Khara Khoto; It is an ancient city located in the western part of Inner Mongolia, near the Juyan Lake Basin. The Heicheng Ancient Site in the Ejina Banner in northern China is one of the country’s best preserved historical sites. The construction date of the ancient city, located on the Silk Road route, dates back to the Xia Dynasty period, that is, in 1032. During the time of Khara Khoto, it was the largest fort of the trade route connecting the eastern and western worlds. But until recently, many researchers and locals refused to approach the ruins for fear of the ghosts of the ancient city. Many legends are told about the city and its ghosts.
The Mongolian word Khara Khoto means “black city”. The name Heicheng is a name given by the Chinese. The city, which was built during the Tangut empire, was known as Yijinai at that time. The ruins of the city were discovered at the beginning of the 20th century, and thousands of manuscripts and historical finds in the Tangut language were unearthed during the excavations. Heicheng, which is the best preserved ruins of that period, has been attracting many tourists recently. Today, the Heicheng Ruins are a valuable example of the region’s historical relics.
Archaeological excavations at the Heicheng ruins have unearthed a number of artifacts in the city centre. These include the Jiaozi, considered by historians to be the first paper currency, and more than 2,000 Tangut manuscripts and wood carvings. Major excavations by Russian explorer Pyotr Kuzmich Kozlov have unearthed a collection of 3,500 objects from the region. These objects include Chinese and Tibetan Buddhist paintings on silk, building materials, everyday items, production tools, religious art, and batik fabrics. Some of these works are St. Petersburg, while others are preserved at the Institute for Oriental Studies in Moscow.
History of Khara Khoto Ancient City
The city of Khara Khoto was built in 1032 during the Western Xia dynasty. Developing under the rule of the Western Xia dynasty, it became an important trading center of the Tangut Empire in the 11th century. Heicheng was captured by Genghis Khan in 1226, and then the city grew threefold under Mongol rule. It is thought to have been visited by the Italian explorer Marco Polo during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Shortly after the Yuan Dynasty ended, the city was surrendered to the Ming Dynasty and then abandoned.
Marco Polo’s visit to a city called Etzina or Edzina, which is identified with Khara Khoto in his book ‘Wonders of the World’, is described as follows;
“Leaving this city of Kampion and traveling north for twelve days, you come to a city called Ezina at the beginning of the sandy desert and in the province of Tanguth. Its inhabitants are pagans. They have camels and various kinds of cattle. Here you will find mustachioed hawks and many excellent howls. The fruits of the land and beef meet the needs of the people and are not interested in trade. Passengers passing through this city lie in the granary for forty days, for when they leave to head north, this space of time is used when crossing a desert where there is no appearance of residence, nor any inhabitant. Except for a few among the mountains and in some valleys in the summer. “
As Marco Polo mentioned, Khara Khoto is located on the edge of the ‘sandy desert’, namely the Gobi Desert. Although the city was on the Silk Road, its inhabitants were not engaged in trade. Instead, they made a living by providing provisions to those who traveled to the desert.
Ghost Legends of Khara Khoto City
In 1368, the Yuan Dynasty was overthrown by the Ming Dynasty and the Mongols were driven from China. Khara Khoto is mentioned as the place where most of the Mongols fled. The Ming Dynasty did not pursue the fleeing Mongols, as they sought to impose law and order on their newly won lands. However, in 1372, the news that Mongolian troops stationed in Khara Khoto would attack China worried the Chinese government. The Ming Dynasty had succeeded in consolidating their dominance over China, which meant that they could act more forcefully in the face of the Mongol threat. Therefore, in 1372, China sent an army to defeat the Mongols at Khara Khoto.
Although the fall of Khara Khoto City was only a short time in the campaign of 1372, there are many local legends about the event. Legend has it that Black Bator, the leader of Khara Khoto, chose to fight against the Chinese, as he thought the city’s walls were too strong during the Chinese siege. However, the Chinese diverted the city’s main water sources to the Ejin River, drying up the city’s water wells. According to the accounts, the commander of the city, Khara Bator, was torn between dying of thirst or dying in battle. This situation forced him very hard and he finally lost his mind, first killing his family and then committing suicide. According to some, Khara Bator was able to escape from the city thanks to a breach he made in the northwest corner of the walls. There is still a hole in the city walls big enough for a person to pass through.
The remaining Mongolian soldiers in the city waited until the Chinese launched their final attack. As a result of the Chinese attack, there was a great slaughter and all the Mongolian soldiers were killed. Later, the Chinese did not try to keep this city, and after a while, the city was abandoned due to water shortage. After the city was abandoned, rumors spread that the ghosts of Mongolian soldiers haunted the city. Due to these rumors, no one approached the city until recently. The city, which was in ruins over time, was rediscovered in the early 20th century thanks to the legends told about it.
