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{{Short description|5th–11th-century Silk Road city in modern Kyrgyzstan}}
'''Suyab''' ({{zh-cpw|c=碎葉/碎叶|p=Suìyè|w=Suiyeh}}, also known as ''Ordukent'', modern-day ''Ak-Beshim'') was an ancient ] city located some 60 km north east from ], and 8 km southwest from ], in the ] valley, present-day ].
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|location = ], Kyrgyzstan
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|type = Settlement
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|built = 5-6th century
|abandoned = 11th century
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'''Suyab''' ({{langx|fa|سوی آب}}; {{zh|first=t|t=碎葉|s=碎叶|p=Suìyè|w=Sui<sup>4</sup>-yeh<sup>4</sup>}} ]: /suʌiH jiᴇp̚/), also known as ''Ordukent'' (modern-day ''Ak-Beshim''), was an ancient ] city located some 50&nbsp;km east from ], and 8&nbsp;km west southwest from ], in the ] river valley, present-day ]. The ruins of this city, along with other acheological sites associated with the Silk Road, was inscribed in 2014 on the ] ] as the ] World Heritage Site.<ref>{{cite web |title = Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor |url = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1442/multiple=1&unique_number=1985 |website = UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher = United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization |access-date = 17 Apr 2021}}</ref>


== History == == History ==
The settlement of ] merchants sprang up along the ] in the 5th or 6th centuries. The name of the city derives from that of the ],<ref name=Suyab>Zongzheng, Xue (1998). ''Anxi and Beiting Protectorates: A Research on Frontier Policy in Tang Dynasty's Western Boundary''. Harbin: Heilongjiang Education Press. ISBN 7-5316-2857-0. Pages 136-140, 212-215.</ref> The settlement of ] merchants sprang up along the ] in the 5th or 6th centuries. The name of the city derives from that of the ],<ref name=Suyab>Xue (1998), p. 136-140, 212-215.</ref>
whose origin is Iranian (''suy'' + ] ''ab'' for "water, rivers").<ref></ref> It was first recorded by Chinese pilgrim ] who travelled in the area in 629. He noted that the city had seven to eight '']'' in diameter and was settled by ] ("barbarian") merchants from various nations.<ref>Xianlin, Ji (1985). ''Journey to the West in the Great Tang Dynasty''. Xi'an: Shaanxi People's Press. p. 25.</ref><ref>Лубо-Лесниченко Е.И. Сведения китайских письменных источников о Суябе (Городище Ак-Бешим) // Суяб Ак-Бешим. СПб, 2002. Pages 115-127.</ref> whose origin is Iranian (in ]: ''suy'' means "toward"+ ''ab'' for "water", "rivers").<ref></ref> It was first recorded by Chinese pilgrim ] who traveled in the area in 629:<ref>Ji (1985), p. 25.</ref><ref>Ye. I. Lubo-Lesnichenko. ''Svedeniya kitaiskikh pismennykh istochnikov o Suyabe (Gorodishche Ak-Beshim)''. . // ''Suyab Ak-Beshim''. St. Petersburg, 2002. Pages 115-127.</ref>


<blockquote>''Traveling 500 ] to the north west of Great Qing Lake, we arrive at the city of the Suye River. The city is 6 or 7 ] in circuit; various Hu ("barbarian") merchants here came from surrounding nations congregate and dwell. The soil is favorable for red millet and for grapes; the woods are not thick, the climate is windy and cold; the people wear garments of twilled wool. Traveling from Suye westward, there are a great number of isolated towns; in each there is a chieftain; these are not dependent on one another, but all are in submission to the ]''.</blockquote>
During the reign of ] and his father, Suyab was the principal capital of the ].<ref>], 3rd ed. Article "Turkic Khaganate".</ref> The ] also had a summer capital near the springs north of ] in the ]; it was being noted as the westernmost capital of all Western Turkic Khaganate's capitals.<ref name=Tong>Zongzheng, Xue (1992). ''A History of Turks''. Beijing: Chinese Social Sciences Press. ISBN 7-5004-0432-8. Pages 284-285</ref> There was a sort of ], with the Sogdians responsible for economical prosperity and the ] in charge of the city's military security.


