Zihe

Zihe (Chinese: 子合; Wade–Giles: Tzu-ho) is the name of a polity mentioned in ancient Chinese texts. Its exact location is a matter of debate, although it is usually assumed to be in modern south-west Xinjiang.

During the Former Han period (late 1st millennium BCE), Zihe was referred to as controlling the southern Silk Road town of Xiye (Chinese: 西夜; Wade–Giles: Hsi-yeh, later known as Karghilik). Xiye was also mentioned in the Book of the Later Han (1st and 2nd Centuries CE) as being distinct from Zihe.

Most modern scholars believe that Zihe and Xiye were one and the same. The reasons for this include the phonological similarities between the names Xiye and Zihe.

Other sources state that Zihe may be synonymous with Shahidulla (Xaidulla), more than 200 km (120 mi.) south-south-east of Karghilik. However, this identification is controversial.

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Fan Ye. "子合國"  [Kingdom of Zihe]. Book of the Later Han (in Chinese). Vol. 88 – via Wikisource.
  2. ↑ "西夜國"  [Kingdom of Xiye]. Book of Han (in Chinese). Vol. 096上 – via Wikisource.
  3. ↑ "Les pays d'Occident d'après le Heou Han chou." Édouard Chavannes. T'oung Pao 8, (1907) p. 174.
  4. ↑ Hill, John E. 2003. "Annotated Translation of the Chapter on the Western Regions according to the Hou Hanshu." 2nd Draft Edition.
  5. ↑ Fan Ye. "西夜國"  [Kingdom of Xiye]. Book of the Later Han (in Chinese). Vol. 88 – via Wikisource.
  6. ↑ Xinjiang, Rong (2018), "The Rouran Qaghanate and the Western Regions during the Second Half of the Fifth Century based on a Chinese Document Newly Found in Turfan", in Huaiyu Chen; Xinjiang Rong (eds.), Great Journeys across the Pamir Mountains: A Festschrift in Honor of Zhang Guangda on his Eighty-fifth Birthday, BRILL, pp. 74–75, ISBN 978-90-04-36225-3
  7. ↑ John E. Hill (July 2003). "Section 6 – The Kingdom of Zihe 子合 (modern Shahidulla)". Notes to The Western Regions according to the Hou Hanshu (2nd ed.). Washington University. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  8. ↑ Ulrich Theobald (Oct 16, 2011). "Pishan 皮山 and the states in the Pamir Range". ChinaKnowledge.de. Retrieved 3 February 2020. During the Later Han period the state fell apart in Xiye proper and the state of Zihe 子合 (modern name Shahidullah).
  9. ↑ Rong, Xinjiang (Feb 2007). "阚氏高昌王国与柔然、西域的关系" [Relations of the Gaochang Kingdom under the Kan Family with the Rouran Qaghanate and the Western Regions during the Second Half of the 5th Century] (PDF). Historical Research (in Chinese). ISSN 0459-1909. Retrieved 3 February 2020. 子合国在西域南道, 今和田与塔什库尔干之间的叶城县治哈尔噶里克 (Karghalik)
  10. ↑ 中国古代史 (in Chinese). 中国人民大学书报资料社. 1982. p. 54. 子合的位置应即今日帕米尔高原的小帕米尔东部,塔克敦巴什帕米尔南部地区,东延直至喇斯库穆及密尔岱西南山区一带。