gaochang Ruins
قئارئاهوجئا
高昌故城
The Buddhist stupa of Gaochang ruins.
Gaochang Ruins
Location in Xinjiang
Coordinates:

Gaochang (Chinese: 高昌; pinyin: Gāochāng) is the site of an ancient oasis city built on the northern rim of the inhospitable Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang, China. A busy trading center, it was a stopping point for merchant traders traveling on the Silk Road. The ruins are located 30 km southeast of modern Turpan.[1]

Contents

History

Gaochang (Pronounced and written as Qara-hoja (قاراھوجا) in Uyghur) is located in present-day Xinjiang Province, 30 km from Turpan. The site is also known in early published reports as Chotscho, Khocho, or Qočo. The archaeological remains are just outside the town at a place originally called Idykut-schari or Idikutschari by local residents (see the work of Albert Grünwedel in the external links below). Artistic monuments of the city have been published by Albert von Le Coq.

Gaochang was built in the 1st century BC, it was an important site along the Silk Road. It played a key role as a transportation hub in western China. There is some documented history surviving today, perhaps stories passed on through oral tradition exist to detail the history. It was burnt down in wars in the 14th century. Old palace ruins and inside and outside cities can still be seen today.

The nomadic Jushi people, who were native inhabitants of the territory, invited the Chinese Han dynasty to take over, giving them their alleigance. The Chinese set up a military colony/garrison, and organized the land into multiple divisions. Gaochang, to the east of Turfan, was created by the Chinese as a commandery during the 300s A.D.[2]

The area continued to be inhabited by the Jushi and their Kingdom, while control over the region swayed between the Chinese and the Xiongnu. During the Han dynasty, garrisons of Han chinese troops were established in the region and Chinese colonists from the Hexi region and the central plains also settled the region. They mixed with the Jushi people. The Jushi Kingdom continued to ally and pledge alleigance to China.[3]

In 327, the Gaochang commandery was created by the Former Liang under the Han chinese ruler Zhang Gui. After this, significant Han chinese settlement occurred, a major, large part of the population becoming Chinese. In 383 The General Lu Guang of the Former Qin seized control of the region.[4]

After the fall of the Western Jin Dynasty, northern China split into multiple states, including the Central Asian east oases.[5]

In 439, remnants of the Northern Liang fled to Gaochang led by Juqu Wuhui and Juqu Anzhou where they would hold onto power until 460 when they were conquered by the Rouran (Avars).[6] There were more than ten thousand Han Chinese households in Gaochang,[7] and the Rouran (Avars) appointed a Han Chinese named Kan Bozhou as their vassal King of Gaochang in 460, this was the first time Gaochang became an independent kingdom.[8][9] Kan was dependent on Rouran backing.[10] Gaochang previously was ruled by the Former Liang, Former qin, and Northern Liang as part of a commandery and not an independent kingdom. Yicheng and Shougui were the last two kings of the Chinese Kan family to rule Gaochang. Gaochang was considered a "Chinese colony" by historians.[11] It was also described as being founded by "Chinese colonists".[12]

At this time the Gaoche (高車) was rising to challenge power of the Rouran in the Tarim Basin. The Gaoche king Afuzhiluo (阿伏至羅) killed King Kan Shougui, who was the nehpew of Kan Bozhou.[13][14] and appointed a Han from Dunhuang, named Zhang Mengming (張孟明), as his own vassal King of Gaochang.[15][16] Gaochang thus passed under Gaoche rule.

Later, Zhang Mengming was killed in an uprising by the people of Gaochang and replaced by Ma Ru (馬儒). In 501, Ma Ru himself was overthrown and killed, and the people of Gaochang appointed Qu Jia (麴嘉) of Jincheng (in Gansu) as their king. Qu Jia hailed from the Zhong district of Jincheng commandery (金城, roughly corresponding to modern day Lanzhou, Gansu)[13] Qu Jia at first pledged allegiance to the Rouran, but the Rouran khaghan was soon killed by the Gaoche, and he had to submit to Gaoche overlordship. During Qu rule, powerful families estbalished marriage ties with each other and dominated the kingdom, they included the Zhang, Fan, Yin, Ma, Shi, and Xin families. Later, when the Göktürks emerged as the supreme power in the region, the Qu dynasty of Gaochang became vassals of the Göktürks.[17]

