By Uyghur Times Staff
July 15, 2024
The Chinese government’s continuous efforts to reshape the historical narrative of the Uyghur homeland are evident in the recent opening of the Qiuci Wei and Jin Dynasty Tomb Site Museum in Kuche, so-called “Xinjiang” Uyghur Autonomous Region. This museum, promoted as the first underground tomb site museum in the region, has been constructed on the original site of the Kucha Friendship Road Tomb Group, a nationally recognized cultural relic protection unit. Chinese authorities claim this museum serves as proof of the central government’s historical governance over “Xinjiang”, aiming to legitimize their contemporary control over the region.
Zulmire Rozi, an interpreter at the museum, asserts that the Kucha Friendship Road Tomb Group, featuring the first Han-style brick chamber tomb in “Xinjiang”, is evidence of the effective jurisdiction and governance of the central government over “Xinjiang.” This narrative is used to promote the idea of longstanding Chinese influence and integration in the region, aligning with the Chinese Communist Party’s agenda to depict Xinjiang as an inseparable part of China.
However, this perspective ignores the rich and diverse history of the Uyghur people and the region’s complex cultural heritage. The museum’s presentation, which includes digital exhibitions and multimedia experiences, is designed to immerse visitors in a narrative that prioritizes Chinese historical claims while marginalizing the distinct identity and history of the Uyghur people.
China has been actively working to reinforce this narrative on the international stage. Recent initiatives include organizing international conferences on the history of “Xinjiang”, publishing white papers, and disseminating documents that align with the party line. These efforts aim to create a falsified history that portrays “Xinjiang” as a region historically and inherently connected to China, thereby justifying the government’s current policies and actions in the region.
Walking into the museum, visitors are presented with 15 intact brick chamber tombs, featuring Chinese traditional mythical beasts such as the blue dragon, white tiger, red bird, and black tortoise. These artifacts are framed as evidence of cultural exchanges between the Central Plains and the Western Regions during the Wei, Jin, Southern, and Northern Dynasties. However, this interpretation overlooks the broader context of the region’s history and the significant contributions of the Uyghur people and other local cultures.
The museum’s focus on Han-style burial customs and artifacts, including coins and pottery found in the tombs, further emphasizes the Chinese government’s narrative of historical jurisdiction and cultural integration. This selective presentation of history serves to bolster the government’s claims while disregarding the indigenous history and cultural legacy of the Uyghur people.
Feng Wei, deputy director of the Qiuci Museum in Kucha City, highlights the innovative multimedia tour exhibition display method, which aims to provide a unique and impressive experience for visitors. However, this technological sophistication cannot mask the underlying intention to propagate a state-sanctioned version of history that undermines the Uyghur identity and heritage.
In recent years, the Chinese government has intensified its efforts to protect and utilize Qiuci cultural heritage systematically. The “Three-Year Action Plan for the Protection and Inheritance of Cultural Heritage in the Kucha Area (2024-2026)” is a clear example of this initiative, aimed at exploring the historical connotations and contemporary value of Kucha archaeological objects and cultural relics. Yet, these actions are part of a broader strategy to create a historical narrative that supports China’s territorial claims and political objectives.
