Xinjiang, China's largest provincial-level administrative region, has a history of human civilization stretching back 6,000-7,000 years, as evidenced by archaeological discoveries. While ancient Chinese texts referred to the area of the Western Regions (xiyu), the modern name Xinjiang emerged in historical records in 1821 and was formally adopted in 1884, when the region was designated a province.

Historical records 

The Travels of King Muwang is an ancient chronicle from the pre-Qin era, the period of history prior to the founding of the Qin Dynasty, China's first unified imperial dynasty, in 221 B.C. It describes Zhou Dynasty (1046 B.C. to 256 B.C.) ruler King Muwang's legendary westward journey into what is now Xinjiang, offering early evidence of cultural and economic ties between the Central Plains and this frontier region. By the early Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 25), the area had no single name but was fragmented into nomadic tribes and states including Rouzhi and Wusun.

At that time, the nomadic Xiongnu people in north China posed security challenges. Western Han rulers, constrained by limited resources, appeased the Xiongnu through diplomatic marriages and tribute payments. However, under Emperor Wudi's transformative reign, a resurgent Western Han Dynasty shifted strategy: In 138 B.C., explorer-diplomat Zhang Qian was dispatched to forge alliances with Rouzhi and Wusun to fight the Xiongnu, culminating in 60 B.C. with the Western Han's formal unification of what is today's Xinjiang and the creation of the Western Regions Frontier Command. This vast land then began to be known as the Western Regions and, since then, has been part of China's territory.

The Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian, a prominent Western Han historian, chronicles Zhang's diplomatic missions to western kingdoms including Dayuan, Daxia and Kangju, documenting their commercial resources and cultural practices. Later historians canonized his journey as a pivotal "diplomatic mission to the Western Regions," which laid the groundwork for the Silk Road and catalyzed cultural and economic exchange between Eastern and Western civilizations.

Building on this legacy, Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) historian Ban Gu's Book of Han details a subsequent milestone: During Emperor Hedi's reign in the year 97, general Ban Chao, while consolidating the central authorities' influence in the Western Regions, dispatched envoy Gan Ying on a mission to Daqin (the Roman Empire). Though he never reached Rome, he traveled as far as he could. These accounts not only attest to the Silk Road's vibrant activity during this era but also underscore the Western Regions' indispensable role as a bridge for cross-continental dialogue.

From then on, the land has remained an integral part of China's territory, though central governance fluctuated with dynastic strength. The Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), China's last imperial dynasty, consolidated control after suppressing local rebellions (1755-59). In 1762, the Qing government established the post of Ili General and adopted a mechanism combining military and political administration. By 1821, Emperor Daoguang officially endorsed the name Xinjiang through his preface to the imperially commissioned Survey of Xinjiang, an overview of Xinjiang written by officials stationed there, replacing the older designation Western Regions in state records.

The region's status as a provincial-level administrative region took shape in the late 19th century: Following Tsarist Russia's armed occupation of Ili in 1871, Qing general Zuo Zongtang spearheaded military and diplomatic efforts to reclaim the lost territories. The occupation ended in 1881. Three years later, the Qing authorities made Xinjiang a province, with its capital established in Dihua, today's Urumqi.

Changing names 

The meaning of Xinjiang has undergone a historical metamorphosis, mirroring shifts in governance. After the Qing Dynasty quelled local rebellions in 1759, the region was rebranded Xinjiang of Xiyu—a term distinguishing it from other "newly pacified" areas in today's Guizhou Province. The term xiyu historically encompassed a vast expanse of China's western territories, stretching across modern-day Qinghai, Xizang, Xinjiang, and the regions east and south of Lake Balkhash in Central Asia. In Survey of Xinjiang, a comprehensive atlas and administrative manual that details geography, ethnic relations and border policies, Xinjiang still means "newly pacified areas."

The term Xinjiang's meaning pivoted dramatically in the late 19th century. During and after the campaign to reclaim Xinjiang from aggression of Tsarist Russia and other powers, Zuo championed provincial status for Xinjiang, arguing that formal administrative integration would deter foreign encroachment. In 1884, the Qing government adopted this vision, establishing Xinjiang Province and reinterpreting its name as "land newly returned"—a reassertion of sovereignty over territories recovered from invaders.

After the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, Xinjiang's political evolution continued with its designation in 1955 as Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, underscoring its ethnic composition within China's administrative framework. Today, Xinjiang has developed into an important economic, cultural and transportation hub in China's northwest. Its unique geographical location and abundant natural resources enable it to play a pivotal role in the country's development.

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