Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.6, 2013

 

A Study of the Site of the Western Regions Protectorate from the Perspective of Archeology

(Abstract)

 

Lin Meicun

 

The Western Regions Protectorate is located not in Yeyungou, Chadir, or the ancient city of Zhuoerkute (卓尔库特), Luntai County, but in Koyuk Shahri, in the southeast of Luntai County. This ancient city was encircled by two walls around the circular urban center of Wulei ［lei垒 fortress］. Wulei City, the capital of Wulei State, was one of the 36 states in the Western Regions. The state may have been named after the elevated platform in the round city. Outside the circular city was a square city of a kind common in the western regions after Han culture was introduced into the Tarim Basin. In the second year of the Shenjue reign period of Emperor Xuan in the Han dynasty, Zheng Ji set up the Western Regions Protectorate in this city. After Wang Mang’s reforms, the name Wulei City was changed to "Lielou City." As Protector-General Chen Mu died in this city, it was also called "City of Chen Mu." In the Northern Wei Dynasty, Wulei City was still in use. In History of the Northern Dynasties: Biography of Tang He, it was called "Liulü City," from Wang Mang's renamed Lielou City.