In 640, Gaochang was annexed by the Chinese Tang dynasty and turned into a sub prefecture of Xizhou (西州).[12][18] Before the Chinese conquered Gaochang, it was an impediment to Chinese access to Tarim and Transoxiania.[19]

From the mid fifth century until the mid seventh century there existed four independent kingdoms in the narrow Turpan basin. These are known as the Kan Family, Zhang Family, Ma Family, and Qu family. In the second year of Tang Zhen Guan (628 AD), the famous monk Xuanzang passed through Gaochang. In the 13th year of Tang Zhen Guan (640 AD), Gaochang county was established. According to documents from the Yuan and Ming dynasties, Qara-hoja referred to Gaochang as "Halahezhuo" (哈拉和卓) and Huozhou().

At the 8th century Gaochang falls under the control of the Tang dynasty in Turpan.

Under the Tang rule, Gaochang was inhabited by Chinese, Sogdians, and natives. Due to the An Lushan Rebellion, in 755, the Chinese were forced to pull back their soldiers from the region. resulting it first being taken b y the Tibetans, then finally by the Uyghurs in 803, who renamed the area from Gaochang to Kocho. After 840 it then became inhabited by Uighurs fleeing Kirghiz invasion of their land.[2]

In 1209AD it falls under the control of the Yuan Dynasty. The Gaochang area was sieged by the Northern Mongolians (not part of Yuan Dynasty) from 1275 to 1318 by as many as 120,000 troops. After its destruction it was never rebuilt.

Buddhism

Buddhism spread to China from India along the northern branch of the Silk Road predominantly in the 4th and 5th centuries CE as the Liang rulers were buddhists.[20] The building of Buddhist grottos probably began during this period. There are clusters close to Gaochang, the largest being the Bezeklik grottos.[1]

Rulers of the Kan Family

Temple names Family names and given name Durations of reigns Era names and their according durations
Chinese convention: use family name and given name
Did not exist 闞伯周 Kàn Bózhōu 460-477 Did not exist
Did not exist 闞義成 Kàn Yìchéng 477-478 Did not exist
Did not exist 闞首歸 Kàn Shǒugūi 478-488?
or
478-491?		 Did not exist

Rulers of the Zhang Family

Temple names Family names and given name Durations of reigns Era names and their according durations
Chinese convention: use family name and given name
Did not exist 張孟明 Zhāng Mèngmíng 488?-496
or
491?-496		 Did not exist

Rulers of the Ma Family

Temple names Family names and given name Durations of reigns Era names and their according durations
Chinese convention: use family name and given name
Did not exist 馬儒 Mǎ Rú 496-501 Did not exist

Rulers of the Qu Family

Temple names Family names and given name Durations of reigns Era names and their according durations
Chinese convention: use family name and given name
Did not exist 麴嘉 Qú Jiā 501-525
Did not exist 麴光 Qú Guāng 525-530 Ganlu (甘露 Gānlù) 525-530
Did not exist 麴坚 Qú Jiān 530-548 Zhanghe (章和 Zhānghé) 531-548
Did not exist 麴玄喜 Qú Xuánxǐ 549-550 Yongping (永平 Yǒngpíng) 549-550
Did not exist unnamed son of Qu Xuanxi 551-554 Heping (和平 Hépíng) 551-554
Did not exist 麴宝茂 Qú Bǎomào 555-560 Jianchang (建昌 Jiànchāng) 555-560
Did not exist 麴乾固 Qú Qiángù 560-601 Yanchang (延昌 Yánchāng) 561-601
Did not exist 麴伯雅 Qú Bóyǎ 601-613
619-623		 Yanhe (延和 Yánhé) 602-613
Zhongguang (重光 Zhòngguāng) 620-623
Did not exist unnamed usurper 613-619 Yihe (Yìhé 義和) 614-619
Did not exist 麴文泰 Qú Wéntài 623-640 Yanshou (延壽 Yánshòu) 624-640
Did not exist 麴智盛 Qú Zhìshèng 640 did not exist

