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Accepted Paper:
Centering Yarkand: Unveiling Socio-Cultural and Economic Entanglements in Turco-Tibetan History (18th-19th Century)
Aisajiang Youshe
(Harvard University)
This paper reexamines the historical significance of Yarkand, a pivotal city in the Turco-Tibetan region, during the 18th and 19th centuries. It aims to uncover its critical role in the intricate web of trade, cultural exchanges, and power dynamics that shaped the period. Located at the strategic crossroads of essential trade routes, Yarkand stands out as a crucial link, bridging the gap between the restricted mobility and trade within Xinjiang and the vibrant, expansive trade networks that extended to Samarkand, Bukhara, and Mughal Hindustan. These networks were not just avenues for material trade; they also facilitated a rich exchange of religious and scholarly thought, particularly among Muslim communities across the Tibetan Plateau and in Yarkand. The paper delves into Yarkand’s economic and administrative importance under the Qing dynasty, with a specific focus on the establishment of the prominent 葉爾羌鑄錢局. This institution highlights Yarkand’s significant role in the monetary and financial systems of the time. Additionally, the study explores the influence of the Naqshbandiyya Mujaddidiyya Sufi networks centered in Yarkand, which played a pivotal role in shaping the religious and social landscapes across Central Asia and China.