Varkhuman

Varkhuman
Varkhūmān Ūnash[1]
Ikhshid of Samarkand
Coinage of Varkhuman. Circa CE 650-675.[1]
ReignCirca 650-670 CE
PredecessorShishpin
SuccessorUrk Wartramuk
BornSamarkand, Sogdia
DynastyIkhshids
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:

Afrasiab Sogdian inscription

When King Varkhuman Unash came to him [the ambassador] opened his mouth [and said thus]: "I am Pukarzate, the dapirpat (chancellor) of 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. ^ a b Fedorov, Michael (2007). "ON THE PORTRAITS OF THE SOGDIAN KINGS (IKHSHĪDS) OF SAMARQAND". Iran. 45: 156–157. doi:10.1080/05786967.2007.11864723. ISSN 0578-6967. JSTOR 25651416. S2CID 194538468.
  2. ^ a b Whitfield, Susan (2004). The Silk Road: Trade, Travel, War and Faith. British Library. Serindia Publications, Inc. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-932476-13-2.
  3. ^ Azarpay, Guitty; Belenickij, Aleksandr M.; Maršak, Boris Il'ič; Dresden, Mark J. (January 1981). Sogdian Painting: The Pictorial Epic in Oriental Art. University of California Press. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-520-03765-6.
  4. ^ a b c d e Baumer, Christoph (18 April 2018). History of Central Asia, The: 4-volume set. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 243. ISBN 978-1-83860-868-2.
  5. ^ a b c d e Whitfield, Susan (2004). The Silk Road: Trade, Travel, War and Faith. British Library. Serindia Publications, Inc. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-932476-13-2.
  6. ^ Mode, Markus (2006). "Reading the Afrasiab Murals: Some Comments on Reconstructions and Details" (PDF). Rivista degli studi orientali. 78: 108. ISSN 0392-4866. 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. ^ de la Vaissière, Étienne (2006). "LES TURCS, ROIS DU MONDE À SAMARCANDE" (PDF). Rivista degli studi orientali. 78: 159–160. ISSN 0392-4866. JSTOR 41913394.
  11. ^ Hansen, Valerie (2015). The Silk Road: A New History. Oxford University Press. p. 127. ISBN 978-0-19-021842-3.
  12. ^ Grenet, Frantz (2006). "What Was the Afrasiab Painting About?". Rivista degli studi orientali. 78: 43–44. ISSN 0392-4866. JSTOR 41913388.
  13. ^ Library, British (2004). The Silk Road: Trade, Travel, War and Faith. Serindia Publications, Inc. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-932476-13-2.
  14. ^ Grenet, Frantz (2004). "Maracanda/Samarkand, une métropole pré-mongole". Annales. Histoire, Sciences Sociales. 5/6: Fig. C.