Protectorate of the Western Regions

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 imposed by Han China – between the 2nd century BCE and 2nd century CE – on many smaller and previously independent states, which were known in China as the "Western Regions" (Chinese: 西域; pinyin: Xīyù; Wade–Giles: Hsi¹-yü⁴).[1]

Garrisons of the Han dynasty

The modern Tarim Basin and surrounding areas.

"Western Regions" referred mostly to areas west of Yumen Pass, especially the Tarim Basin. These areas were later regarded as Altishahr (southern Xinjiang, excluding Dzungaria).[2] Previously, "western regions" was used more generally with Central Asia and sometimes even included parts of South Asia.

The protectorate was the first direct rule by a Chinese government of the area.[2][3] It comprised various vassal protectorates, under the nominal authority of a Chief Protector of the Western Regions, appointed by the Han court.

History

In the Han–Xiongnu War of the 2nd Century BCE the Chinese state established a military seat at Wulei (near present-day Cedaya 策达雅, in Bugur/Luntei County). They aimed to control the diverse peoples and cultures of the Western Regions at the time, including several groups who originated in Western Eurasia and/or who spoke Indo-European languages. These peoples included the Tocharian-speaking city-states, such as Ārśi (Arshi; later Agni/Karasahr), Kuča (Kucha), Gumo (later Aksu), Turfan (Turpan), Loulan (Krorän/Korla). By controlling the Western Regions, the Chinese would also keep the Xiongnu away from Inner China. The peoples of oasis city-states of Khotan and Kashgar spoke the Saka language, one of the Eastern Iranian languages.[4]

The seat was later shifted to Taqian (or Tagan; near modern Kucha), during the Eastern Han dynasty.[5]

Officially established in 59 or 60 BCE, Protector-General was the highest military position in the west during its existence. During its peak in 51 BCE, the Wusun nation was brought under submission.[3] After at least 18 different protector generals, of whose names only 10 of their names are known, the post was abandoned, by the time of Wang Mang's Xin dynasty in 23 CE.

In 74 CE, Emperor Ming of Han and his successor awarded the position (now with administrative obligations as well) to general Chen Mu. From 83 CE and the appointment of Ban Chao, the Protector-General was known as the Chief Official of the Western Regions.

On 29 July 107, a series of Qiang uprisings in the areas of Hexi Corridor and Guanzhong forced the abandonment of the post,[5] although it was resumed in 119.

In the 7th century, a successor administration, the Protectorate General to Pacify the West was established at Xizhou (Turpan) and moved later to Kucha.

Coins from the period, with inscriptions in both Chinese and the Kharoshthi script used by local Indo-European languages, have been found in the southern Tarim Basin.[6]

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

• Chen Mu 74－75
• Ban Chao 91－102
• Ren Shang 102－106
• Duan Xi 106－107

Maps

• 
  Asia in 1 CE. The Western Regions were at the centre of the map (south-west of the Xiongnu)
• 
  The Han dynasty (yellow) in 1 CE.
• 
  Modern Xinjiang, showing

    the Tarim Basin

    Dzungaria

  .
• 
  1st century BC

See also

• Chief Official of the Western Regions
• Han–Xiongnu war
• Han–Dayuan war
• Sogdia
• Tang dynasty in Inner Asia
  • Protectorate General to Pacify the West
  • Beiting Protectorate

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. "Xiyu Duhu" Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
3. 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. 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" (PDF). Sino-Platonic Papers. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: 56, 68–71. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
6. James A. Millward (2007). Eurasian Crossroads: A History of Xinjiang. Columbia University Press. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-231-13924-3.

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