Golden Sand Dunes in the Kumtag Desert, China. Photo by Liu Guangxi.
Treasures of Khotan:
Khotanese History, Literature and Art International Conference and Field Study
June 25-30, 2025
Hetian, Xinjiang, China
This conference will be jointly hosted and organized by Hotan Academy and the Buddhist Art and Texts Research Center at Peking University. It is scheduled to take place in Hetian/Hotan, Xinjiang, from June 25-30, 2025. The schedule is as follows: arrival on June 25, full conference sessions on June 26-27, field research trips (tentatively, to Damiku/Damagou 達瑪溝, Rawak 熱瓦克, Hotan Cultural Museum 和田博物館, and Mount Niujiao 牛角山 or Niutou 牛頭山 (Mt. Gośīrṣa)] on June 28-29, and departure on June 30.
Khotan, also written as Hotan, and known among ancient Chinese as Yutian 于闐, is located in Xinjiang and is traditionally regarded as a key point of the ‘Jade Road’ 玉石之路 or Silkroad, which historically connected the East and West across the desert. This region has long been a cultural crossroads, rich in historical and cultural heritage. It has been home to numerous ethnic groups, including Indo-European, Mongoloid, and ancient Eurasian peoples, who lived harmoniously together. The linguistic diversity of the region is especially notable, with Indo-Aryan, Iranian, Eastern Hu, and Sino-Tibetan languages once widely spoken.
The Khotan region was originally home to a mix of Indo-Scythians from northern India and descendants of Eastern royalty. Buddhism took root here early, and as a result, Gāndhārī became the official language. In fact, the world’s oldest surviving Buddhist scriptures were written in this language. Archaeological finds in both Khotan and Central Plains have unearthed a large number of bilingual Chinese- Gāndhārī coins, a product of this period. In the first century CE, Ban Chao’s 班超 (32-102) governance of the Western Regions focused heavily on Khotan, strengthening the region’s ties with the Chinese heartland. This connection had a profound and lasting impact on the development of Buddhism in China.
In its early days, Khotan was home to many monasteries of early Buddhist sects, including the well-known Zanmo Monastery 贊摩寺, Wangxin Monastery 王新寺, and Niujiao shan Monastery 牛角山寺, the latter being where the famous Gāndhārī version of the Faju jing 法句經 [Skt. Dhammapada; Dharma-phrase Sūtra] was discovered. By the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589), Mahāyāna Buddhism flourished in the region, and large monasteries such as the Qumodi Monastery 瞿摩帝寺, which housed over 3,000 Mahāyāna monks, emerged. This monastery endured until the 11th century when it was destroyed by fire during a warfare.
Many important Mahāyāna Buddhist scriptures, such as the Fangguang bore jing 放光般若經 [Skt. Pañcaviṃśati-sāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā sūtra; Radiant Wisdom Sutra], the Jin guangming jing 金光明經 [Skt. Suvarṇa-prabhāsôttama sūtra; Golden Light Sūtra], and the Huayan jing 華嚴經 [Skt. Avataṃsaka sūtra; Flower Garland Sūtra], were either transmitted or translated in connection with Khotan. Renowned monks like Kumārajīva (344-413) and Xuanzang 玄奘 (602-664) also passed through or resided in Khotan. The region also became famous for its rich Buddhist artistic heritage, including cave temples, murals, and sculptures. These artworks, along with the numerous Buddhist texts unearthed there, attest to the region’s once-thriving Buddhist culture.
Starting in the tenth century, with the migration of the Uyghurs into the Khotan region, Islam gradually replaced Buddhism as the dominant religion. This transformation was a slow process, spanning several centuries. Nearly every major ancient religion that passed through the Silk Road left its mark on Khotan, making the region a living testament to the cultural exchange and mutual learning that has shaped human civilization.
The symposium aims to explore the history of ancient Khotan in depth, with a particular focus on its Buddhist history, literature, and art. Additionally, we will examine how Khotan historically became a key hub for cultural exchange and interaction. This international conference will cover, but is not limited to, the following key topics:
- The historyof Khotan: From ancient kingdom to modern city;
- The spread and development of Buddhism in Khotan: Religious beliefs and social change;
- Khotanese literature: Philological and linguistic analysis;
- Khotanese Buddhist art: Cave temples, murals, and sculptures;
- The rise of the Uyghurs and the Islamization of Khotan: Cultural integration and conflict;
- Khotan and the Silk Road: Economic trade and cultural exchange;
- Archaeological discoveries and the preservation of cultural relics in Khotan;
- The political system and social structure of ancient Khotan;
- Preservation and transmission of cultural heritage: Modern challenges and solutions;
- Khotan in a multicultural context: Historical reflections and future outlook.
The organizing committee warmly invites scholars from around the world to join this conference in exploring and discussing the rich history and culture of the Khotan region. The committee hopes to bring together insights and expertise to drive forward research in this field. The conference organizers will cover accommodation and meals during the event. Depending on available funds, full or partial travel stipends may also be offered to participants who need financial assistance. Please submit your research proposal and CV by email to frogbear.project@ubc.ca by December 20, 2024.
A collection of papers from the conference, in both Chinese and English, will be published. Scholars who can confidently complete a draft by mid-June 2025 and a final, publishable version by late September 2025 are encouraged to apply. We look forward to your participation and contribution as we delve into the history and cultural heritage of this ancient region.
