== [[Юечжі]] ==
As described above, the Yuezhi are an ancient nomadic population that lived between Dunhuang and the Tianshan Mountains before they were first mentioned in the Chinese historical record in about 200 B.C. Before the rise of the Xiongnu Chanyu Modu, the Yuezhi had a strong power base, ruling a vast region that ranged from the Gansu Province to the Tianshan. After that time, the Yuezhi suffered several defeats and finally moved westward into Bactria (Enoki et al. 1994, Wang 2004). Between 1000 B.C. and 200 B.C., three major ancient cultures were active between Tianshan and Dunhuang. In the western part of this region, the Subeishi culture was dominant in the Turpan Basin and surrounding area. In the east, the Yanbulaq culture centered around the Qumul Basin. The region in the south was isolated from other South Xinjiang cultures by the Taklamakan Desert. In the north of the Turpan and Qumul basins, a set of nomadic remains distributed widely on grasslands from west to east has been found. Archaeological remains presumed to be those of the Yuezhi would be expected to be found within the geographical scope and chronological range of the culture. The economies of both the Subeishi and Yanbulaq cultures were a combination of prosperous oasis agriculture and alpine transhumance. In the Turpan Basin area after 200 B.C., the Subeishi culture developed into the local walled nation-state called the Gushi Kingdom. The Yanbulaq culture declined after 500 B.C. and finally disappeared from the northern hills of the Qumul Basin. By contrast, archaeological sites of the Barkol culture contain purely nomadic remains. This culture was originally associated with nomadic cultures in the south-central part of Inner Mongolia. Their way of life was closely related to the Nanwan type of the Tianshan North Road culture that lasted from 1500 B.C. to 1000 B.C. (Guo 2012). Both the geographical scope and chronological range of the Barkol culture corresponded to the period of the Yuezhi. This connection is further supported by cultural changes in this region. According to archaeological discoveries, this region was conquered by another people with a different culture after 200 B.C. Remains of this culture were similar to finds of Xiongnu materials in Mongolia and North China. Hence, we can conclude that they were created by a group of Xiongnu people who migrated westward into this region. Cultural elements of human sacrifices in the Heigouliang-Dongheigou sites are closely related to those found in the Yuegongtai-Xiheigou sites, which show elements of the Barkol culture that persisted from ancient times to that period (Wang 2008, Zhao 2011, Wang 2004). Based on the evidence discussed above, we propose that a set of non-mound stone graves in the Barkol grasslands, tentatively called the Barkol culture, are possibly remains of the ancient Yuezhi population.
Wei Lanhai, Li Hui and Xu Wenkan The separate origins of the Tocharians and the Yuezhi: Results from recent advances in archaeology and genetics
The relationship between the Tocharians and Yuezhi has been debated for more than a century. With all the evidence discussed above, we conclude that these two populations were of separate and distinct origin. The original settlement of the Yuezhi is located between Tianshan Mountain and Dunhuang in the Gansu Province. Possible remains of the Yuezhi, Barkol culture, lasting from 1000 B.C. to 200 B.C., are different from all other archaeological cultural finds in Xinjiang. At an earlier time, before 200 B.C., four Saka tribes moved westward and wrested control of Bactria from the Greeks. The Greek geographer Strabo records one of them as the Tokharoi (Tochari). The reason for this migration is unknown. According to some evidence, it is proposed that the Yuezhi once ruled a vast region ranging from the Gansu Province and Central Mongolia to the whole north part of Xinjiang. After 200 B.C., the Xiongnu expanded into Xinjiang and conquered most of the walled nation-states there. So it is possible that the westward movement of these Saka tribes was caused by the rise of Yuezhi power or the Xiongnu conquest in this region. As mentioned in historical records, the country in Bactria conquered by the Yuezhi was named «Ta-Hsia» i.e., Daxia (大夏). Its people did not have a powerful king, and most of its cities were controlled by governors. Their soldiers were weak and cowardly in battle. These descriptions are somewhat inconsistent with a Greek kingdom, which would be expected to have strong armies. According to the records of Strabo, the central of the four tribes in this alliance were the Tokharoi (Tochari). It is generally accepted that «Ta-Hsia 大夏» is a rendering of «Tochar/Tachar». After 130 B.C., the Yuezhi tribe crossed the Oxus River and ruled Bactria directly. Later, the Kushan Empire was established by the Kushan chiefdom Xihao (翕侯; Yabgu). According to Chinese records, the Kushan chiefdom developed from local Saka aboriginals rather than from one of the Yuezhi tribes. The Yuezhi were absorbed and disappeared from the historical record with the expansion of the Kushan Empire. The complicated history in this region may be an explanation for misunderstandings concerning the relationship between the Tocharians and the Yuezhi, but still more evidence is needed for a final resolution of this problem.
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