Ushrusana: City of Bunjikat, Kala-i Kahkaha I & II Palaces, etc. 5th-9th C. CE

Ushrusana was a Sogdian principality. From the 5th-7th C. CE it was ruled by the Hephthalites (White Huns). It was briefly ruled by the Turks from 560-600 CE. From 600-892 CE it was ruled by the Afshins who were rulers of Sogdian or Hunnic ancestry. Despite the Arab Muslims invading the region in the 600s CE, the Ushrusanians were able to hold onto their independence and traditions until almost the 10th C. CE. The inhabitants were said to practice "The White Religion" according to written sources (UNESCO publication: History of civilizations of Central Asia, v. 3: The Crossroads of civilizations, A.D. 250 to 750).

From Wikipedia:

"The Principality of Ushrusana (also spelled Usrushana, Osrushana or Ustrushana) was a local dynasty ruling the Ushrusana region, in the northern area of modern Tajikistan, from an unknown date to 892 CE. The rulers of the principality were known by their title of Afshin. Ushrusana may have been associated with remnants of the Kidarites in Eastern Sogdiana. The Kidarites, who are otherwise known for their rule in Gandhara in the 4-5th century CE, may have survived and possibly established a Kidarite kingdom in Usrushana. This connection may be apparent from the analysis of the coinage, and in the names of some Ushrusana rulers such as Khaydhar ibn Kawus al-Afshin, whose personal name is attested as "Khydhar", and was sometimes written wrongly as "Haydar" in Arabic. In effect, the name "Kydr" was quite popular in Usrushana, and is attested in many contemporary sources. The title Afshin used by the rulers of Usrushana is also attested in a Kidarite ruler of Samarkand of the 5th century named Ularg, who bore the similar title "Afshiyan" (Bactrian script: αφϸιιανο)."

From UNESCO:

"Ustrushana was closely linked to Sughd ( Sogdiana) by its historical destiny and ethnic, linguistic and cultural history. It originally formed part of the territory of Sughd, but then developed its own historical and cultural identity as the area became more urbanized. To the west and southwest it bordered on Sughd, to the east and north-east on Khujand and Ferghana and to the north on Ilak and Chach (present day Tashkent). The discovery and deciphering of the Sogdian documents from Mount Mug on the upper Zerafshan established that the correct form of the name is Ustrushana.

The population of Ustrushana consisted of tribes and clans, speaking a dialect of Sogdian, with an economy based on settled agriculture and urban crafts. The Chinese Buddhist pilgrims Hsüan-tsang and Huei-ch’ao note a certain community of culture – language, mores and customs – between the people of Ustrushana and the Sogdians of the Zerafshan valley, Ferghana, Chach and the adjacent regions. Hsüan tsang calls the whole land between Suyab and Kish by the name ‘Su-le’, and its population ‘Sogdians’. Archaeological excavations show common traits in the artefacts of the region’s culture.

The architectural ornamentation and monumental art of Ustrushana are rich and varied. Murals of high artistic quality with floral and geometric patterns and depictions of secular, epic-heroic, mythological and cultural scenes were an important feature of the interior decoration of palaces, castles and other buildings (Figs. 35–39). Many examples of wood-carving and clay-moulding have survived: columns, beams, cornices, friezes, thresholds, door posts and door frames, lintels, window grilles, entrance screens, artistic clay mouldings and patterned fired bricks (Figs. 40–45). The capital, Bunjikat, was the main centre for the development of architecture and the applied arts.

Ustrushana also had a rich variety of spiritual and cultural traditions, for the most part purely local. According to written sources, the Ustrushanians practised the so-called ‘white religion’, in which carved wooden idols were adorned with precious stones. Idols of this type were kept in the palaces of Haidar (the Ustrushanian ruler) in Samarra, in Ustrushana itself and in Buttam, and they were also brought to Ustrushana by refugees from Khuttal. Many toponyms in this region included the word mug (fire-worshipper). So far archaeologists have discovered the castle and palace shrines mentioned above and an urban idol temple. Other finds include wooden idols in Chilhujra (Fig. 46), a house of fire at Ak-tepe near Nau, a dakhma at Chorsokha-tepe near Shahristan, rock burial vaults near Kurkat with human remains in khums (large jars) and ossuaries, and a number of other burials in khums and ossuaries in various regions of Ustrushana.

