Kucha – The Tocharian Buddhist Kingdom :: Kucha or Kuche (Sanskrit : कूचीन) was an ancient, romantic Tocharian Buddhist Kingdom founded to the north of the Taklamankan Desert on the Tarim Basin, situated in one one the primary branches of the Ancient Silk Road. Etymologically the word corresponds to – Kushan – in Indic scripts and is similarly reflected in Khotanese-Tibetan transcriptions. The Kingdom was one of the most populous Central Asian Oasis Metropolis on the Tarim Basin and was in communication with Sogdian, Bactrian, Iranian, Indian and Chinese Civilization and Cultures. The citizens in Kucha were chiefly of Indo-European origin and belonged to the Tocharian population, speaking the Tocharian language. Traditional Chinese accounts mentions an Indo-European group called Wusun with blue eyes and red hair, dwelling in the North-West of Kucha as early as 2nd BCE. The usual time period of the Kingdom is given to be founded before 111 CE and survived up to 648 CE (when it was conquered by the Chinese Tang Dynasty). According to the Chinese – Book of Han (being completed by 111 CE) – Kucha was the largest of the -- Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions. During the reign of Han China, Kucha initially put up defense against the aggressors and even allied with Kushan Empire of India to resist. But in 124 AD, Kucha made formal submission to Chinese Royal Court and became its western protectorate. During Chinese Control over the Silk Route and the Tarim Basin, Kucha acted as focal point for propagation of Buddhism and Art in Central Asia. However, after 150 AD, Chinese control over Tarim Basin receded and Kucha along with other City-States gained independence. By the end of 4th CE, Kucha became very rich and influential and controlled most of the trade along the Silk-Road. The Kingdom was highly fortified, with a magnificent royal palace and had numerous dedicated Buddhist temples and Stupas. It is ascribed that there were fortified cities everywhere in the kingdom with three-fold ramparts. The royal palace resembled like Elysium and had thousands of Buddhist religious buildings. This was the most culturally flourishing time for the kingdom, with Indian Sanskrit Texts and Scriptures were translated by Kuchean monks and in particular by translator Kumarajiva (344-413 CE), a monk of Kashmiri (Indian) and Kuchean origin. As regional struggle of the Kingdoms in Tarim Basin continued, Kucha was conquered by the Qin dynasty of China in 383 CE. The Kuchan army was as mentioned then to be heavily armored like the Sasanian chainmail. According to Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang Kucha (described around 630s) was rich in fruits and nuts and the land was suitable for grain and rice. The prevalent writing system was Indian in character and the population was honest, master in playing lutes and pipes and wee exotic I their clothing with ornament garments of silk and other embroidery. The Buddhism practiced there was of Hinayana sect of the school of Sarvastivada. The city was conquered by the Tang dynasty in 648 CE. [Info and Image Credit : Kucha , Wikipedia] [Image 1: Bust of Bodhisattva from Kucha, (6th-7th CE); 2. Map of Tarim Basin at 3rd AD 3. Kuchean Monks and Kneeling Ordinary Devotees, 3rd CE, Kizl Caves ; ] [Images Availed Under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported and Public Domain Work of Art (Please Relate to Individual Image URLs for More Usage Property)] [Source Image URLs: 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bodhisattva_Guimet_151107.jpg 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tarimbecken_3._Jahrhundert.png 3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cave_of_the_Hippocampi._Monks_and_kneeling_devotees_in_caftan.jpg ]
Old World
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