Kingdom of Khotan - Social and Economic Life

Social and Economic Life

Despite having scant sources of information on the socio-political structures of Khotan, the shared geographical conditions of the Tarim city-states, as well similarities found in Archaeological findings throughout the Tarim basin enables the drawing of some overall conclusions on Khotanese life. A seventh-century Chinese Pilgrim, Hsüan-tsang describes Khotan as having limited arable land but this seems to have been particularly fertile, being able to support ‘cereals and producing an abundance of fruits.’ He goes further by commenting how the city ‘manufactures carpets and fine-felts and silks’ as well as ‘dark and white jade’. In short, the city’s chief economy was based upon using the water from Oasis to irrigate the land as well as the manufacture of crafts which could then be traded on.

Hsüan-tsang also praises the culture of the people of Khotan, commenting on how they ‘love to study literature’ and how ‘Music is much practised in the country, and men love the song and dance.’ The ‘urbanity’ of the Khotan people is also mentioned in their dress, that of ‘light silks and white clothes’ as opposed to the more rural ‘wools and furs.’