Gallery

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b "The Silk Road". ess.uci.edu. http://www.ess.uci.edu/~oliver/silk.html. Retrieved 2007-09-21. 
  2. ^ a b Susan Whitfield, British Library (2004). The Silk Road: trade, travel, war and faith (illustrated ed.). Serindia Publications, Inc.. p. 309. ISBN 193247613X. http://books.google.com/books?id=ArWLD4Qop38C&pg=PA309&lpg=PA309&dq=gaochang+colony#v=onepage&q=gaochang%20colony&f=false. Retrieved 2011, May 17. 
  3. ^ Ahmad Hasan Dani, ed (1999). History of civilizations of Central Asia, Volume 3. Motilal Banarsidass Publ.. p. 304. ISBN 8120815408. http://books.google.com/books?id=FcKtIPVQ6REC&pg=PA306&dq=Zhang+Mengming+chinese#v=snippet&q=han%20chinese%20central%20plains%20%20ho%20hsi%20lukchun%20site&f=false. Retrieved 2011, May 17. 
  4. ^ Society for the Study of Chinese Religions (U.S.), Indiana University, Bloomington. East Asian Studies Center (2002). Journal of Chinese religions, Issues 30-31. the University of California: Society for the Study of Chinese Religions. p. 24. http://books.google.com/books?ct=result&id=9hMSAQAAIAAJ&dq=But+equally+significant+was+the+fact+that+this+was+the+first+area+with+a+largely+Chinese+population+where+those+introducing+the+new+doctrine+from+the+West+could+adjust+their+teachings+to+the+needs+of+that+population%2C+before+moving+on&q=gaochang. Retrieved 2011, May 17. 
    Society for the Study of Chinese Religions (U.S.), Indiana University, Bloomington. East Asian Studies Center (2002). Journal of Chinese religions, Issues 30-31. the University of California: Society for the Study of Chinese Religions. p. 24. http://books.google.com/books?ct=result&id=9hMSAQAAIAAJ&dq=But+equally+significant+was+the+fact+that+this+was+the+first+area+with+a+largely+Chinese+population+where+those+introducing+the+new+doctrine+from+the+West+could+adjust+their+teachings+to+the+needs+of+that+population%2C+before+moving+on&q=gaochang+But+equally+significant+was+the+fact+that+this+was+the+first+area+with+a+largely+Chinese+population+where+those+introducing+the+new+doctrine+from+the+West+could+adjust+their+teachings+to+the+needs+of+that+population%2C+before+moving+on+. Retrieved 2011, May 17. 
  5. ^ Jacques Gernet (1996). A history of Chinese civilization. Cambridge University Press. p. 186. ISBN 0521497817. http://books.google.com/books?id=jqb7L-pKCV8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=gernet+china#v=onepage&q=chin%20central%20asia%20oases%20western%20division&f=false. Retrieved 2011 17 May. 
  6. ^ Jacques Gernet (1996). A history of Chinese civilization. Cambridge University Press. p. 200. ISBN 0521497817. http://books.google.com/books?id=jqb7L-pKCV8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=gernet+china#v=snippet&q=kao-ch'ang%20northern%20liang%20family%20turfan%20kingdom&f=false. Retrieved 2011 17 May. 
  7. ^ Ahmad Hasan Dani, ed (1999). History of civilizations of Central Asia, Volume 3. Motilal Banarsidass Publ.. p. 305. ISBN 8120815408. http://books.google.com/books?id=FcKtIPVQ6REC&pg=PA306&dq=Zhang+Mengming+chinese#v=snippet&q=10%2C000%20%20living%20in%20over&f=false. Retrieved 2011, May 17. 