During the reign of ], Suyab was the principal capital of the ].<ref>], 3rd ed. Article "Turkic Khaganate".</ref> The ] also had a summer capital in ] near the springs north of ] in the ], the capitals are being noted as the westernmost capital of Western Turkic Khaganate.<ref name=Tong>Xue (1992), p. 284-285</ref> There was a sort of ], with the Sogdians responsible for economical prosperity and the ] in charge of the city's military security.
Following the downfall of the khaganate, Suyab was absorbed into the ], of which it was a western military outpost between 648 and 719. A Chinese fortress was built there in 679, and ] flourished. According to some accounts, the great poet ] was born in Suyab.<ref>Zhongguo fu li hui, Chung-kuo fu li hui. ''China Reconstructs''. China Welfare Institute, 1989. Page 58.</ref> The Chinese traveller ], who visited Suyab after 751, found among the ruins a still-functioning Buddhist monastery, where Princess ], daughter of ], used to dwell.<ref>Forte A. ''An Ancient Chiness Monastery Excavated in Kirgizia'' // Central Asian Journal, 1994. Volume 38. 1. Pages 41-57.</ref><ref>Cui Mingde (2005). ''The History of Chinese Heqin''. Beijing: People's Press. ISBN 7-01-004828-2. p. 244-246</ref>


Following the downfall of the khaganate, Suyab was absorbed into the ], of which it was a western military outpost between 648 and 719. A Chinese fortress was built there in 679, and ] flourished. According to some accounts, the great poet ] (Li Po) was born in Suyab.<ref>Zhongguo fu li hui, Chung-kuo fu li hui. ''China Reconstructs''. China Welfare Institute, 1989. Page 58.</ref> The Chinese traveler ], who visited Suyab in 751, found among the ruins a still-functioning Buddhist monastery, where ], daughter of ], used to dwell.<ref>Forte A. ''An Ancient Chinese Monastery Excavated in Kirgizia'' // Central Asiatic Journal, 1994. Volume 38. No. 1. Pages 41-57.</ref><ref>Cui (2005), p. 244-246</ref>
Suyab was one of the Four Garrisons of ] until ], when it was handed over to ] of the ], appointed by the Chinese court to rule as the "Loyal and Obedient Qaghan" of the Turks.<ref name=Suyab/><ref>Zongzheng, Xue (1992). ''A History of Turks''. Beijing: Chinese Social Sciences Press. ISBN 7-5004-0432-8. Pages 596-597, 669</ref> After Sulu's murder in 738, the town was promptly retaken by Chinese forces, along with ].<ref>Zongzheng, Xue (1992). ''A History of Turks''. Beijing: Chinese Social Sciences Press. ISBN 7-5004-0432-8. Pages 686</ref> The fort was strategically important during the wars between the ] and ]. In 766, the city fell to a ] ruler, allied with the nascent ].


Suyab was one of the Four Garrisons of ] until 719, when it was handed over to ] of the ], appointed by the Tang court as the "Loyal and Obedient Qaghan".<ref name=Suyab/><ref>Zongzheng, Xue (1992), p. 596-597, 669</ref> After Sulu's murder in 738, the town was promptly retaken by Tang Chinese forces, along with ].<ref>Zongzheng, Xue (1992), p. 686</ref> The fort was strategically important during the wars between the Tang dynasty and the ]. In 766, the city fell to a ] ruler, allied with the nascent ].
Of the subsequent history of Suyab there is little record, especially after the Chinese evacuated the Four Garrisons in 787. David Nicolle states that Suyab provided 80,000 warriors for the Qarluq army and that it was governed by a man known as "King of Heroes".<ref>Nicolle, David (1990). ''Attila and the Nomad Hordes''. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 0850459966. Page 32.</ref> ], completed in 983, lists Suyab as a city of 20,000 inhabitants. It is believed to have been supplanted by ] in the early 11th century and was abandoned soon thereafter.

Of the subsequent history of Suyab there is little record, especially after the Chinese evacuated the Four Garrisons in 787. ] states that Suyab provided 80,000 warriors for the Qarluq army and that it was governed by a man known as "King of Heroes".<ref>Nicolle (1990), p. 32.</ref> ], completed in 983, lists Suyab as a city of 20,000 inhabitants. It is believed to have been supplanted by ] in the early 11th century and was abandoned soon thereafter.

