Item number: A1822

Year: AD 628-640

Material: Bronze

Size: 27.2 x 27.2 x 2.6 mm

Weight: 10.2 g

Manufactured by: Gaochang

Provenance:

1. Spink 2022

2. Dr. Werner Burger

This coin is believed to have been issued by Qu Wentai, King Guangwu of Gaochang, under the name Gaochang Jili Coin. Its design closely emulates the Kaiyuan Tongbao of the Tang dynasty, following the classic format of a round coin with a square hole. It is large and weighty, with a balanced arrangement of inscriptions and finely executed craftsmanship. It is estimated that only approximately 50 specimens of this coin remain in existence, with the total number not exceeding 100 at most.

The obverse of the coin bears the Chinese inscription “高昌吉利” (Gaochang Jili) in clerical script, read in a clockwise sequence. The outer rim and inner boundary are well-defined. The structure of the characters exhibits distinctive features: the lower portion of “高” (Gao) is connected to the square hole; “昌” (Chang) has two “日” (sun) radicals, with the third stroke in each component extending leftward while detached on the right; the horizontal strokes of “吉” (Ji) are nearly of equal length; and in “利” (Li), the initial stroke of the “刂” radical is modified from a vertical stroke to a dot.

The choice of Chinese characters clearly conveys auspicious connotations, likely serving as a form of well-wishing or invocation of prosperity. However, at the same time, the pronunciation of “吉利” (Jili) closely resembles the Turkic word “𐰃𐰞𐰞𐰃” (ilig), which signifies a ruler of subordinate kings under a Qaghan—a title frequently transliterated in Chinese historical texts as “Xieli” (頡利) or “Xielifa” (頡利發)”. Consequently, “高昌吉利” (Gaochang Jili) can also be interpreted as “𐰴𐰆𐰇𐰆𐰃𐰞𐰞𐰃” (Qocho Ilig), meaning “King of Gaochang.”

This title strongly suggests that Qu Wentai had privately assumed a royal designation, reflecting his intention to resist the suzerainty of the Tang dynasty. Additionally, the name “Gaochang Jili” served to reinforce the sovereignty of the Gaochang Kingdom. The reverse side of the coin is unadorned, featuring a plain surface. While the outer rim is present, the square hole lacks an inner boundary.

In the third year of the Taiping Zhenjun era of Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei (AD 442), Juqu Wuhui, a descendant of the Xiongnu and a remnant of the Northern Liang dynasty, seized control of Gaochang (Present-day Sanbao Township, Gaochang District, Turpan City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China), and proclaimed himself King of Liang (Daliang Wang). In the first year of the Heping era of Emperor Wencheng of the Northern Wei (AD 460), the Rouran Khaganate conquered Gaochang and installed the Han Chinese Kan clan as the rulers of Gaochang, though in practice, they remained puppet kings.

Thereafter, the Kan, Zhang, and Ma clans established successive Han Chinese regimes, but political instability persisted. It was not until AD 501, when the Qu clan took power, that the situation became relatively stable. Positioned at a vital crossroads, Gaochang was a contested territory, frequently changing allegiance between various dominant powers, including the Rouran Khaganate, the Gaoche (Tiele), the Western Turkic Khaganate, the Sui dynasty, and the Tang dynasty.

The ninth ruler, Qu Wentai, fearing the expanding influence of the Tang dynasty, sought to resist Tang suzerainty. To this end, he forged an alliance with Yipi She, a leader of the Western Turks, and obstructed trade routes. In AD 640, Emperor Taizong of Tang dispatched Hou Junji to lead a military campaign against Gaochang. Overwhelmed with fear, Qu Wentai died in distress, and Gaochang was annexed by the Tang, becoming a county under the administration of Xizhou (Western Prefecture) and the seat of the Anxi Protectorate (Anxi Duhu Fu).

The Qu rulers and the people of Gaochang were devout followers of Buddhism, a tradition recorded as early as the Former Qin dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. Xuanzang, in his Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, recounts that upon passing through Gaochang during his westward journey, he was lavishly received by Qu Wentai, and the two even swore an oath of brotherhood. However, The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions, while documenting the customs of various states, does not mention the Gaochang Jili Coin, suggesting that this coin was likely minted after AD 628, the year Xuanzang departed from Gaochang.

物件編號: A1822

年代: 公元 628-640 年

材料: 青銅

尺寸: 27.2 x 27.2 x 2.6 mm

重量: 10.2 g

製造地: 高昌

來源:

1. 斯賓克拍賣行 2022

2. 布威納博士舊藏

這是一枚可能由高昌光武王麴文泰所鑄行之高昌吉利錢。形制模仿大唐「開元通寶」，為經典的方孔圓錢。大而厚重，錢文布局勻稱，工藝精良。可能僅有50枚左右存世，最多不超過百枚。

錢幣正面之幣文為漢文「高昌吉利」，隸書旋讀，外輪內廓俱全。「高」字下部與方穿相連；「昌」字雙「日」，第三劃皆左連右離；「吉」字橫劃幾乎等長；「利」之「刂」，其首劃改豎為點。漢字的選用顯然有祝願祈福之意，但同時，「吉利」音類突厥語「𐰃𐰞𐰞𐰃」(ilig)，為可汗統屬之諸「王」之意，漢文典籍中經常譯為「頡利」、「頡利發」。因此，「高昌吉利」也可解讀為「𐰴𐰆𐰇𐰆𐰃𐰞𐰞𐰃」(Qocho Ilig)，即「高昌國王」之意。而「高昌吉利」此名，足見麴文泰私署王號，抗拒唐朝宗主權的意圖，也有強調高昌國統治權的功用。錢幣背面則光素無文，幣緣有輪而方穿無廓。

北魏太武帝太平真君三年(公元442年)，匈奴苗裔、北涼遺脈沮渠無諱佔據高昌(今新疆維吾爾自治區吐魯番市高昌區三堡鄉)，稱「大涼王」。北魏文成帝和平元年(公元460年)，柔然攻陷高昌，扶漢家闞氏為高昌王，實為魁儡。此後，闞氏、張氏、馬氏等漢人政權先後上位，動亂不斷，直至公元501年，麴氏上位，局勢才稍穩。高昌國地處交通要道，四戰之地，先後臣屬於柔然汗國、高車(鐵勒)、西突厥與大隋、大唐。第九任君主麴文泰，因畏懼唐朝的不斷擴張，欲反抗唐朝的宗主權，於是與西突厥乙毗設聯合，阻礙商路。公元640年，唐太宗派侯君集出兵高昌國，麴文泰驚懼而亡，高昌被唐朝吞併，成為西州之一縣，同時為安西都護府之府治。

麴氏高昌從君王到民眾皆篤信佛法，十六國之前秦時便有紀錄。玄奘於《大唐西域記》載，西行途經高昌國時，頗受麴文泰厚待，結為義兄弟。不過，《大唐西域記》紀錄各國風俗，獨未記載此「高昌吉利錢」，其錢鑄行年代或未早於玄奘離開高昌國時的公元628年。