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Chapter 1
Changing Relations between Administration,
Clergy and Lay People in Eastern Central Asia:
A Case Study according to the Dunhuang
Manuscripts Referring to the Transition
from Tibetan to Local Rule in Dunhuang,
8th–11th Centuries
Gertraud Taenzer
1 Introduction
Dunhuang (敦煌), although situated at the Western end of the Gansu corridor
in Eastern Central Asia, had a predominantly Chinese culture. It was founded
during the Han period, 111 bce, as a Chinese garrison town, and despite the fact
that it was ruled by non-Han dynasties from the fourth to the sixth centuries,
Chinese culture prevailed. Before the Tibetan conquest of Eastern Central Asia
in the 8th century, Dunhuang was temporarily governed by the Chinese Tang
Dynasty (618–907, 唐) as a military province (Chin. dao 道) and its administra-
tive system was set up accordingly. Although Tibetan rule only lasted for about
six decades (from 787 to 848), it did leave a strong impact on the religious and
societal fields, which will be partly discussed in this chapter. Following the
demise of the Tibetan Empire (848), Dunhuang came under the local rule of
the Zhang (張, 848–c. 915) and Cao (曹, c. 915–11th century)1 clans. This period
is generally known in Chinese sources as rule of the ‘Return-to-Allegiance
Army’ (Chin. 歸義軍 Guiyi jun).
1 The date of the end of the rule of the Cao clan over Dunhuang is disputed. It certainly was
under Tangut rule by 1072. Guazhou succumbed already in 1036. It is suggested that from 1019
onwards Dunhuang was strongly influenced by the Uyghurs: Whitfield Roderick, Dunhuang
(München: Hirmer, 1996), 338.