Research On The History And Geography Of Dunhuang In The Ming Dynasty

After the Ming Dynasty conquered the Hexi area,they set up the Seven Guards of Guanxi to the west of Jiayuguan in order to fence off Suzhou and defend Hexi.Among them,the Chijin Mongolian Guard,Shazhou Guard,and Handong Zuo Guard were located in the ancient Dunhuang County area.However,the attitude of these guards towards the Ming Dynasty was complex,with both obedience and dissociation.After Chenghua,Turpan’s rise and eastward invasion made it difficult for the guards to stand on their own in the area west of Jiayu Pass,and they all moved inward during the Jiajing period.This led to the complete abandonment of Dunhuang.In response to the tribes moving inward and facing the direct threat from Turpan,the Ming Dynasty placed the inland tribes in military forts in border areas and fortified strategic locations in Suzhou,both inside and outside the side walls.This fortification constituted the military defense system of Jimi Guardhouse-Great Wall-Military Fort-State City.The Ming Dynasty established the Chijin Mongolian Guard,Shazhou Guard,Handong Left Guard,and Hami Guard on the Western Regions tribute road that they used to communicate with the Western Regions.This road was the only official tribute road the Ming Dynasty had for communicating with the Western Regions and was an important part of the Silk Road.The road was divided into three parts: the North Road,the Middle Road,and the South Road.This road starts from Jiayuguan,passes through Dacaotan,Huihui Tomb,Yima City,and Chijin City to Kuyu.After Kuyu,it is mainly divided into North Road,Middle Road and South Road.The North Road was rough with few traveller;the Middle Road crosses the Shule River from Bulongjier,which is consistent with the former Moheyan Road,and is mostly used for tribute and trade exchanges of missions;the South Road runs northward from Kuyu to Guazhou and Shazhou.As far as Hami,it was consistent with the previous generation of Shuogan Road and was mostly used in military affairs.During the middle and early Ming Dynasty,merchants and envoys frequently travelled along the Middle and South Roads,which helped to strengthen political,economic,cultural,and religious exchanges along the route.The Ming Dynasty used political,military,economic and other means to prevent the countries in the Western Regions from uniting with the northern forces and endangering the security of the northwest frontier.