Kuqa[b] (/ˈkuːtʃə/ KOO-chə) is a county-level city in Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. It was once the homeland of the ancient Buddhist Kingdom of Kucha.
Kuqa
Kuchar, Kucha, Kuche, Qiuci | |
|---|---|
 | |
.png) Location of Kuchar County (red) within Aksu Prefecture (yellow) and Xinjiang | |
  Kuqa Location of the seat  Kuqa Kuqa (China) | |
| Coordinates: 41°43′N 82°58′E / 41.717°N 82.967°E | |
| Country | China |
| Autonomous region | Xinjiang |
| Prefecture | Aksu |
| Municipal seat | Yengisheher Subdistrict (Xincheng Subdistrict) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 15,200 km2 (5,900 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,072 m (3,517 ft) |
| Population (2020)[2] | |
| • Total | 530,328 |
| • Density | 35/km2 (90/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | |
| • Major ethnic groups | Uyghur[3] |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (China Standard[a]) |
| Postal code | 842000 |
| Website | www |
| Kuqa, Xinjiang | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uyghur name | |||||||||||
| Uyghur | كۇچار شەھىرى | ||||||||||
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 库车 | ||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Alternative Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 龟兹 | ||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
History
editAccording to the Book of Han (completed in 111 CE), Kucha was the largest of the "Thirty-six Kingdoms of the Western Regions", with a population of 81,317, including 21,076 persons able to bear arms.[9]: 156
In 630, Xuanzang, a well-known Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler and translator visited Kucha during the Early Tang period.
In the book "Hudud ul-'alam min al-mashriq ila al-maghrib", written in 982 by an unknown Arab or Persian writer, and presented to Abu'l Haret Muhammad, the ruler of Guzgan, the following is written regarding Kucha:
"Kucha is located on the Chinese border and belongs to China, but the indigenous people, Dokuzoguzes, at times are engaged in raids and looting. This city has many advantages."
Mirza Muhammad Haidar Dughlat, a military general, in his historical book Tarikh-i-Rashidi used the word "Kūsān" for Kucha.
Mahmud Kashgari, in his Compendium of Turkic Languages (Divân-ı Lügati't-Türk), wrote the following about Kucha: "It is one of the cities built by Zülqarnayin (Alexander the Macedonian).".[10] He also wrote that Kucha was a Uyghur town.[11]
.jpg)
In 1758, the Qing Dynasty took control of the area, and the Chinese character name 'Kuche' (
In 1991, there was a bombing attack at a Kuqa County government office and at an XPCC unit.[13]
In an interview with Radio Free Asia, an officer at the Kuchar County Police Department reported that from June to December 2018, 150 people at the No. 1 Internment Camp in the Yengisher district of Kuchar county had died, corroborating earlier reports attributed to Himit Qari, former area police chief.[6][7]
On December 20, 2019, Kuqa County was disestablished and Kuqa City was created.[14]
Ancient Buddhist kingdom in Kuqa
editMonasteries
edit- Ta-mu had 170 priests.
- Around Che-hu-li, on a hill north of the city of Po-shan, there were 50 or 60 monks.
- Another Monastery was founded by King Wen-Su (Uch-Turfan) and had 70 monks.
Convents
editThere were two convents in A-li (Avania).
- Liun-jo-kan: 50 nuns
- A-li-po: 30 nuns
Another monastery, Tsio-li, north of Kucha and a famous place where Kumārajīva's mother Jīva retreated.
Priests
editPo-Yen
editKnown as Po-Yen, a priest from the royal family who traveled to the Chinese capital Luoyang between 256 and 260 BC. He translated six Buddhist texts into Chinese within the year 258 BC.
Po-Po-Śrīmitra
editPo-Po-Śrīmitra is another priest from Kuqa who traveled Southern China between 307 and 312 BC and translated three Buddhist texts.
Po-Yen
editA second Buddhist priest from Kuqa, known as Po-Yen, also went to Liangzhou (present-day Wuwei district in Gansu). Although not so well known in China, he translated many texts.[15]
Climate
editGeography
edit_Kucha_mint._Dually_dated_AH_1281_and_RY_2_(AD_1864)._Legend_Said_Ghazi_Rashidin_Khan._Ithneen_in_Arabic._Reverse_Zarb_dar_al-sultanat_Kuqa,_1281_in_Arabic.jpg)
The city is located at the southern periphery of the Tian Shan range, the northern portion of the Tarim Basin, and the centre of the autonomous region. It occupies part of the northeastern portion of Aksu Prefecture, bordering Xinhe County, Xayar County, and Luntai County, Heiing County, and Lopnur County in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Region.
