Dunhuang Gazetteers of the Tang Period

The collection of Dunhuang manuscripts discovered in the beginning of the twentieth century contains several gazetteers about the Dunhuang region itself. During the Han to late Tang dynasty, the period covered by these gazetteers, Dunhuang was a western frontier consisting mainly of a few remote oases surrounded by expansive desert. Our analysis of the geographical and historical descriptions found in these rare fragments reveals that the overabundance of water once seriously threatened the livelihood of its residents while the availability of drinkable spring water and irrigation projects may have led to the prosperity of the region. This prosperity was manifested by active commerce with Central Asia through the Silk Road and the establishment of courier stations. These gazetteers are important because they supplement the accepted standard histories with more accurate accounts of historical events than previously available. Of particular interest is a one-sheet fragment that is likely the earliest extant working draft of a gazetteer. Collectively, these gazetteers provide a glimpse into the evolution of ancient gazetteers.