The area around Suyab briefly returned to China under the ] during the 18th century, but was ceded to the ] in the ] in 1864, along with ]. It became part of the Russian Empire's ]; following the completion of ] in Soviet Central Asia in 1936, Suyab was assigned into the ].<ref>{{cite web |title=葛剑雄:唐朝是中亚竞争的失败者(图) |url=http://news.ifeng.com/history/2/200611/1129_336_40626.shtml |website=ifeng.com |access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=1864年《勘分西北界约记》,失去44万平方公里,含此五大旅游胜地 |date=30 January 2020 |url=http://dy.163.com/v2/article/detail/F462BO9S05452OBQ.html |access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref>


== Archaeological site == == Archaeological site ==


The archaeological site of Suyab covers some 30 ]s. As a testimony to Suyab's diverse and vibrant culture, the site encompasses remains of Chinese fortifications, Christian churches, Zoroastrian ], and Turkic ]s. In the 19th century the ruins were erroneously identified with ], the capital of the ]s. ], who visited the site in 1893-94, also lent his support to this identification.<ref>Бартольд В.В. Отчет о поездке в Среднюю Азию с археологической целью // Сочинения, т. IV.</ref> Although excavations started in 1938, it was not until the 1950s that it was determined that the site had been abandoned as early as the 11th century and therefore would not be identical with Balagasun, which had flourished until the 13th century.<ref>Г.Л. Семенов. Ак-Бешим и города Семиречья. // Проблемы политогенза кыргызской государственности. – Бишкек: АРХИ, 2003. – с. 218-222.</ref> In the 19th century the ruins at Ak-Beshim were erroneously identified with ], the capital of the ]s. ], who visited the site in 1893–94, also lent his support to this identification.<ref>] Отчет о поездке в Среднюю Азию с археологической целью ("report on an archaeological campaign in Central Asia"), collected writings, vol. 4</ref> Although excavations started in 1938, it was not until the 1950s that it was determined that the site had been abandoned as early as the 11th century and therefore would not be identical with Balasagun, which had flourished until the 14th century.<ref>Г.Л. Семенов. Ак-Бешим и города Семиречья. // Проблемы политогенза кыргызской государственности. ("Ak-Beshi and the cities of Semirechya - problems of politogenesis in the Kyrgyz statehood") – Бишкек: АРХИ, 2003. – с. 218-222.</ref>

The archaeological site of Suyab covers some 30 ]s. As a testimony to Suyab's diverse and vibrant culture, the site encompasses remains of Chinese fortifications, Nestorian Christian churches, Zoroastrian ], and Turkic ]s. The site is particularly rich in finds of ] statues and stelae.<ref>Горячева В.Д., Перегудова С.Я. Буддийские памятники Киргизии ("Buddhist monuments of Kyrgyzstan"), pp. 187-188.</ref> Apart from several Buddhist temples, there were a ] church and cemetery from the 7th century, and probably also a 10th-century monastery with frescoes and inscriptions in ] and ]s.<ref>Kyzlasov L.R. ''Arkheologicheskie issledovaniya na gorodishche Ak-Beshim v 1953-54 gg.'' . // Proceedings of the Kama Archaeological Expedition. Vol. 2. Moscow, 1959. Pages 231-233.<br />Semyonov G.I. ''Monastyrskoe vino Semirechya'' ] Monasteries'']. // ''Hermitage Readings in Memory of ]''. St. Petersburg, 1999. Pages 70-74.</ref>

==See also==
* ]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|30em}}


=== Sources ===
The site of Suyab is particularly rich in finds of ] statues and stelae.<ref>Горячева В.Д., Перегудова С.Я. Буддийские памятники Киргизии, с. 187-188.</ref> Apart from several Buddhist temples, there were a ] church and cemetery from the 7th century, and probably also a 10th-century monastery with frescoes and inscriptions in ] and ]s.<ref>Кызласов Л.Р. Археологические исследования на городище Ак-Бешим в 1953-1954 гг. // Тр КАЭЭ. – т. II. -
* Cui, Mingde (2005). ''The History of Chinese Heqin''. Beijing: People's Press. {{ISBN|7-01-004828-2}}.
М., 1959. – с. 231-233; Семенов Г.А. Монастырское вино Семиречья // Эрмитажные чтения памяти Б.Б.Пиотровского: Тез. докладов. – СПб., 1999. – с. 70-74.</ref>
* Nicolle, David (1990). ''Attila and the Nomad Hordes''. Osprey Publishing. {{ISBN|0-85045-996-6}}.
* Ji, Xianlin(1985). ''Journey to the West in the Great Tang Dynasty''. Xi'an: Shaanxi People's Press.
* Xue, Zongzheng (1998). ''Anxi and Beiting Protectorates: A Research on Frontier Policy in Tang Dynasty's Western Boundary''. Harbin: Heilongjiang Education Press. {{ISBN|7-5316-2857-0}}.
* Xue, Zongzheng (1992). ''A History of Turks''. Beijing: Chinese Social Sciences Press. {{ISBN|7-5004-0432-8}}.