Kuqa has a continental desert climate (Köppen BWk), with an average annual precipitation of 74.6 millimetres (2.94 in), a majority of which occurs in summer. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from −7.2 °C (19.0 °F) in January to 25.3 °C (77.5 °F) in July, and the annual mean is 11.29 °C (52.3 °F). The frost-free period lasts for 266 days on average.[citation needed] With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 54% in March to 69% in September and October, sunshine is abundant and the city receives 2,712 hours of bright sunshine annually.
| Climate data for Kuqa, elevation 1,082 m (3,550 ft), (1991–2020 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 7.8 (46.0) |
14.3 (57.7) |
24.1 (75.4) |
33.2 (91.8) |
35.1 (95.2) |
38.2 (100.8) |
40.8 (105.4) |
39.5 (103.1) |
35.2 (95.4) |
28.5 (83.3) |
20.7 (69.3) |
9.2 (48.6) |
40.8 (105.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −1.7 (28.9) |
5.3 (41.5) |
14.1 (57.4) |
22.2 (72.0) |
26.9 (80.4) |
30.5 (86.9) |
32.1 (89.8) |
30.9 (87.6) |
26.4 (79.5) |
19.4 (66.9) |
9.7 (49.5) |
0.2 (32.4) |
18.0 (64.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.7 (18.1) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
7.7 (45.9) |
15.4 (59.7) |
19.9 (67.8) |
23.4 (74.1) |
24.9 (76.8) |
23.7 (74.7) |
18.8 (65.8) |
10.9 (51.6) |
2.7 (36.9) |
−5.5 (22.1) |
11.1 (52.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −12.8 (9.0) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
1.8 (35.2) |
8.9 (48.0) |
13.0 (55.4) |
16.4 (61.5) |
18.0 (64.4) |
16.9 (62.4) |
12.1 (53.8) |
4.4 (39.9) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
−9.9 (14.2) |
5.0 (41.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −23.4 (−10.1) |
−20.2 (−4.4) |
−8.4 (16.9) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
0.7 (33.3) |
7.5 (45.5) |
10.4 (50.7) |
7.6 (45.7) |
3.2 (37.8) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
−16.3 (2.7) |
−22.3 (−8.1) |
−23.4 (−10.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 2.6 (0.10) |
3.1 (0.12) |
1.6 (0.06) |
3.5 (0.14) |
9.3 (0.37) |
19.7 (0.78) |
13.0 (0.51) |
14.6 (0.57) |
6.2 (0.24) |
4.0 (0.16) |
2.7 (0.11) |
1.9 (0.07) |
82.2 (3.23) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 3.2 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 3.6 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.2 | 3.9 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 40.8 |
| Average snowy days | 5.2 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 4.5 | 14.2 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 68 | 55 | 38 | 34 | 38 | 43 | 46 | 49 | 53 | 56 | 60 | 70 | 51 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 186.9 | 198.4 | 231.4 | 245.1 | 278.5 | 280.6 | 291.9 | 277.1 | 255.7 | 247.4 | 204.4 | 166.3 | 2,863.7 |
| Percent possible sunshine | 63 | 65 | 62 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 64 | 66 | 70 | 74 | 71 | 59 | 65 |
| Source: China Meteorological Administration[16][17][18] | |||||||||||||
Administrative divisions
edit
Kuqa has 4 subdistricts, 8 towns, 6 townships and one other area under its administration:[19][20][1][21]
| Name | Simplified Chinese | Hanyu Pinyin | Uyghur (UEY) | Uyghur Latin (ULY) | Administrative division code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subdistricts | ||||||
| Reste Subdistrict | 热斯 |
Rèsītǎn Jiēdào | رەستە كوچا باشقارمىسى | reste kocha bashqarmisi | 652902001 | |
| Saqsaq Subdistrict | 萨克萨克 |
Sàkèsàkè Jiēdào | ساقساق كوچا باشقارمىسى | saqsaq kocha bashqarmisi | 652902002 | |
| Yengisheher Subdistrict (Xincheng Subdistrict) |
Xīnchéng Jiēdào | يېڭىشەھەر كوچا باشقارمىسى | yëngisheher kocha bashqarmisi | 652902003 | ||
| Sherqiy Subdistrict (Dongcheng Subdistrict) |
东城 |
Dōngchéng Jiēdào | شەرقىي شەھەر كوچا باشقارمىسى | sherqiy sheher kocha bashqarmisi | 652902004 | |
| Towns | ||||||
| Uchar Town | 乌恰镇 | Wūqià Zhèn | ئۇچار بازىرى | Uchar baziri | 652902101 | |
| Alakaga Town | Ālāhāgé Zhèn | ئالاقاغا بازىرى | Alaqagha baziri | 652902102 | ||
