Hotan history

Hotan is one of the most ancient oasis cities, with a history inextricably linked to the Great Silk Road. Its emergence and development amidst the harsh landscapes of the Taklamakan Desert is a striking example of how geography, trade, and culture can create a thriving centre of civilisation. Located at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains, Hotan served as a vital stop for caravans, becoming a natural gateway on the route from ancient China to India and Persia.

The exact date of the city's founding is lost in the centuries, but the first settlements in the oasis territory existed as early as the 1st millennium BC. Hotan gained fame as the capital of an ancient Buddhist kingdom that existed from the 1st to the 11th century AD. In Chinese chronicles of the Han Dynasty (2nd century BC – 2nd century AD), it was already described as a populous and important state on the southern branch of the Great Silk Road. The city owed its prosperity not only to transit trade but also to its own wealth. Since ancient times, Hotan has been the world's primary source of the famous white and green jade; mining this precious stone in local rivers formed the basis of the economy and brought the city fame far beyond the region.

For many centuries, Hotan was not only a trading hub but also an outstanding cultural and religious centre. It was one of the major strongholds of Buddhism in Central Asia. The Chinese monk Faxian, who visited the city in 399, described dozens of active monasteries where Buddhist art and architecture flourished. Furthermore, Hotan was renowned for its crafts. According to legend, it was here that the secret of sericulture was secretly smuggled out in the 5th century. The city was also famous for its carpets, considered the best east of Samarkand. Standing at the crossroads of civilisations, Hotan absorbed Indian, Persian, and Chinese influences, creating its unique and distinctive cultural identity.

Key Milestones in the History of Hotan

The history of Hotan is a chronicle of the rise and fall of one of the most important centres on the Great Silk Road. The city has survived changes in dynasties, religions, and cultures, each time making its unique contribution to the diversity of Central Asia.

• 1st–3rd centuries AD — Foundation and establishment of the Kingdom of Hotan, which quickly turned into a major Buddhist and trading centre on the southern branch of the Great Silk Road.
• 399 — The Chinese pilgrim monk Faxian visits Hotan and describes it as a prosperous Buddhist state with numerous monasteries.
• 5th century — According to legend, a Chinese princess, upon marrying the ruler of Hotan, secretly brings silkworm cocoons with her, initiating silk production outside of China.
• 632 — Hotan becomes a vassal of the powerful Chinese Tang Dynasty, strengthening its ties with China and ensuring the safety of trade routes.
• 7th–8th centuries — A period of maximum cultural flourishing, when art thrived in Hotan under the influence of Indian, Persian, and Chinese traditions.
• 1006 — After prolonged wars, Hotan is conquered by the Muslim Karakhanid state, ending the thousand-year history of the Buddhist kingdom and beginning the process of the region's Islamisation.
• 13th century — The territory becomes part of the Mongol Empire, and later its successor, the Chagatai Khanate, continuing to play the role of an important point on trade routes.
• 1274 — The famous Venetian traveller Marco Polo visits Hotan during his journey to China and describes it as a prosperous city.
• Mid-18th century — Hotan is definitively incorporated into the Chinese Qing Empire following its military campaigns in Central Asia.
• Early 20th century — European and Russian expeditions, including the famous explorer Aurel Stein, conduct excavations in the oasis, revealing lost languages, texts, and works of art of ancient Hotan to the world.

The history of Hotan is the chronicle of one of the most significant oases on the Great Silk Road, a city that for centuries served as a bridge between the civilisations of the East and West. Its development was defined by its unique geographical location, natural resources, and cultural exchange.

• Establishment on the Great Silk Road: Since ancient times, Hotan was a key point on the southern branch of the caravan trails. Located on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert, it served as a vital centre for rest, trade, and supplies for merchants travelling to China, India, Persia, and further West. This determined its economic prosperity and cosmopolitan character.
• World Capital of Jade: Long before silk, the region became famous for its white and green jade of the highest quality. For millennia, mines in the Kunlun Mountains and deposits in the rivers supplied this precious stone to the imperial courts of China, where it was valued above gold. This "Jade Road" was one of the first trade arteries in human history.
• Centre of Buddhist Culture: Starting from the 1st century AD, Hotan transformed into one of the most influential Buddhist kingdoms in Central Asia. Numerous monasteries were founded here, art flourished, and work was conducted on translating sacred texts. It was from here that Mahayana Buddhism actively spread to China and Tibet.
• The Secret of Silk Production: Legend has it that in the 5th century, a Chinese princess, having married the ruler of Hotan, secretly brought silkworm cocoons in her headdress, breaking China's centuries-old monopoly. Thanks to this, Hotan became an independent centre of silk production, famous to this day.
• Melting Pot of Peoples and Cultures: Throughout its history, the oasis was a meeting place for different peoples: Iranian-speaking Sakas, Tocharians, Indians, Chinese, and Turkic tribes lived here. This synthesis is reflected in the city's unique art, architecture, and traditions.
• Preservation of Craft Traditions: Despite the decline of the Great Silk Road, Hotan managed to preserve its ancient crafts. The city is still famous worldwide for its handmade carpets, "Atlas" silk fabrics, and exquisite jade carving, continuing traditions established many centuries ago.

