Hotan Spring and Autumn

Author: Li Yinping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features:
1. The Uyghurs Return to the Tang Dynasty
In the mid-6th century, after the Western Turkic Khaganate destroyed the Tujue, it controlled the countries in the Western Regions. The Western Turks enfeoffed the kings of these countries as Khagan and stationed a Tujun to "supervise and oversee their tax collection." Due to the Western Turks' "long-standing cruelty and harsh laws," the leaders of the Western Regions harbored deep resentment. The kingdoms of Khotan, Persia, and Yutian rebelled, though it is unclear if they succeeded, and ultimately submitted to Western Turkic rule. While under Western Turkic control, Khotan retained a semi-autonomous status, with its own royal family and officials. According to the New Book of Tang, Khotan "since the Han Dynasty, has received imperial decrees and seals from the Chinese court, which have been passed down by the kings." This indicates that Khotan has always aspired to be part of the Central Plains dynasties. In the early years of the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, adopted a strategy of combining military strikes with political division, achieving some success but ultimately failing to seize the Western Regions from the Turks. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, he personally led an expedition against Tuyuhun to the Hexi Corridor. At that time, the Khotan royal family, the Yuqi clan, sent envoys to Emperor Yang along with the kings or envoys of other Western Regions countries, expressing goodwill. This also demonstrated that the Western Turks' control over the Western Regions was not strict, and Khotan actually had autonomy. In the 11th year of the Daye era (AD 615), Khotan sent another envoy to Chang'an to pay tribute. During this period, Khotan "frequently sent envoys to pay tribute," seeking support from the Sui Dynasty, but the short-lived Sui Dynasty ultimately failed to unify the Western Regions. In AD 618, the Sui Dynasty fell and the Tang Dynasty rose. In the early years of the Tang Dynasty, preoccupied with internal affairs and resisting the raids of the Eastern Turks, the Tang court had no time to attend to the Western Regions. In the fourth year of the Zhenguan era (AD 630), the Tang Dynasty defeated the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, shaking the Western Regions. Two years later, in AD 632, Khotan again "sent its son to serve in the court," which, on one hand, showed Khotan's desire to break free from Western Turkic control, and on the other, demonstrated great trust in the Tang regime. In the first month of the 20th year of the Zhenguan era (AD 646), when the Western Turkic ruler Yipishaji sent an envoy to the Tang court to pay tribute, he requested a marriage alliance. Emperor Taizong agreed but demanded that the Western Turks cede Kuqiqi, Khotan, Suolu, Zhujubo, and the five countries of the Tianshan Mountains as the betrothal gift. Due to various reasons, this request was never fulfilled. This was essentially a prelude to the Tang Dynasty reclaiming the Western Regions. In the 21st year of the Zhenguan era (AD 647), Li Shimin sent general Ashina Shidu and others to lead troops to attack the Khotan Kingdom, which was under Western Turkic influence. Upon hearing the news, the Khotan king Fuguo Xin immediately sent his son to the Tang army with 300 camels, showing strong support. When the war ended, the military historian Xue Wanbei suggested to Shidu: "After your defeat of Kuqiqi, the Western Regions will be terrified. I hope you can send a small force to escort the Khotan king to the capital." Shidu agreed and sent Xue Wanbei with 50 cavalry to Khotan. Upon arriving in Khotan, Xue Wanbei proclaimed the strength of the Tang regime to the Khotan king, urging Fuguo Xin to visit the emperor and submit to the Tang Dynasty. Fuguo Xin had long been friendly with the Tang and genuinely intended to surrender. Thus, he followed Xue Wanbei to Chang'an, the Tang capital, and stated that since Emperor Wu of Han, Khotan had solemnly preserved imperial decrees and seals from the Central Plains court, showing no forgetfulness of the Central Plains dynasties. Soon after, Emperor Taizong passed away, and Emperor Gaozong succeeded him. Emperor Gaozong appointed Fuguo Xin as the Right Guardian General and granted his son, Yabgu Dian, the title of Right Flying Guard General. He also bestowed a gold belt, brocade robes, 60 bolts of cloth, and a residence, treating him with great honor. A few months later, Fuguo Xin returned to Khotan and "requested to leave his sons and grandchildren to serve as guards." His son remained in Chang'an. According to the Geography chapters of the Tang Shu, Fuguo Xin's court visit occurred in the 22nd year of the Zhenguan era (AD 648), indicating that he stayed in Chang'an at least until the ascension of Emperor Gaozong in AD 650. The second year after Fuguo Xin's court visit, in the eighth month of the 23rd year of the Zhenguan era (AD 649), the remains of Emperor Taizong were buried in Zhaoling. At the time, stone statues of 14 ethnic minority leaders, carved in their true likeness, were placed outside the palace gates, including Fuguo Xin's statue. This shows the Tang government's high regard for Khotan and its king. It is likely that Fuguo Xin participated in Emperor Taizong's funeral rites. From the time Fuguo Xin paid court to the Tang emperor, Khotan came under Tang government jurisdiction and entered a golden age of economic and cultural prosperity in its history. P068-069