All these finds are evidence of a particular local form of Zoroastrianism that incorporated the worship of idols and various divinities and other religious practices, and is also reflected in the monumental art of Ustrushana.

The worship of the ancestor of a family line and dynasty is known from written sources. It is also known that religious as well as secular power was concentrated in the hands of the afshins of Ustrushana and that they were almost deified, as is clear from the formula by which they were addressed – ‘To the lord of lords from his slave so-and-so the son of so-and-so’."

Four-armed Nana on lion, holding sun and moon. From Bunjikat, 8th-9th C. CE.

Four-armed Nana on lion, holding sun and moon. From Bunjikat, 8th-9th C. CE.

Four-armed Nana on lion, holding sun and moon. From Bunjikat, 8th-9th C. CE.

Four-armed Nana on lion, holding sun and moon. From Bunjikat, 8th-9th C. CE.

Bunjikat archer Goddess in crescent crown, 7th-8th C. CE. Image source: Jeff Rozwadowsk's flickr.

Bunjikat archer Goddess in crescent crown, 7th-8th C. CE.

Bunjikat archer Goddess in crescent crown, 7th-8th C. CE.

Bunjikat archer Goddess in crescent crown, 7th-8th C. CE.

Deity, Kalai Khakaha, early 9th C. CE, Hermitage Museum.

Banquet scene, wall painting, Kala-i Kakhkakha I, Palace, Room 4 North wall, Bunjakath, 7-8th C. CE.

Coin inscribed, in Sogdian, with the name of Afshin ruler Rakhanch, obverse, 7th C. CE. Found in Penjakent.

Rakhanch, Ustrushana, circa 600-725 CE.

Copy of wall painting, Kala-i Kakhkakha I, Palace, Room 11, Bunjakath, 7-8th C. CE.

Copy of original. Two children nursed by wolf, possibly Romulus and Remus. Kala-i Kakhkakha I, Palace.

Two children nursed by wolf, possibly Romulus and Remus. Kala-i Kakhkakha I, Palace.

Wall painting, Bunjakat, 8-9th C. CE.

Bunjikat figure in helmet with crescent moon, 8th-9th C. CE.

Three warriors, wall painting, Bunjakath, 8-9th C. CE.

Three warriors, wall painting, Bunjakath, 8-9th C. CE.

Burnt wood floral decoration from Kala-i Kakhkakha 1.

Burnt wooden head of a woman, Kala-i Kakhkakha I palace, 7-8th C. CE, National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan.

Burnt wooden statue, Kala-i Kakhkakha, Chilkhujra castle, 6-7th C. CE, National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan.

Burnt wooden statue of a Prince, Kala-i Kakhkakha I palace, 7-8th C. CE, National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan.

Burnt wooden head of a Goddess, late 8th C. CE. From the palace of Kala-i Kakhkakha, Tajikistan.

Burnt wooden head of a Goddess, late 8th C. CE. From the palace of Kala-i Kakhkakha, Tajikistan.

Horse (in dark brown on the right) approaching a fallen man (to his left), wall painting, Bunjakath, 8-9th C. CE.

Demon figure (note upturned fangs), wall painting, Bunjakath, 8-9th C. CE.

Demon with three eyes and skulls in hair. Bunjikat 7th-8th C. CE.

Demon with three eyes and skulls in hair.

Demon with three eyes and skulls in hair.

Demon with fangs.

Demon with fangs.

Bunjikat, Kala-i Kahkaha 1 towards west.

Kalai Kahkaha 1.

Kalai Kahkaha 2.

Copy of wall painting, Kala-i Kakhkakha I, Palace, Room 11, Bunjakath, 7-8th C. CE.

