Miran monastery, (near) Miran, Xinjiang, CN

Raw data

"The earliest constructions and the paintings at Miran are dated to the 3rd century C.E. (Stein, I, pp. 456-543), cited in Melikian-Chirvani (n.d.)

Fig.4: Buddhist stupa discovered by Stein's expedition at Miran (Stein 1912) - a photo reproduced in Rust & Cushing (2001)

"Miran was likely the capital of the ancient kingdom of Shan-Shan [… It] fell into ruin around the fourth century."
http://wikimapia.org/4546809/Miran-ancient-ruins

"Miran, now a historic site famous for its ruins of Buddhist monasteries, is southwest of Lop Nor (Lop Lake) in the Sinkiang Uighur Autonomous Region […]"
http://sawaal.ibibo.com/puja-and-rituals/what-miran-750409.html

"In ancient times Miran was a busy trading center on the southern part of the Silk Road, […] It was also a thriving center of Buddhism with many monasteries and stupas."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miran_(China)

"the kingdom of Shan-shan, a short distance east of Khotan. […] By about a.d. 400 Fahsien estimated that there were more than 4,000 monks in Shan-shan (Beal, I, p. xxiv). - Emeric (n.d.)

Input by: tmciolek, Aug 30, 2010

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 03 Oct 2013

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 200 m from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Miran monastery, CN.

General location of the Miran monastery, CN.
Lat 39.22666666 Long 88.97083332
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2010.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.22666666+88.97083332+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Miran%20monastery,%20CN)&ll=39.22666666,88.97083332&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Miran monastery

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • China:Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

  • Shan-Shan monastery

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx., Lat 39.22666666 Long 88.97083332 - based on the visual identification of the monastery ruins in satellite imagery, maps.google.com - tmciolek, 31 Aug 2010.

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries

  • [missing data]

6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village


7. The settlement's alternative/historical names


8. The settlement's coordinates


9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • Mahayana - Baumer (2003:46-47)

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

  • 3rd century CE (Stein, I, pp. 456-543), cited in Melikian-Chirvani (n.d.)

MBM chrono-tag 0200-32p 0233-66p 0267-99p - tmciolek 03 Oct 2013
0200-32p 0233-66p 0267-99p 0300-32c 0333-66c 0367-99c 0400-32c 0433-66p dated-el


12. Date-intermediate

  • [missing data]

13. Date-late

MBM chrono-tag 0400-32c 0433-66p - tmciolek 03 Oct 2013


14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing data]

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • Archaeological, pilgrim account

16. Additional notes

  • By about 400 CE Fahsien estimated that there were more than 4,000 monks in Shan-shan (Beal, I, p. xxiv) - cited in Emeric (n.d.)

17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

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