| Chimen Town | 齐满镇 | Qímǎn Zhèn | چىمەن بازىرى[22] | chimen baziri | 652902103 | |
| Dongqotan Town | 墩阔 |
Dūnkuòtǎn Zhèn | دۆڭقوتان بازىرى | döngqotan baziri | 652902104 | |
| Yaqa Town | Yáhā Zhèn | ياقا بازىرى[23] | yaqa baziri | 652902105 | ||
| Uzun Town | 乌尊镇 | Wūzūn Zhèn | ئۇزۇن بازىرى | Uzun baziri | 652902106 | |
| Ishxila Town | Yīxīhālā Zhèn | ئىشخىلا بازىرى | Ishxila baziri | 652902107 | ||
| Erbatey Town | Èrbātái Zhèn | ئەرباتەي بازىرى[24] | Erbatey baziri | 652902108 | ||
| Townships | ||||||
| Uchosteng Township | Yùqíwúsītáng Xiāng | ئۈچئۆستەڭ يېزىسى | Üch'östeng yëzisi | 652902201 | ||
| Biyixbag Township[25] | Bǐxībāgé Xiāng | بېھىشباغ يېزىسى | bëhishbagh yëzisi | 652902202 | ||
| Xanqitam Township | 哈尼喀塔 |
Hāníkātǎmù Xiāng | خانقىتام يېزىسى | xanqitam yëzisi | 652902203 | |
| Aqosteng Township | Ākèwúsītáng Xiāng | ئاقئۆستەڭ يېزىسى | Aq'östeng yëzisi | 652902204 | ||
| Aghi Township | Āgé Xiāng | ئاغى يېزىسى | Aghi yëzisi | 652902205 | ||
| Tarim Township | Tǎlǐmù Xiāng | تارىم يېزىسى | tarim yëzisi | 652902206 | ||
Economy
editAgricultural products include wheat, corn, rice, cotton as well as pears, apricots, melons, grapes, pomegranates, figs, etc. Specialty products include Sanbei Sheep (
As of 1885[update], there was about 99,200 acres (654,476 mu) of cultivated land in Kuqa.[27]
Demographics
edit| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 388,593 | — |
| 2010 | 462,588 | +1.76% |
| [20] | ||
As of 2015, 440,125 of the 492,535 residents of Kuqa County were Uyghur, 49,021 were Han Chinese and 3,389 were from other ethnic groups.[28]
As of 2002[update], the county had a population of 450,000.[citation needed]
As of 1999, 89.93% of the population of Kuqa County were Uyghur and 9.49% of the population was Han Chinese.[29]
Transportation
editKuqa is served by China National Highway 217, China National Highway 314,[26] the Southern Xinjiang Railway and Kuche Qiuci Airport.
Kuqa Town
edit
Kuqa is also the name of the central town (Chinese: 库车镇), located in the easternmost area of Kuqa. It is the second largest town of Aksu Prefecture. Its area size is 14,528.74 square meters and population 470,600, composed of fourteen peoples including the Uyghurs, Hans, Huis, and Mongols. Kuqa is a thriving town of oil and natural gas development of the Tarim Basin, and of tourism, as it was once the homeland of the ancient Buddhist Kingdom of Kucha.[citation needed] Its tourist attractions are:
Notable persons
edit- Qurban Mamut, former editor-in-chief of the official Xinjiang Cultural Journal (《
新 疆文化 》) and detainee in the Xinjiang re-education camps[30][31]
Historical maps
editHistorical English-language maps including Kuqa:
-
![Map including Kuqa (labeled as K'U-CH'E (KUCHA)) and surrounding region from the International Map of the World (AMS, 1950)[c]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/A-k%60o-su_NK-44_%281950%29_-_panoramio.jpg/230px-A-k%60o-su_NK-44_%281950%29_-_panoramio.jpg)
Map including Kuqa (labeled as K'U-CH'E (KUCHA)) and surrounding region from the International Map of the World (AMS, 1950)[c] -
Map including Kuqa (labeled as Kuga/ Kuche/ Kuqaxian) (DMA, 1981) -
![From the Operational Navigation Chart; map including Kuqa (K'u-ch'e) (DMA, 1985)[d]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Operational_Navigation_Chart_F-6%2C_6th_edition.jpg/331px-Operational_Navigation_Chart_F-6%2C_6th_edition.jpg)
-
Kucha in the Kushan Empire under Kanishka the Great
![Map including Kuqa (labeled as K'U-CH'E (KUCHA)) and surrounding region from the International Map of the World (AMS, 1950)[c]](https://trans.hiragana.jp/ruby/https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A-k%60o-su_NK-44_(1950)_-_panoramio.jpg)
![From the Operational Navigation Chart; map including Kuqa (K'u-ch'e) (DMA, 1985)[d]](https://trans.hiragana.jp/ruby/https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Operational_Navigation_Chart_F-6,_6th_edition.jpg)
Notes
edit- ^ Locals in Xinjiang frequently observe UTC+6 (Xinjiang Time), 2 hours behind Beijing.
