kingdom · China, Tibet and Mongolia

Gaochang Kingdom

460 CE – 640 CE · capital Gaochang

A Chinese-ruled oasis kingdom in the Turpan basin that flourished on Silk Road trade and sponsored the pilgrim Xuanzang, before the Tang annexed it in 640.

Origins

Gaochang grew from a Han military colony in the Turpan basin into the seat of a commandery under Former Liang and its successors. After the Rouran Khaganate destroyed the Northern Liang remnant there in 460, it installed Kan Bozhou as King of Gaochang. After several short-lived dynasties, the Qu family took the throne around 500 and held it until 640.

Rule and society

Gaochang's rulers governed a largely Chinese population with Chinese-style offices, Confucian schooling and Chinese law, while paying tribute to the Rouran and later the Turks. Documents from the Astana cemetery record contracts, taxes and caravans trading silk, horses and slaves. Buddhism flourished: in 630 King Qu Wentai welcomed Xuanzang and funded his journey to India.

Decline and legacy

Qu Wentai allied with the Western Turkic Khaganate and blocked trade to China. In 640 the Tang Dynasty sent Hou Junji, Qu Wentai died as the army approached, and his son surrendered. Gaochang became the Tang prefecture of Xizhou.

Connections (3)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Gaochang Kingdom. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/gaochang-kingdom
MLA
“Gaochang Kingdom.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/gaochang-kingdom. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Gaochang Kingdom.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/gaochang-kingdom.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Gaochang Kingdom’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/gaochang-kingdom (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