What is Western Regions?
[[File:Western_Regions_1st_century_BC(en).png|thumb|300x300px|Xiyu 1st century: Persian Parthian empire to southwest; Central Asian kingdoms in the middle; Xinjiang, [[China]] to the west]] {{History of Xinjiang}} The '''Western Regions''' or '''Xiyu''' ({{Lang-zh|c=西域|p=Xīyù|s=|t=}}) refers to [[Central Asia]], specifically west of the [[Yumen pass]]. It was used in Chinese between the 3rd century BC to the 8th century AD.<ref>{{Cite book|title=China and her neighbours, from ancient times to the Middle Ages: a collection of essays|last=Tikhvinskiĭ|first=Sergeĭ Leonidovich and Leonard Sergeevich Perelomov|publisher=Progress Publishers|year=1981|page=124}}</ref> It sometimes refers to [[Xinjiang]] or even northern parts of the [[Indian subcontinent]] (as in the novel ''Journey to the West''). Because it is located on the [[Silk Road]], the xiyu have been important since at least the 3rd century BC. == History == The Han–Xiongnu War (ended 89 AD) was fought there. In the 7th century, the Tang campaign against the Western Regions led to Chinese control of the region. The xiyu became an important place of exchange between [[East Asia]], the Indian subcontinent, and the [[Islamic world|Muslim world]]. This was especially true during the [[Mongol Empire]]. [[Buddhism]] spread through the region to [[China]]. The [[Tang Dynasty|Tang dynasty]] monk [[Xuanzang]] crossed the region on his way to study in India. When he returned to [[Chang'an]], the influential ''Great Tang Records on the Western Regions'' was written. ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Asia]] [[Category:Pages with unreviewed translations]]