- ^ The official spelling is "Kuqa".[4][5] Alternate spellings and names include Kucha, Kuchar,[6][7] Kuche, Kuchi, Kuchu, Kocha, Kuchel, and Kuga.[8]
- ^ From map: "THE DELINEATION OF INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES ON THIS MAP MUST NOT BE CONSIDERED AUTHORITATIVE"
- ^ From map: "The representation of international boundaries is not necessarily authoritative."
References
edit- ^ a b 库车
市 [Kuqa City] (in Simplified Chinese). 库车市 人民 政府 . 22 January 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2020.总面积1.52
万 平方 公里 ，辖8镇、6乡、4个街道 办事处， - ^ Xinjiang: Prefectures, Cities, Districts and Counties
- ^
民族 人口 (in Simplified Chinese). 库车市 人民 政府 . 22 March 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2020.库车县是以维
吾 尔族为主体 的 多 民族 聚居区 。 - ^ Zhōngguó dìmínglù
中国 地名 录 (Beijing, SinoMaps Press中国 地 图出版 社 1997); ISBN 7-5031-1718-4; p. 306. - ^ Complete Atlas Of The World (3 ed.). Penguin Random House. 2016. p. 238 – via Internet Archive.
Kuqa
- ^ a b Fred Hiatt (2 December 2019). "These journalists have confounded China's massive propaganda machine". Washington Post. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
It was Hoshur's Oct. 29 story that confirmed the deaths of 150 people over the course of six months at the No. 1 Internment Camp in the Yengisher district of Kuchar county, "marking the first confirmation of mass deaths since the camps were introduced in 2017," as the story notes.
- ^ a b Shohret Hoshur; Joshua Lipes (29 October 2019). "At Least 150 Detainees Have Died in One Xinjiang Internment Camp: Police Officer". Radio Free Asia. Translated by Mamatjan Juma. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- ^ Kuqa, China Page (in English)
- ^ Hulsewé, Anthony François Paulus Hulsewé (1979). China in Central Asia: The Early Stage: 125 BC – AD 23 ; an Annotated Transl. of Chapters 61 and 96 of the History of the Former Han Dynasty. With an Introd. by M.A.N.Loewe. Brill Archive. ISBN 90-04-05884-2.
- ^ Atalay, Besim (2006). Divanü Lügati't – Türk. Ankara: Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi. ISBN 975-16-0405-2, Cilt I, sayfa 113, Cilt III, sayfa 219 ve 238
- ^ Atalay, Besim (2006). Divanü Lügati't – Türk. Ankara: Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi. ISBN 975-16-0405-2, Cilt III, sayfa 219
- ^
西域 历史中 的 龟兹. 龟兹网. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2020.乾 隆 二 十 三 年 (1758)，龟兹归入清朝 版 图，定 名 库车。 - ^ Justin V. Hastings (December 2011). "Charting the Course of Uyghur Unrest". The China Quarterly (208): 901. JSTOR 41447781. (Sourced to the Xinjiang Public Security Gazette (
新 疆通志 ·公安 志 ), pages 81–83) - ^ Chen Xinhui (陈新辉), Han Ting (韩婷), ed. (21 December 2019).
国 务院批准 撤销库车县设立 县级库车市 . People's Daily Online (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 14 July 2020. - ^ Nath Puri, Baij (1987). Buddhism in Central Asia. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 75–85.
