Archaeological Records of Hetian

Author: Li Yinping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: The ancient name of Hotan was Yutian. It had connections with the Central Plains as early as the 13th century BC and was unified into the territory of the motherland in 60 AD. For over two thousand years, it has always shared the same breath and fate with the motherland. Hotan is located in the southern part of the Tarim Basin. To its north is the vast Taklamakan Desert, bordering the Aksu region; to its south are the continuous Karakoram Mountains and Kunlun Mountains, bordering Tibet and the Indian-controlled areas of Kashmir; to its west is the Kashgar region; and to its east is the Bayanbuluk Mongol Autonomous Prefecture. Rivers originating from the Karakoram Mountains and Kunlun Mountains have nurtured numerous oasis areas, providing a favorable environment for human survival and development. Before the 4th century AD, the region of Yutian roughly corresponded to the basins of the Kalaqash River and the Yulongqash River; after the 4th century AD, it was roughly equivalent to the current Hotan Prefecture. This region is located in the central part of the Eurasian continent, at a crucial junction of west-east transportation. The central city is a historically formed hub of the southern Silk Road. Traveling south across the Karakoram Mountains or west over the Pamir Plateau from Yutian can reach Central Asia, South Asia, and even Europe, while traveling east along the southern edge of the Tarim Basin can enter the Central Plains. This unique geographical location made Yutian a hub for the exchange of politics, economy, culture, religion, ethnic groups, and more in Central Asia. Throughout history, Yutian has made contributions to the exchange between the East and the West while also evolving and creating its own unique history and splendid civilization.