Hotan

Quick Facts: Who was Hotan?

Subject:

Hotan

Known for:

Major oasis town in Xinjiang, China, situated on the historic Silk Road.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Hotan is a major oasis town in southwestern Xinjiang, an autonomous region in Northwestern China. The city proper of Hotan broke off from the larger Hotan County to become an administrative area in its own right in August 1984. It is the seat of Hotan Prefecture. With a population of 408,900 (2018 census), Hotan is situated in the Tarim Basin some 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) southwest of the regional capital, Ürümqi. It lies just north of the Kunlun Mountains, which are crossed by the Sanju, Hindutash and Ilchi passes.

Career & Major Achievements

The town, located southeast of Yarkant County and populated almost exclusively by Uyghurs, is a minor agricultural center. An important station on the southern branch of the historic Silk Road, Hotan has always depended on two strong rivers, the Karakash River and the White Jade River, to provide the water needed to survive on the southwestern edge of the vast Taklamakan Desert. The White Jade River still provides water and irrigation for the town and oasis. Hotan and its surrounding area were originally known as Godana in ancient Sanskrit cosmological texts. The Chinese transcribed the name as 于窴, pronounced Gudana in Middle Chinese (Yutian in modern Standard Chinese); the pronunciation eventually morphed into Khotan.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In the 7th century, the Chinese Buddhist monk and scholar Xuanzang attempted to remedy this lexical change. Xuanzang, who was well-versed in Sanskrit, proposed that the traditional name was in fact Kustana (गौस्तन) and asserted it meant "breast of the earth". However, this was likely borrowed from the Tibetan name for the region, Gosthana, which means "land of cows". It is therefore most likely that the original name of Hotan was Sanskritic in origin, a consequence of ancient Indian settlement in the region. An alternative etymology is proposed by Harold Walter Bailey, an expert in the Khotanese language.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1984: 1984 Milestone — The city proper of Hotan broke off from the larger Hotan County to become an administrative area in its own right in August 1984.
2. 2018: 2018 Milestone — With a population of 408,900 (2018 census), Hotan is situated in the Tarim Basin some 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) southwest of the regional capital, Ürümqi.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Hotan

True or False: “The Sampul cemetery excavations exclusively date from the period between 300 BCE and 100 CE.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While early findings range to this time, later studies have indicated a more complex and extended history of habitation in the region.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Hotan