==References== ==External links==
* ("Suyab, or the fortified settlement Ak-Beshim") {{in lang|ru}}
{{reflist}}
{{Göktürks}}


] ]
] ]
] ]
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Latest revision as of 03:19, 26 October 2024

5th–11th-century Silk Road city in modern Kyrgyzstan
Suyab
Suyab is located in KyrgyzstanSuyabShown within KyrgyzstanShow map of KyrgyzstanSuyab is located in West and Central AsiaSuyabSuyab (West and Central Asia)Show map of West and Central Asia
Alternative nameOrdukent
LocationChüy Region, Kyrgyzstan
Coordinates42°48′18.8″N 75°11′59.6″E / 42.805222°N 75.199889°E / 42.805222; 75.199889
TypeSettlement
History
Founded5-6th century
Abandoned11th century
Site notes
ConditionIn ruins

Suyab (Persian: سوی آب; traditional Chinese: 碎葉; simplified Chinese: 碎叶; pinyin: Suìyè; Wade–Giles: Sui-yeh Middle Chinese: /suʌiH jiᴇp̚/), also known as Ordukent (modern-day Ak-Beshim), was an ancient Silk Road city located some 50 km east from Bishkek, and 8 km west southwest from Tokmok, in the Chu river valley, present-day Kyrgyzstan. The ruins of this city, along with other acheological sites associated with the Silk Road, was inscribed in 2014 on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor World Heritage Site.

History

The settlement of Sogdian merchants sprang up along the Silk Road in the 5th or 6th centuries. The name of the city derives from that of the Suyab River, whose origin is Iranian (in Persian: suy means "toward"+ ab for "water", "rivers"). It was first recorded by Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang who traveled in the area in 629:

Traveling 500 li to the north west of Great Qing Lake, we arrive at the city of the Suye River. The city is 6 or 7 li in circuit; various Hu ("barbarian") merchants here came from surrounding nations congregate and dwell. The soil is favorable for red millet and for grapes; the woods are not thick, the climate is windy and cold; the people wear garments of twilled wool. Traveling from Suye westward, there are a great number of isolated towns; in each there is a chieftain; these are not dependent on one another, but all are in submission to the Tujue.

During the reign of Tong Yabgu Qaghan, Suyab was the principal capital of the Western Turkic Khaganate. The khagan also had a summer capital in Navekat near the springs north of Tashkent in the Talas Valley, the capitals are being noted as the westernmost capital of Western Turkic Khaganate. There was a sort of symbiosis, with the Sogdians responsible for economical prosperity and the Gokturks in charge of the city's military security.

Following the downfall of the khaganate, Suyab was absorbed into the Tang dynasty, of which it was a western military outpost between 648 and 719. A Chinese fortress was built there in 679, and Buddhism flourished. According to some accounts, the great poet Li Bai (Li Po) was born in Suyab. The Chinese traveler Du Huan, who visited Suyab in 751, found among the ruins a still-functioning Buddhist monastery, where Princess Jiaohe, daughter of Ashina Huaidao, used to dwell.

Suyab was one of the Four Garrisons of Anxi Protectorate until 719, when it was handed over to Sulu Khagan of the Turgesh, appointed by the Tang court as the "Loyal and Obedient Qaghan". After Sulu's murder in 738, the town was promptly retaken by Tang Chinese forces, along with Talas. The fort was strategically important during the wars between the Tang dynasty and the Tibetan Empire. In 766, the city fell to a Qarluq ruler, allied with the nascent Uyghur Khaganate.

Of the subsequent history of Suyab there is little record, especially after the Chinese evacuated the Four Garrisons in 787. David Nicolle states that Suyab provided 80,000 warriors for the Qarluq army and that it was governed by a man known as "King of Heroes". Hudud al-Alam, completed in 983, lists Suyab as a city of 20,000 inhabitants. It is believed to have been supplanted by Balasagun in the early 11th century and was abandoned soon thereafter.