Architectural Eras and the Look of Hotan

The architecture of Hotan is a living chronicle of its centuries-old history, reflecting the succession of cultural and religious eras. Located at the crossroads of civilisations, the city absorbed elements of Indian, Persian, Turkic, and Chinese architecture, which formed its unique and eclectic appearance.

Buddhist Era (1st–10th centuries)

During its heyday as a Buddhist kingdom, Hotan's architecture focused on monumental religious structures. The main materials used were adobe brick, wood, and clay. Many buildings were decorated with stucco and murals, showing the influence of Gandhara art (Greco-Buddhist style). Only the ruins of these structures have survived to this day, serving as important archaeological monuments. Significant sites of this period include:

• Rawak Stupa: Ruins of a large Buddhist sanctuary that was once a centre of pilgrimage. Archaeological finds testify to its former grandeur and rich decoration.
• Dandan Oilik Settlement: Remains of an ancient city and monastery complex buried by the sands of the Taklamakan Desert. Frescoes and manuscripts found here are invaluable sources on the history and art of the region.

Islamic Period and Traditional Uyghur Architecture (from the 11th century)

With the arrival of Islam in the 11th century, Hotan's architectural landscape changed radically. The construction of mosques, mausoleums, and madrasas characteristic of Central Asian Islamic architecture began. Simultaneously, distinctive Uyghur residential architecture developed, perfectly adapted to the local climate. Its distinguishing features are houses made of raw brick with flat roofs, mandatory inner courtyards serving as the centre of family life, and exquisite wood carving decorating columns, doors, and shutters. Key structures of this period:

• Id Kah Mosque: Although the most famous mosque with this name is in Kashgar, Hotan also has its historical Friday mosque, serving as the spiritual centre of the city. It represents an example of the region's traditional Islamic architecture.
• Imam Asim Mausoleum: An important pilgrimage site, the complex includes several buildings surrounded by a cemetery. The architecture of the mausoleum reflects local building traditions.
• Old City: Labyrinths of narrow streets with walls of clay houses, blank on the outside and opening into inner courtyards, still preserve the atmosphere of a medieval oriental city.

Modern Stage (20th–21st centuries)

In recent times, the urban development of Hotan demonstrates a sharp contrast between historical and new districts. Alongside the preservation and partial reconstruction of the old city to attract tourists, modern quarters are being actively built. They are characterised by wide avenues, multi-storey residential and public buildings executed in a standard modern Chinese style. This dualism reflects the transformation of the ancient oasis into a modern administrative and economic centre, striving to simultaneously preserve its unique heritage and integrate into global processes.

Distinguished Personalities in the History of Hotan

Hotan, having been an important centre on the Great Silk Road for centuries, is linked to the names of many rulers, scholars, and travellers. These people left a significant mark on its history, defining the cultural and political development of the city in different eras.

• The Legendary "Silk Princess" (circa 5th century) — a semi-legendary figure who played a key role in the city's economic history. According to tradition, a Chinese princess, upon marrying the ruler of Hotan, secretly smuggled silkworm cocoons out of China by hiding them in her hairstyle. This initiated silk production in Hotan, transforming it into one of the most important centres of silk weaving outside the Celestial Empire.
• Yuchi Yiseng (7th century) — a famous Khotanese painter who worked at the court of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. He was known for his unique painting style, which combined Central Asian and Chinese traditions. His works were highly valued at the imperial court and had a significant influence on the development of Chinese art.
• Yusuf Qadir Khan (died in 1032) — a ruler from the Karakhanid dynasty. His name is inextricably linked to one of the major turning points in Hotan's history. In 1006, his troops conquered the Kingdom of Hotan, ending its thousand-year Buddhist history and initiating the process of the region's Islamisation.
• Marco Polo (1254–1324) — the famous Venetian merchant and traveller. During his journey through Asia in the 13th century, he visited Hotan and left a description of it in his "Book of the Marvels of the World". He noted that the city was a thriving centre of trade and crafts, particularly highlighting cotton production and developed agriculture. His notes are a valuable historical source on life in Hotan during the Mongol era.
• Sir Marc Aurel Stein (1862–1943) — a British archaeologist and explorer of Hungarian origin. In the early 20th century, he undertook several expeditions to the region, during which he conducted large-scale excavations in the vicinity of Hotan. His discoveries, including the ruins of ancient cities and monasteries such as Dandan Oilik, as well as numerous manuscripts and artefacts, allowed the world to rediscover the rich Buddhist heritage of the ancient Kingdom of Hotan.