Lecture of Xuzhou Museum Ⅷ: The Memory of the History of Ili

        Kang Ping, the curator of Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture Museum, was invited by Xuzhou Museum to give us an lecture, named The Memory of the History of Ili in 31st August. Meng Qiang, the curator of Xuzhou Museum, hosted this lecture.

        This lecture was began with the location of Ili of Xinjiang. Kang introduced the historical changes of the nations and country of Ili in different ages, including hunting time, stone age, bronze age, iron age and Meng-Yuan age. All the audience had a new realization and understanding of Xinjiang, Ili, prairie life and the culture of pluralistic integration and all-embracing.

        Kang mentioned that Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, located in the middle piece of Eurasia Prairie, is the cradle of the Xinjiang prairie culture and reserves the remains of ancient prairie culture. According to the discovery of the stone sites, such as Bukesaier Camel Stone and Guliushankou Reservoir, we know that human being went to Ili during the late paleolith, and they lived a hunting life. During the bronze age, they developed farming agriculture and stock farming. The most progress was the feeding of horse, therefore, the nomadic civilization came into being.

        The earliest human being on this grassland were Sai and Wujie. During 2nd century B.C., Rouzhi and Wusun came to this grassland. In addition, early nomadic people were Dingling and Xiongnu. Later, Rouran and Yuebo replaced them. There were Tujue in this land during Sui and Tang Dynasties and Menggu people during Yuan and Ming Dynasties. All human beings of these grassland created the prosperity of prairie culture and showed the courageous, tough and pioneering spirit of nomads.

        The relationship between central plains and Ili has a long history and Ili become part of Han Dynasty during 60 B.C.. Tang Dynasty established Beiting office to control the nomads in 702 B.C. In 1762, Qing Dynasty established “Ili General” in Ili, and the general was the the highest administrative and military governor, presiding over the towns in the north and south of Tianshan and guarding the unity of our motherland.