Turfan monastic cluster, (in) Turpan, Xinjiang, CN

Raw data

"According to Wang Yan-de, there were more than 50 Buddhist temples in 981 in Turfan city." - Barat (n.d.)

"The Han Chinese pilgrim, Wang Yande (Wang Yen-te), visited the Yellow Yugur capital in 982, the year the Tangut Empire was founded, and reported more than fifty monasteries." (Berzin 1996 )

Yande - "Wang Yande Chinese ambassador Wang Yande (939–1006) was sent to the Karakhoja Uyghur Kingdom in AD 981–984. He is known to have stated: "I was impressed with the extensive civilization I have found in the Uyghur Kingdom. The beauty of the temples, monasteries, wall paintings, statues, towers, gardens, housings and the palaces built throughout the kingdom cannot be described. The Uyghurs skilfully make things of silver and gold, vases and pitchers."
http://www.silkroutes.net/SilkRoadTravel-IpekYolu/Y.htm
Input by: tmciolek,  Dec 17, 2010

“At the end of 10th century, a Chinese envoy, Wang Yen-te, found in Kaochang (near Turfan) a flourishing Buddhist culture with some fifty Buddhist convents and a library of Chinese Buddhists texts. Turfan remained the main center of Turkish Buddhism until the end of the 15th century when its ruler converted to Islam." - http://www.silkroadfoundation.org/artl/buddhism.shtml
Input by: tmciolek, Feb 15, 2013

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 15 Sep 2013

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 20 km from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Turfan monastic cluster, CN.

General location of the Turfan monastic cluster, CN.
Lat 42.9333 Long 89.1667
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2010.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=42.9333+89.1667+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Turfan%20monastic%20cluster,%20CN)&ll=42.9333,89.1667&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Turfan monastic cluster

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • China:Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

  • [missing data]

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates


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

  • [missing data]

12. Date-intermediate

  • Over 50 Buddhist temples in 981 in Turfan city." - Barat (n.d.)
  • MBM chrono-tag 0833-66p 0867-99c - tmciolek 15 Sep 2013
  • 0833-66p 0867-99c 0900-32c 0933-66c 0967-99c 1000-32c 1033-66c 1067-99c 1100-32c 1133-66c 1167-99c 1200=> dated-xl

13. Date-late

  • MBM chrono-tag 1200=> - tmciolek 07 Apr 2013

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing data]

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • [missing data]

16. Additional notes

  • Over 50 Buddhist temples in 981 in Turfan city." - Barat (n.d.)

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

  • [missing data]

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