How the Qing Dynasty created Xinjiang

History is stranger than

Mar 10, 2024

A historically accurate and realistic scene from the Qing dynasty, showcasing a Qing General on horseback, orchestrating an attack. The General is clad in authentic Qing military garb, complete with a detailed helmet and a historically accurate, richly colored robe. His expression is stern and determined. He's holding up his sword to signal the attack. Surrounding him are soldiers in uniforms true to the period, poised to act on his command. The backdrop is a realistic battlefield setting, complete with smoky skies, detailed terrain, and soldiers in mid-battle, providing a true-to-life depiction of a Qing dynasty conflict.

(讀中文) The transformation of Xinjiang under the Qing Dynasty, particularly during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor (乾隆帝), is a complex historical narrative involving conquest, genocide, and cultural shifts. The question of how Xinjiang, originally a Buddhist majority area inhabited by the Dzungar people (準噶爾), transitioned to an Islamic majority region with diverse ethnicities including Uyghurs, Hui (回), Xibe (锡伯), and Han (汉), can be traced back to the policies and events of the Qing Dynasty, especially the Dzungar genocide (準噶爾滅族).

The Manchu Qing Dynasty's approach to governance was generally hands-off, allowing regions a degree of autonomy, but they were known for their extreme harshness in dealing with rebellion. Their policy could be summarized as: "Live in peace under us, or make trouble and be exterminated." This approach was vividly exemplified in their handling of the Dzungar rebellion led by Amursana in 1755. Following the rebellion, the Qing army, under Manchu generals and with the support of various Turkic groups, including Uyghurs (维吾尔), embarked on the mass extermination of the Dzungar people. The genocide, which occurred between 1755 and 1758, resulted in the death of approximately 70% to 80% of the Dzungar population, through both warfare and disease.

A historically accurate and realistic depiction of an ancient Uyghur army attacking Mongol civilians, including women and children. The Uyghur soldiers are mounted on horseback, armed with realistically portrayed traditional weapons such as swords and spears. Their attire is a faithful representation of Uyghur military uniforms from the period, detailed and authentic. The Mongol civilians, consisting of men, women, and children, are depicted in accurate Mongol clothing, reflecting the styles and materials of the time. They are shown in various states of defense and attempting to escape. The scene is set on a Mongolian steppe, with expansive grasslands and traditional Mongol yurts in the background. The image aims to capture the harsh reality and turmoil of the situation, focusing on the impact on every individual involved, portrayed in a lifelike and historically correct manner.

Following the genocide, the Qing government sponsored the settlement of Han (汉), Hui (回), Uyghur (维吾尔), and Xibe (锡伯) people in the now depopulated Dzungaria. This resettlement fundamentally altered the demographic landscape of northern Xinjiang. By the early Qing period, the ethnic composition in Xinjiang was about 62% Uyghur (维吾尔), concentrated in the south, and 30% Han (汉) and Hui (回) in the north, along with 8% various other minorities.

The Qing creation and development of Xinjiang as a unified, defined geographic entity involved the establishment of new cities like Ürümqi (乌鲁木齐) and Yining (伊宁), and the deportation of Uyghur (维吾尔) families from the Tarim Basin to repopulate Dzungaria. This demographic change was accompanied by a cultural shift: the Qing victory over the Buddhist Dzungars paved the way for the promotion of Islam and the empowerment of Muslim leaders in the region. The Qing dynasty encouraged Muslim culture and identity, a stark contrast to the previous Buddhist dominance.

However, the Qing’s settlement and agricultural policies in Xinjiang were not aimed specifically at altering Uyghur (维吾尔) lands. Instead, they focused on settling Han Chinese (汉族) in the non-Uyghur populated areas of Dzungaria and the new city of Ürümqi (乌鲁木齐). This resettlement was part of the Qing's broader goal of consolidating control over the region and integrating it into the empire.

In summary, the Qing Dynasty's conquest and subsequent policies in Xinjiang during the 18th century were instrumental in shaping the region's demographic and cultural landscape. The genocide of the Dzungar people and the resettlement of other ethnic groups in their place laid the foundation for the ethnically and religiously diverse Xinjiang that exists today. The Qing's approach to Xinjiang was emblematic of their broader imperial policy, which sought to expand and secure the empire's frontiers while promoting a multi-ethnic conception of the Chinese state.

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