Treasures of Khotan: Multidisciplinary Studies on Khotan as a Hub for Religious and Cultural Exchanges

Dear Colleagues,

Khotan, or Hotan, and known in ancient Chinese as Yutian 于闐, is traditionally regarded as a key point of the ‘Jade Road’ 玉石之路, or Silk Road, which historically connected the East and West across the desert. This region has long been a cultural crossroads, rich in historical and cultural heritage. It has been home to numerous ethnic groups, including Indo-European, Mongoloid, and ancient Eurasian peoples, who lived harmoniously together. The linguistic diversity of the region is especially notable, with Indo-Aryan, Iranian, Eastern Hu, and Sino-Tibetan languages once widely spoken.

The Khotan region was originally home to a mix of Indo-Scythians from northern India and descendants of Eastern royalty. Buddhism took root here early, and as a result, Gāndhārī became the official language. In fact, the world’s oldest surviving Buddhist scriptures were written in this language. Archaeological finds in both Khotan and Central Plains have unearthed a large number of bilingual Chinese- Gāndhārī coins, a product of this period. In the first century CE, Ban Chao’s 班超 (32-102) governance of the Western Regions focused heavily on Khotan, strengthening the region’s ties with the Chinese heartland. This connection had a profound and lasting impact on the development of Buddhism in China.

In its early days, Khotan was home to many monasteries of early Buddhist sects, including the well-known Zanmo Monastery 贊摩寺, Wangxin Monastery 王新寺, and Niujiao shan Monastery 牛角山寺, the latter being where the famous Gāndhārī version of the Faju jing 法句經 [Skt. Dhammapada; Dharma-phrase Sūtra] was discovered. By the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589), Mahāyāna Buddhism flourished in the region, and large monasteries such as the Qumodi Monastery 瞿摩帝寺, which housed over 3,000 Mahāyāna monks, emerged. This monastery endured until the 11th century when it was destroyed by fire during a warfare.

Many important Mahāyāna Buddhist scriptures, such as the Fangguang bore jing 放光般若經 [Skt. Pañcaviṃśati-sāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā sūtra; Radiant Wisdom Sutra], the Jin guangming jing 金光明經 [Skt. Suvarṇa-prabhāsôttama sūtra; Golden Light Sūtra], and the Huayan jing 華嚴經 [Skt. Avataṃsaka sūtra; Flower Garland Sūtra], were either transmitted or translated in connection with Khotan. Renowned monks like Kumārajīva (344-413) and Xuanzang 玄奘 (602-664) also passed through or resided in Khotan. The region also became famous for its rich Buddhist artistic heritage, including cave temples, murals, and sculptures. These artworks, along with the numerous Buddhist texts unearthed there, attest to the region’s once-thriving Buddhist culture.

Starting in the tenth century, with the migration of the Uyghurs into the Khotan region, Islam gradually replaced Buddhism as the dominant religion. This transformation was a slow process, spanning several centuries. Nearly every major ancient religion that passed through the Silk Road left its mark on Khotan, making the region a living testament to the cultural exchange and mutual learning that has shaped human civilization.

This Special Issue aims to explore the history of ancient Khotan in depth, with a particular focus on its Buddhist history, literature, and art. Additionally, we will examine how Khotan historically became a key hub for cultural and religious exchange and interaction. This Special Issue will cover, but is not limited to, the following key topics:

• The spread and development of Buddhism in Khotan: religious beliefs and social change;
• Khotanese Buddhist art: cave temples, murals, and sculptures;
• The rise of the Uyghurs and the Islamization of Khotan: cultural integration and conflict;
• Archaeological discoveries and the preservation of cultural relics in Khotan;
• Khotan in a multicultural context: Historical reflections and future outlook.

Prof. Dr. Ru Zhan
Prof. Dr. Jinhua Chen
Guest Editors

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