  8. ^ Tatsurō Yamamoto, ed (1984). Proceedings of the Thirty-First International Congress of Human Sciences in Asia and North Africa, Tokyo-Kyoto, 31st August-7th September 1983, Volume 2. Indiana University: Tōhō Gakkai. p. 997. http://books.google.com/books?id=fAEUAQAAMAAJ&q=It+became+a+separate+kingdom+in+460+AD+when+Kan+Bozhou+had+been+propped+up+as+its+king+by+the+Ruan-Ruan.+The+period+of+Gaochang+Prefecture+in+the+history+of+this+district+had+prolonged+for+more+than+one+hundred+and+thirty+years&dq=It+became+a+separate+kingdom+in+460+AD+when+Kan+Bozhou+had+been+propped+up+as+its+king+by+the+Ruan-Ruan.+The+period+of+Gaochang+Prefecture+in+the+history+of+this+district+had+prolonged+for+more+than+one+hundred+and+thirty+years. Retrieved 2011, May 17. 
  9. ^ Society for the Study of Chinese Religions (U.S.), Indiana University, Bloomington. East Asian Studies Center (2002). Journal of Chinese religions, Issues 30-31. the University of California: Society for the Study of Chinese Religions. p. 24. http://books.google.com/books?id=9hMSAQAAIAAJ&q=was+killed+by+the+Avars,+and+Kan+Bozhou+H+f+6+ffl+was+installed+by+them+.+This+initiated+the+Gaochang+Kingdom.+Kan+was+followed+by+Kan+Shougui+HSU%22+If+,+Zhang+Mengming+?Sj%C2%A3B%5E,+and+Ma+Ru+Hfll+in+a+very+unstable+situation&dq=was+killed+by+the+Avars,+and+Kan+Bozhou+H+f+6+ffl+was+installed+by+them+.+This+initiated+the+Gaochang+Kingdom.+Kan+was+followed+by+Kan+Shougui+HSU%22+If+,+Zhang+Mengming+?Sj%C2%A3B%5E,+and+Ma+Ru+Hfll+in+a+very+unstable+situation. Retrieved 2011, May 17. 
  10. ^ Albert E. Dien, Jeffrey K. Riegel, Nancy Thompson Price (1985). Albert E. Dien, Jeffrey K. Riegel, Nancy Thompson Price. ed. Chinese archaeological abstracts: post Han. Volume 4 of Chinese Archaeological Abstracts. the University of Michigan: Institute of Archaeology, University of California, Los Angeles. p. 1567. ISBN 0917956540. http://books.google.com/books?id=-ORwAAAAMAAJ&q=The+Ruanruan+and+Kan+Bozhou+The+Ruanruan+were+a+strong+power+in+the+5th+C,+and+the+small+local+states+either+acknowledged+them+or+the+Tuoba+Wei+as+suzerain.+Kan+Bozhou,+who+seized+control+of+Gaochang,+relied+on+the+Ruanruan+for+support&dq=The+Ruanruan+and+Kan+Bozhou+The+Ruanruan+were+a+strong+power+in+the+5th+C,+and+the+small+local+states+either+acknowledged+them+or+the+Tuoba+Wei+as+suzerain.+Kan+Bozhou,+who+seized+control+of+Gaochang,+relied+on+the+Ruanruan+for+support. Retrieved 2011, May 17. 
  11. ^ Louis-Frédéric (1977). Encyclopaedia of Asian civilizations, Volume 3. the University of Michigan: L. Frédéric. p. 16. http://books.google.com/books?id=3kwOAQAAMAAJ&q=King+of+Gaochang.+He+fled+from+Bei+Liang+when+it+was+destroyed+by+the+Bei+Wei+in+469+and+became+a+king+of+this+Chinese+colony.+He+was+succ.+by+Yicheng+and+Shougui+who+was+the+last+king+of+the+Gan+family.+The+latter+was+killed+by+the&dq=King+of+Gaochang.+He+fled+from+Bei+Liang+when+it+was+destroyed+by+the+Bei+Wei+in+469+and+became+a+king+of+this+Chinese+colony.+He+was+succ.+by+Yicheng+and+Shougui+who+was+the+last+king+of+the+Gan+family.+The+latter+was+killed+by+the. Retrieved 2011, May 17. 
