Turfan - Turfan (English spelling) urfan

Japanese: トゥルファン - とぅるふぁん（英語表記）urfan

Turpan refers to the region in the eastern part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, and its central prefecture-level city. As of 2017, Turpan prefecture-level city has jurisdiction over one city district (Gaochang District) and two counties (Pichang County and Toksun County). Population 622,903 (2010).

Turfan, as a regional name, refers to the basin that spreads between the Bogd mountain range in the eastern Tianshan and Kurruk Tag in the south. It slopes gently from north to south, and its lowest point reaches 150 meters below sea level. It is famous for its extremely low rainfall and scorching heat, and although it is fertile, it is also lacking in water, so irrigation is carried out by underground waterways called Karez (Kan-er-qin). This area has long been famous as a key location on the East-West negotiation route and as a junction between the oasis agricultural area and the steppe nomadic area to the north, and as such has a complex history influenced by the movements of surrounding powers. The Chinese record "Records of the Grand Historian," from the 2nd century BC, already records the existence of the Shashi Kingdom in this area, and since then it has been ruled by nomadic powers and various Chinese dynasties, but at times indigenous dynasties such as the Gaochang Kingdom have also been established. In the 9th century, new Turkic Uighurs immigrated to the region, and the local people began to use the Turkish language. They established the Western Uighur Kingdom, which was conquered by the Qing Dynasty in the 18th century and exists to this day.

The city name Turfan already existed in the basin as a new town in the 10th century, but it was not until the 15th century that it became the region's leading city. Under the rule of the Qing Dynasty in particular, it developed as an important base city connecting northern and southern Xinjiang with inland China. The Southern Xinjiang Line (Turfan-Kashgar) also starts from Turfan, and the Lanxin Line also passes through Turfan. Air routes to various cities in the country are available from Turfan Airport. Gaochang District is dotted with valuable ruins, including the Astana Tombs.

[Hori Nao, Editorial Department, January 19, 2018]

World Heritage Registration

In 2014, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) registered Gaochang Ancient City and Jiaohe Ancient City as cultural heritage sites on the World Heritage List as components of the "Silk Road: Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor Trade Route Network" (World Cultural Heritage).

[Editorial Department, January 19, 2018]

Kala Hojo (Gaochang Ancient City)
The site of the capital of the Gaochang Kingdom. It is a square with sides of 1,500 to 1,600 meters, and is made up of an outer city, an inner city, and a palace. China Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region ©Shogakukan ">

Kala Hojo (Gaochang Ancient City)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

中国、新疆(しんきょう)ウイグル自治区東部、天山(てんざん)山脈南麓にある地域、およびその中心となる地級市をさす。2017年時点でトゥルファン地級市は、1市轄区（高昌(こうしょう)区）、2県（ピチャン県、トクスン県）を管轄する。人口62万2903（2010）。

　地域名としてのトゥルファンは、東部天山のボグド連山と南のクルク・タグとの間に広がる盆地をさす。北から南に緩やかな傾斜をなし、その最低部は海面下150メートルに達する。降水量が極端に少なく、炎暑の地として名高く、豊饒(ほうじょう)ではあるが水が乏しいので、カレーズ（坎児井(カンアルチン)）とよばれる地下水路による灌漑(かんがい)が行われている。この地は古くから東西交渉路上の要地として、またオアシス農耕地帯と北方のステップ遊牧地帯との接点として著名であり、そのために周辺諸勢力の動向に左右された複雑な歴史をもっている。すでに紀元前2世紀の中国の記録『史記』には、この地に車師(しゃし)王国の存在を伝え、以降、遊牧勢力や中国の諸王朝の支配を受けたが、ときには高昌国などの土着的王朝も成立している。9世紀には新たにトルコ系ウイグルが移入して、地域住民はトルコ語を用いるようになり、彼らは西ウイグル王国を建てた。18世紀に清(しん)に征服され現在に至っている。

　都市名としてのトゥルファンは、10世紀にすでに盆地内の新しい町として存在したが、その地方の代表的都市になるのは15世紀のことである。とくに清朝の治下で、新疆北部および南部と、中国内地とを結ぶ拠点都市として重要視され、発展した。南疆線（トゥルファン―カシュガル）もトゥルファンを起点としているほか、蘭新(らんしん)線が通る。トゥルファン空港からは国内各都市への航空路線が開設されている。高昌区にはアスターナ古墳群をはじめとする貴重な遺跡が点在する。

［堀　直・編集部　2018年1月19日］