Varkhuman

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Varkhuman
Varkhūmān Ūnash
Ikhshids
ReligionZoroastrianism
Crenellated wall portion of the ruins of Afrasiyab, Samarkand.

Varkhuman, also Vargoman (Chinese: 拂呼縵; pinyin: Fúhūmàn, c. 640-670 CE)[2][3] was an Ikhshid (King) of Sogdia, residing in the city of Samarkand in the 7th century CE. He succeeded King Shishpin.[4] He is known from the Afrasiab murals of Afrasiyab in Samarkand, where he is seen being visited by embassies from numerous countries, including China.[5] There is also an inscription in the murals directly mentioning him.[5] His name is also known from Chinese histories.[5]

One of the murals show a Chinese Embassy carrying silk and a string of silkworm cocoons to the local Sogdian ruler.[5] The scene depicted in the Afrasiyab murals probably occurred soon after 658 CE, when the Tang dynasty had conquered the Western Turkic Khaganate.[2]

Varkhuman was a nominal vassal to the Chinese.[4] He is mentioned in the Chinese annals:

During the Yonghui (永徽) era (650-655 CE), emperor Gaozong made this territory the Government of Kangju, and gave the title of Governor to the King of the country, Varkhuman (拂呼缦, Fúhūmàn).

— Chinese annals on Varkhuman.[6][7]

Varkhuman's legacy was short-lived, as his palace was destroyed by the Arab general Sa'id ibn Uthman between 675 and 677 CE. At that time, according to Narshakhi there was no king of Samarkand anymore.[4]

Inscription mentioning Varhuman

In the murals of Afrasiab, an inscription mentioning Varhuman has been found. It is written in Sogdian:

Chaganian. I arrived here from Turantash, the lord of Chaganian, to Samarkand, to the king, and with respect [to] the king [now] I am [here]. And with regard to me do not have any misgivings: About the gods of Samarkand, as well as about the writing of Samarkand I am keenly aware, and I also have not done any harm to the king. Let you be quite fortunate!" And King Varkhuman Unash took leave [of him]. And [then] the dapirpat (chancellor) of Chach opened his mouth.

— Inscription on an ambassador's robe.[8][9][10][11]

Afrasiab murals

Main article: Afrasiab murals
  • King Varkhuman on horse, Afrasiab remaining parts and reconstitution.[12]
    King Varkhuman on horse, Afrasiab remaining parts and reconstitution.[12]
  • Ambassadors from Chaganian (central figure, inscription of the neck), and Chach (modern Tashkent) to king Varkhuman of Samarkand. 648-651 CE, Afrasiyab murals, Samarkand.[4][5]
    Ambassadors from Chaganian (central figure, inscription of the neck), and Chach (modern Tashkent) to king Varkhuman of Samarkand. 648-651 CE, Afrasiyab murals, Samarkand.[4][5]
  • Korean ambassadors during an audience with king Varkhuman of Samarkand. They are identified by the two feathers on top of their head.[13] 648-651 CE, Afrasiyab, Samarkand.[4][14]
    Korean ambassadors during an audience with king Varkhuman of Samarkand. They are identified by the two feathers on top of their head.[13] 648-651 CE, Afrasiyab, Samarkand.[4][14]
  • Tang dynasty emissaries at the court of Varkhuman in Samarkand carrying silk and a string of silkworm cocoons, 648-651 CE, Afrasiyab murals, Samarkand
    Tang dynasty emissaries at the court of Varkhuman in Samarkand carrying silk and a string of silkworm cocoons, 648-651 CE, Afrasiyab murals, Samarkand

References

  1. ^
    S2CID 194538468
    .
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-1-932476-13-2
    .
  3. ISBN 978-0-520-03765-6
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-1-83860-868-2
    .
  5. ^
    ISBN 978-1-932476-13-2
    .
  6. JSTOR 41913392
    .
  7. ^ New Book of Tang, Book 221. 新唐书/卷221下: "高宗永徽时，以其地为康居都督府，即授其王拂呼缦为都督。" in "新唐书/卷221下 - 维基文库，自由的图书馆". zh.wikisource.org (in Simplified Chinese).
  8. ^ "Afrosiab Wall Painting". contents.nahf.or.kr. NORTHEAST ASIAN HISTORY FOUNDATION.
  9. ^ Bulatova, Vera; Shishkina, Galina V. (1986). Самарканд: музей под открытым небом "Samarkand, Open-air Museum" (in Uzbek). Publishing house of literature and art Изд-во лит-ры и искусства им. Гафура Гуляма. p. 47. ..."When king Varkhuman of the Unash dynasty approached the ambassador, the ambassador opened his mouth and said : 'I am Pukarzate..."
  10. JSTOR 41913394
    .
  11. ISBN 978-0-19-021842-3
    .
  12. JSTOR 41913388
    .
  13. ISBN 978-1-932476-13-2
    .
  14. ^ Grenet, Frantz (2004). "Maracanda/Samarkand, une métropole pré-mongole". Annales. Histoire, Sciences Sociales. 5/6: Fig. C.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Varkhuman&oldid=1213051050"