east turkestan 299It is evident that during the Five Dynasties and Sung, Turfan had
much closer relations to the Khitan than to the Chinese, 19 recorded
missions against 7.
Karashahr
Karashahr was the next great oasis on the Northern Silk Route west of
Turfan. Its Chinese name since Han times was Yen-ch’i. There were no
documented relations between Karashahr and the Six Dynasties.
During the reign of Emperor Yang (605-617), envoys from the king
of Karashahr to the Sui court offered regional objects (Sui shui 83:10b;
Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5023; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao336:40b).
In the 7th month (July/Aug.) of 632, envoys from the king of
Karashahr to the T’ang court offered regional objects (Chiu T’ang shu
198:8b;Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 336:40b).
Until this time, Turfan had become wealthy through the caravan
trade on the Northern Silk Route passing through its territory. The
king of Karashahr therefore decided to bypass Turfan by develop-
ing a route through the desert in a southeasterly direction, linking
up with the Southern Silk Route west of lake Lob-nor. He informed
Emperor T’ai-tsung and presented fine horses. The king of Turfan
resented this development, attacked Karashahr in 632 and looted its
territory (Chiu T’ang shu 198:8b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6096; Wen-hsien
t’ung-k’ao 336:40b).
In the 2nd month (Feb./Mar.) of 635 and in the 2nd month (Mar./
Apr.) of 636, envoys from Karashahr to the T’ang court offered gifts
(Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024).
In 638, Karashahr was again attacked by Turfan, allied with the
Western Turks. The enemy burned settlements, and kidnapped men
and women. The king of Karashahr complained to T’ai-tsung, who
sent a Gentleman-of-the-Palace of the Bureau of Forestry to find out
the facts (Chiu T’ang shu 198:4a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6142).
In 639, Karashahr allied itself with the Western Turks. But it also
sent envoys with gifts to the T’ang (Chiu T’ang shu 3:6b; Tzu-chih t’ung-
chien p.6151).
In the 1st month (Jan./Feb.) of 640, envoys from Karashahr to the
T’ang court offered regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5024). That
year, the T’ang destroyed Turfan and annexed its territory. The com-
manding Chinese general sent an agent to Karashahr, proposing an
alliance. The king of Karashahr responded with another mission to