  12. ^ a b Jacques Gernet (1996). A history of Chinese civilization. Cambridge University Press. p. 253. ISBN 0521497817. http://books.google.com/books?id=jqb7L-pKCV8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=gernet+china#v=snippet&q=kao-ch'ang%20640%20chinese%20colonists&f=false. Retrieved 2011 17 May. 
  13. ^ a b ROY ANDREW MILLER, ed (1959). Accounts of Western Nations in the History of the Northern Chou Dynasty. Berkeley and Los Angeles: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS. p. 5. http://books.google.com/books?id=G5z04Q046UgC&pg=PA5&dq=Zhang+Mengming+chinese#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2011, May 17. East Asia Studies Institute of International Studies University of California CHINESE DYNASTIC HISTORIES TRANSLATIONS No. 6
  14. ^ Louis-Frédéric (1977). Encyclopaedia of Asian civilizations, Volume 3. the University of Michigan: L. Frédéric. p. 16. http://books.google.com/books?id=3kwOAQAAMAAJ&q=The+latter+was+killed+by+the+Gaoche+who+placed+Zhang+Mengming+from+Dunhuang+on+the+throne+of+Gaochang.&dq=The+latter+was+killed+by+the+Gaoche+who+placed+Zhang+Mengming+from+Dunhuang+on+the+throne+of+Gaochang.. Retrieved 2011, May 17. 
  15. ^ Ahmad Hasan Dani, ed (1999). History of civilizations of Central Asia, Volume 3. Motilal Banarsidass Publ.. p. 306. ISBN 8120815408. http://books.google.com/books?id=FcKtIPVQ6REC&pg=PA306&dq=Zhang+Mengming+chinese#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2011, May 17. 
  16. ^ Tōyō Bunko (Japan). Kenkyūbu (1974). Memoirs of the Research Department of the Toyo Bunko (the Oriental Library), Volumes 32-34. the University of Michigan: The Toyo Bunko. p. 107. http://books.google.com/books?id=uxUUAQAAMAAJ&q=A+Chinese+family+K'an+%7C$j+took+over+the+kingdom+from+the+Chii-ch'ii+Family+for+a+while.+Then,+two+Chinese+kings+named+Chang+Meng-ming+%3C%5E:SM+ancl+Ma+Hsu+,Hj%5E%7C+respectively+ruled+the+kingdom.+These+two+were+succeeded+by+Ch'ii+Chia+a&dq=A+Chinese+family+K'an+%7C$j+took+over+the+kingdom+from+the+Chii-ch'ii+Family+for+a+while.+Then,+two+Chinese+kings+named+Chang+Meng-ming+%3C%5E:SM+ancl+Ma+Hsu+,Hj%5E%7C+respectively+ruled+the+kingdom.+These+two+were+succeeded+by+Ch'ii+Chia+a. Retrieved 2011, May 17. 
  17. ^ Chang Kuan-ta (1996). Boris Anatol'evich Litvinskiĭ, Zhang, Guang-da, R. Shabani Samghabadi. ed. The crossroads of civilizations: A.D. 250 to 750. UNESCO. p. 306. ISBN 9231032119. http://books.google.com/books?id=883OZBe2sMYC&pg=PA306&dq=Zhang+Mengming+chinese#v=onepage&q=changs%20fans%20yins%20mas%20shihs%20hsins&f=false. Retrieved 2011, May 17. 
  18. ^ Chang Kuan-ta (1996). Boris Anatol'evich Litvinskiĭ, Zhang, Guang-da, R. Shabani Samghabadi. ed. The crossroads of civilizations: A.D. 250 to 750. UNESCO. p. 307. ISBN 9231032119. http://books.google.com/books?id=883OZBe2sMYC&pg=PA306&dq=Zhang+Mengming+chinese#v=snippet&q=hsi-chou%20district&f=false. Retrieved 2011, May 17. 
  19. ^ Jacques Gernet (1996). A history of Chinese civilization. Cambridge University Press. p. 238. ISBN 0521497817. http://books.google.com/books?id=jqb7L-pKCV8C&printsec=frontcover&dq=gernet+china#v=snippet&q=kao-ch'ang%20kingdom%20put%20and%20end%20&f=false. Retrieved 2011 17 May. 
  20. ^ 北凉且渠安周造寺碑

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