Sogdian and bilingual Buddhist translations and inscriptions on the Silk Road (5th–10th century CE)

1. Sogdian communities established across Silk Road oases

   Jan 1, 500Labels: Sogdian communities, Dunhuang, Turfan

   • Iranica
   • Iranica

2. Bughut stele shows early Sogdian monumental writing

   Jan 1, 584Labels: Bugut stele, Sogdian script, Mongolia

   • Bugut
   • Iranica

3. Sogdian “sutra script” and book formats spread

   Jan 1, 600Labels: Sutra script, Po h, Sogdian manuscripts

   • Iranica
   • Iranica

4. Chinese-to-Sogdian Buddhist translation culture consolidates

   Jan 1, 650Labels: Chinese Sogdian, Bilingual culture, Sogdian Buddhists

   • Iranica
   • Iranica

5. Colophon records a Sogdian sutra translated at Luoyang

   Jan 1, 728Labels: Luoyang colophon, S tra, Sogdian translation

   • Iranica
   • Iranica

6. Dunhuang Cave 17 becomes a key repository

   Jan 1, 800Labels: Dunhuang Cave, Library cave, Manuscript repository

   • Iranica
   • Iranica

7. Vessantara Jātaka survives in major Sogdian manuscript set

   Jan 1, 800Labels: Vessantara J, Sogdian po, Dunhuang manuscript

   • Iranica
   • Iranica

8. Karabalgasun stele displays Sogdian within a trilingual monument

   Jan 1, 821Labels: Karabalgasun stele, Trilingual inscription, Uyghur Khaganate

   • Karabalgasun
   • Iranica

9. Turfan region yields extensive Sogdian Buddhist fragments

   Jan 1, 850Labels: Turfan region, Sogdian fragments, Oasis manuscripts

   • Iranica
   • Iranica

10. Buddhist Sogdian texts circulate alongside other religions

    Jan 1, 900Labels: Religious plurality, Sogdian manuscripts, Manuscript landscape

    • Iranica
    • Iranica

11. Islamization and new political orders reduce Sogdian Buddhist production

    Jan 1, 1000Labels: Islamization, Political change, Sogdian decline

    • Iranica
    • Iranica

12. Dunhuang manuscript horizon ends in early 11th century

    Jan 1, 1011Labels: Dunhuang horizon, Library cave, Manuscript cutoff

    • Iranica
    • Iranica