The area around Suyab briefly returned to China under the Qing dynasty during the 18th century, but was ceded to the Russian Empire in the Treaty of Tarbagatai in 1864, along with Lake Balkhash. It became part of the Russian Empire's Semirechye Oblast; following the completion of national delimitation in Soviet Central Asia in 1936, Suyab was assigned into the Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic.

Archaeological site

In the 19th century the ruins at Ak-Beshim were erroneously identified with Balasagun, the capital of the Kara-Khitans. Wilhelm Barthold, who visited the site in 1893–94, also lent his support to this identification. Although excavations started in 1938, it was not until the 1950s that it was determined that the site had been abandoned as early as the 11th century and therefore would not be identical with Balasagun, which had flourished until the 14th century.

The archaeological site of Suyab covers some 30 hectares. As a testimony to Suyab's diverse and vibrant culture, the site encompasses remains of Chinese fortifications, Nestorian Christian churches, Zoroastrian ossuaries, and Turkic balbals. The site is particularly rich in finds of Buddha statues and stelae. Apart from several Buddhist temples, there were a Nestorian church and cemetery from the 7th century, and probably also a 10th-century monastery with frescoes and inscriptions in Sogdian and Uyghur scripts.

See also

References

Citations

  1. "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 17 Apr 2021.
  2. ^ Xue (1998), p. 136-140, 212-215.
  3. Transboundary Chu-Talas
  4. Ji (1985), p. 25.
  5. Ye. I. Lubo-Lesnichenko. Svedeniya kitaiskikh pismennykh istochnikov o Suyabe (Gorodishche Ak-Beshim). . // Suyab Ak-Beshim. St. Petersburg, 2002. Pages 115-127.
  6. Great Soviet Encyclopaedia, 3rd ed. Article "Turkic Khaganate".
  7. Xue (1992), p. 284-285
  8. Zhongguo fu li hui, Chung-kuo fu li hui. China Reconstructs. China Welfare Institute, 1989. Page 58.
  9. Forte A. An Ancient Chinese Monastery Excavated in Kirgizia // Central Asiatic Journal, 1994. Volume 38. No. 1. Pages 41-57.
  10. Cui (2005), p. 244-246
  11. Zongzheng, Xue (1992), p. 596-597, 669
  12. Zongzheng, Xue (1992), p. 686
  13. Nicolle (1990), p. 32.
  14. "葛剑雄:唐朝是中亚竞争的失败者(图)". ifeng.com. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  15. "1864年《勘分西北界约记》,失去44万平方公里,含此五大旅游胜地". 30 January 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  16. Бартольд В.В. Отчет о поездке в Среднюю Азию с археологической целью ("report on an archaeological campaign in Central Asia"), collected writings, vol. 4
  17. Г.Л. Семенов. Ак-Бешим и города Семиречья. // Проблемы политогенза кыргызской государственности. ("Ak-Beshi and the cities of Semirechya - problems of politogenesis in the Kyrgyz statehood") – Бишкек: АРХИ, 2003. – с. 218-222.
  18. Горячева В.Д., Перегудова С.Я. Буддийские памятники Киргизии ("Buddhist monuments of Kyrgyzstan"), pp. 187-188.
  19. Kyzlasov L.R. Arkheologicheskie issledovaniya na gorodishche Ak-Beshim v 1953-54 gg. . // Proceedings of the Kama Archaeological Expedition. Vol. 2. Moscow, 1959. Pages 231-233.
    Semyonov G.I. Monastyrskoe vino Semirechya . // Hermitage Readings in Memory of Boris Piotrovsky. St. Petersburg, 1999. Pages 70-74.

Sources

  • Cui, Mingde (2005). The History of Chinese Heqin. Beijing: People's Press. ISBN 7-01-004828-2.
  • Nicolle, David (1990). Attila and the Nomad Hordes. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 0-85045-996-6.
  • Ji, Xianlin(1985). Journey to the West in the Great Tang Dynasty. Xi'an: Shaanxi People's Press.
  • Xue, Zongzheng (1998). Anxi and Beiting Protectorates: A Research on Frontier Policy in Tang Dynasty's Western Boundary. Harbin: Heilongjiang Education Press. ISBN 7-5316-2857-0.
  • Xue, Zongzheng (1992). A History of Turks. Beijing: Chinese Social Sciences Press. ISBN 7-5004-0432-8.

External links

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(552–581)
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(581–630)
Western Turkic Khaganate
(581–657)
Second Turkic Khaganate
(682–744)
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