Kharosthi

Kharosthi stemmed from Indian Maurya Dynasty in B.C.3rd century (Northwestern area in subcontinent of South Asia, nowadays North Pakistan and Northeast Afghanistan) and it was a kind of ancient character which was popular in Central Asia. Also it was large-scale found in Khotan and Shanshan in Xinjiang Autonomous Region. It was phonetic character which consisted of syllable letters, including 5 vowels and 30 consonants. The style of writing was from the right to the left. The age of vogue was from middle period of 3rd century to 4th or 5th century. Later, it had disappeared for over one thousand years. The archaeologists had seen this kind of character on the Grecism Bactria’s coin of Central Asia until the end of 18th century. But it couldn’t be explained at that time. The name of this character was not united. Until A.D.1896, a French H.W.Bailey called it “Kharosthi” and ended the disordered situation of its names.

At the beginning of B.C.2nd century, Kharosthi had been spread from Gandhara to the south of Hindukush Mountains. The kings of Grecism Kingdom Bactria made lots of money consisting of two characters, one face was Greek and another face was Kharosthi. At the middle period of B.C.2nd century, Rouzhi who lived in Dunhuang and Qilian Mountains moved westwards to Amu Daria River and Syr River and they conquered Balkh (Bactria), and they followed the legend of using Kharosthi. In the next century, Rouzhi expanded quickly. They conquered Kabul River valley, Kashmir, Indus valley and the middle reaches of Ganges River successively and established Kushan Dynasty in Gandhara. As a kind of official character of Kushan Dynasty, Kharosthi was spread widely in Central Asia. When the King Kaniska was in power, he gradually used Brahmin. Kushan Dynasty began to break up in the middle period of A.D.3rd century. In the middle period of A.D.4th century, it was destroyed by Yanda and Kharosthi disappeared in India.

Kharosthi was popular in Khotan, Shanshan and Guici, the states of oasis surrounding Tarim Basin and it had been followed until the middle period of 5th century. Some scholars thought Kharosthi’s appearance in oasis states was related to the Kushan Dynasty’s immigrants moving to Tarim Basin. But we didn’t know the reason that this character became the official character in Tarim Basin.

Kharosthi found in Tarim Basin was basically divided into three areas: Khotan, Shanshan and Qiuci. There were many materials on Kharosthi writ of Shanshan. In 1874, a Britain mission set off from India to Yarkand. Its leader Francis collected lots of cultural relics, including two Chinese-Kharosthi coins in Kashi, Khotan and Yarkand. Later, Russian and French looked for the treasure and the materials related to Khatosthi were robbed.

The man who found more Khatosthi writs and got more achievement was a British Stein. He entered Taklimakan Desert three times and dug out many Khatosthi writs in Niya and Loulan sites, 721 pieces in Niya and 48 pieces in Loulan. Their contents were official documents, contracts and letters of Khotan and Shanshan.

Except that, Swedish Sven.A.Hedin, American E.Huntington, French P.Pelliot, Japanese Tachibana, Germany A.Grunwedel and A.V.Lecog stole cultural relics in Xinjiang and lots of previous writs were moved abroad.

Lots of unearthed Khatosthi writs and the research and explanation of Khatosthi writs let people understand Tarim Basin was the important area where Khatosthi writs were popular.

The writing materials of Kharosthi writs included wood, feather, paper and silk. The Kharosthi writ written in the wood was called wooden slip. According to their shapes, they could be divided into rectangle, oblong, role, and ellipse. The style of wood slip of Khatosthi writs was distinguished according to their purposes. For example, the order of the king was rectangle. Two wooden slips were overlapped and wrapped in flaxen thread, and its tie was sealed with clay and lute. Athena and other images of Achaean gods or adding Chinese seal characters were sealed in the lute, such as “Shanshan Duwei” (Duwei: title of the military officer sub-general). The wooden slip, which had the lute groove was seal slip and another was bottom slip. The face of the seal slip was indicated that it should be sent to someone and the text of it was written from the top right corner of the face.
For example: Kh1
(The face of the seal slip)
To Chief Executive Tamjkasa
(The face of the bottom slip)
The great king sent the order to the Chief Executive Tamjkasa, Lyipeya appealed for the court that his two cows were robbed, one was returned back, and another was prepared to be killed. This case should be judged detailedly by yourself according to the law. If he didn’t clear the case, he would be arrested.

(The back of the seal slip)
To send to the court
The rectangular wooden slip was the use form of letters and contracts, and it was made up of the seal slip and bottom slip. Few letters were written in the single wooden slip, sheep’s skin, silk and paper.

For example: Kh25
(The face of the bottom slip)
The Duke Kunala greet the respectful Lyipeya and inform by letter, you should know that the corn that was used to support the salary was in Peta Nagamra County. The salary of an attendant was three Milima and his provision was one Milima and ten Xi corn. When he arrives, you must offer fifteen Milima to Tuvasa and not skimp from it. You had made a decision in front of Pgita that the supply of Gamnavara should be offered by you. When the horses arrive, he should know it.

Other contents of the materials included account books, inscriptions, contracts and literature works.

From its discovery to the explanation, Kharosthi open a window to know the oasis states in ancient Lop Nur. So, many suspicions on the ancient Shanshan State could be revealed.

Compiled by www.travel-silkroad.com
Translated by www.xinghui.com
December 30th, 2000