- ^
中国 气象数 据 网 – WeatherBk Data (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 10 October 2023. - ^
"Experience Template"
中国 气象数 据 网 (in Simplified Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Retrieved 10 October 2023. - ^
中国 地面 国 际交换站气候标准值月值数据 集 （1971－2000年 ） (in Chinese). China Meteorological Administration. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved 2010-05-04. - ^ 2019
年 统计用 区 划代码和城 乡划分 代 码：库车县 [2019 Statistical Area Numbers and Rural-Urban Area Numbers: Kuqa County] (in Simplified Chinese). National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China. 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.统计
用 区 划代码名称 652923001000 热斯坦 街道 652923002000 萨克萨克街道 652923003000新城 街道 652923004000 东城街道 652923101000 乌恰镇 652923102000阿 拉 哈格镇 652923103000 齐满镇 652923104000 墩阔坦 镇 652923105000牙 哈镇 652923106000 乌尊镇 652923107000伊西 哈拉镇 652923108000二 八 台 镇 652923201000玉 奇 吾 斯塘乡 652923202000比 西 巴 格 乡 652923203000 哈尼喀塔木 乡 652923204000阿 克 吾 斯塘乡 652923205000阿 格 乡 652923206000塔 里 木 乡 652923500000 库车经济技 术开发区 - ^ a b 库车县历
史 沿革 [Kuqa County Historical Development] (in Simplified Chinese). XZQH.org. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2020.2010
年 第 六 次 人口 普 查，库车县常住 总人口 462588人 ，其中：热斯坦 街道 13298人 ，萨克萨克街道 18156人 ，新城 街道 44184人 ，东城街道 27114人 ，乌恰镇41557人 ，阿 拉 哈格镇38197人 ，齐满镇35871人 ，墩阔坦 镇17965人 ，牙 哈镇31856人 ，乌尊镇29243人 ，依 西 哈拉镇32132人 ，雅 克 拉 镇1029人 ，玉 奇 吾 斯塘乡27355人 ，比 西 巴 格 乡26131人 ，哈尼喀塔木 乡35430人 ，阿 克 吾 斯塘乡16027人 ，阿 格 乡6960人 ，塔 里 木 乡3877人 ，水 电二 处2260人 ，二 八 台 农场4413人 ，良 种繁胄场2678人 ，库孜翁 牧 场1551人 ，草 湖 牧 场1136人 ，库车种羊场3008人 ，库车监狱360人 ，克 其力克 农场800人 。 - ^ Communication Construction Administration Bureau of Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region (September 2007). "PRC: Xinjiang Regional Road Improvement Project (Korla-Kuqa Section)" (PDF). Asian Development Bank. p. 76. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
Distribution of Rural Poor Population in Kuche County{...}No. Town（ship）{...}1 Hanikatamu{...}2 Talimu{...}3 Akewusitang{...}4 Age{...}5 Yuqiwusitang{...}6 Bixibage{...}7 Wuqia{...}8 Yixihala{...}9 Yaha{...}10 Wuzun{...}11 Qiman{...}12 Dunkuotan{...}13 Alahage{...}
- ^ چىمەن (Variant Non-Roman Script – VS) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
- ^ ياقا (Variant Non-Roman Script – VS) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
- ^ ئەرباتەي (Variant Non-Roman Script – VS) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
- ^ Biyixbag (Approved – N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
- ^ a b
夏 征 农; 陈至立 , eds. (September 2009).辞 海 ：第 六 版 彩 图本 [Cihai (Sixth Edition in Color)] (in Chinese).上海 . Shanghai:上海 辞 书出版 社 . Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House. p. 1264. ISBN 978-7-5326-2859-9. - ^ Herold J. Wiens (November 1966). "Cultivation Development and Expansion in China's Colonial Realm in Central Asia". The Journal of Asian Studies. 26 (1): 75. doi:10.2307/2051832. JSTOR 2051832. S2CID 162339064.
- ^ 3–7
各地 、州 、市 、县(市 )分 民族 人口 数 (in Simplified Chinese). Statistic Bureau of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Archived from the original on 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2017-09-03. - ^ Morris Rossabi, ed. (2004). Governing China's Multiethnic Frontiers (PDF). University of Washington Press. p. 179. ISBN 0-295-98390-6.
- ^ Shohret Hoshur, Joshua Lipes (9 June 2020). "Prominent Uyghur Journalist Confirmed Detained After Nearly Three Years". Radio Free Asia. Translated by Elise Anderson. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ Austin Ramzy (5 January 2019). "China Targets Prominent Uighur Intellectuals to Erase an Ethnic Identity". New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
External links
edit
