Tomb of the Kings of the Yarkent Khanate

Tomb of the Kings of the Yarkent Khanate

The Tomb of the Kings of the Yarkent Khanate is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

The Tomb of the Kings of the Yarkent Khanate is located north of Alton Delwaz in between the old and new towns of Shache County, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It served as the royal mausoleum during the Yarkent Khanate period. The tomb complex was first built in the 11th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1532). Within the mausoleum are buried Sultan Said Khan, Abdurashid Khan, Abdurakhrum Khan, Muhammad Khan, Ahmed Khan, Abduritip, their descendants, as well as the renowned maqam scholar and poet Amanisha Khan.

The Yarkent Khanate was an Islamic regional regime established in Xinjiang during the Ming Dynasty. Historical records refer to it as the "Moghul Khanate," "Mongolia Kingdom," or "Said Khanate," among other names. The Ming History collectively referred to various regimes in Xinjiang as "diplomatic regions" or "grounds." It was named after its capital, Yarkent (present-day Shache). The rulers were descendants of the Chagatai line. Its territory, known as "Altishahr" (meaning "Six Cities": Kashgar, Yarkent, Yutian, Yingjisha, Aksu, and Uqturpan), at its height also included Turpan, Yanqi, and Fergana. From its founding in 1514 to its fall in 1680, the khanate lasted 166 years and saw the rule of 11 khans. The population consisted of ethnic Uyghurs, Kyrgyz, and others, who engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. Sunni Islam was the state religion.

The tomb complex consists of three parts: the Alton Luk Mosque to the west, the Alton Pond to the east, and the central Alton Mausoleum, covering a total area of 15,000 square meters. The Alton Mausoleum is further divided into several individual sections. The burial ground for khans and their religious followers is enclosed by brick walls and wooden fences, with a gate adorned with glazed bricks. Inside the gate are rows of tombs entirely constructed from brick, while the surrounding walls and tombs are decorated with gypsum floral motifs in various patterns and enameled tiles inscribed with calligraphy. Colorful flags are planted at the front. Living quarters are built separately, and the entire mausoleum exudes a strong religious atmosphere.

The construction of the Tomb of the Kings of the Yarkent Khanate is considered a classic example in the history of Uyghur architecture. It not only provides valuable material for contemporary academic research but also serves as a reference for studying Uyghur funeral customs. Among them, the Alton Mausoleum stands out in terms of layout and decorative patterns, representing outstanding Islamic architectural art. It holds significant historical value for understanding the political and economic conditions, lifestyle, and burial methods of the time.

In May 2006, the Tomb of the Kings of the Yarkent Khanate, as a Ming Dynasty ancient tomb site, was approved by the State Council to be included in the sixth batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level