Bunjikat figurine.

Kala-i Kahkaha.

Kala-i Kahkaha.

Kala-i Kahkaha.

Kala-i Kahkaha.

Kala-i Kahkaha.

Kala-i Kahkaha.

Ornamental Frieze, wall painting, Kala-i Kakhkakha I, Palace, Room 4, East wall, Bunjakath, 7-8th C. CE. National Museum of Antiquities, Dushanbe.

Angel (?), wall painting, Kala-i Kakhkakha I, Palace, Room 4 North wall, Bunjakath, 7-8th C. CE.

Ornamental frieze with vegetal motif, wall painting, Kala-i Kakhkakha I, Palace, Room 4, North wall, Bunjakath, 7-8th C. CE.

Legs of horse above an ornamental frieze, wall painting, Kala-i Kakhkakha I, Palace, Room 4, East wall, Bunjakath, 7-8th C. CE.

Archer, wall painting, Kala-i Kakhkakha I, Palace, Room 4, East wall, Bunjakath, 7-8th C. CE.

Battle scene, wall painting, Kala-i Kakhkakha I, Palace, Room 11, South wall, Bunjakath, 7-8th C. CE.

Bare legs of a man, wall painting, Kala-i Kakhkakha I, Palace, Room 4, North wall.

Bunjikat archer Goddess in crescent crown, 7th-8th C. CE.

Bunjikat archer Goddess in crescent crown, 7th-8th C. CE.

Source/Quote:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osrushana

https://awanderer.smugmug.com/Travel/Tajikistan/Penjikent-Murals-Tajikistan/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bunjikat_goddess.jpg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/9549670@N05/24414719504/in/photostream/

https://bialczynski.pl/2013/08/16/duch-gor-gryfy-amazonki-i-inne-materialy-scyto-slowianskie/

http://isekineko.jp/tajikistan-istarahusyan.html

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coin_Rakhanch_NMAT_RTL213_(obverse_and_reverse).jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rakhanch,_Ustrushana,_circa_600-725_CE.jpg

https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsFarEast/AsiaSogdianaUstrushana.htm

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Demone-guerriero_alato,_dal_palazzo_di_kalai_kahkaha,_cam_4,_muro_w,_inizio_IX_sec.JPG

https://www.alamy.com/fragment-of-a-mural-with-a-three-eyed-demon-with-skulls-in-their-hair-8th-9th-century-found-in-the-collection-of-the-national-museum-of-antiquities-of-tajikistan-dushanbe-image462499561.html

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Heads_of_Demons,_Kala-i_Kahkaha_I_Palace,_Bunjikat,_Ustrushana,_8th%E2%80%939th_century_CE.jpg

http://isekineko.jp/tajikistan-dushanbe.html

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Demon_with_three_eyes_and_skulls_in_his_hair._Kala-i_Kakhkakha_I,_Bunjikat,_8-9th_century,_National_Museum_of_Antiquities_of_Tajikistan,_RTL_253.jpg

https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000104612

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Ushrusana

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bunjikat_wall_painting_of_goddess_Nana.jpg

https://arjuna-vallabha.tumblr.com/post/643944414072438784/amp

https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-iranica-online/sogdiana-COM_12031

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bunjikat_wall_painting_of_goddess_Nana.jpg

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Deity,_Kalai_Khakaha,_early_9th_century_CE,_Hermitage_Museum.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunjikat_(archeological_site)

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tajikistan_National_Museum_of_Antiquities_(42832477725).jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Head_of_a_goddess_NMAT_KHaAO75B-III-RTL-43.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Burnt_wooden_statue,_Kala-i_Kakhkakha,_Chilkhujra_castle,_6-7th_century,_National_Museum_of_Antiquities_of_Tajikistan.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Burnt_wooden_head_of_a_woman,_Kala-i_Kakhkakha_I_palace,_7-8th_century,_National_Museum_of_Antiquities_of_Tajikistan.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Burnt_wooden_statue_of_a_Prince,_Kala-i_Kakhkakha_I_palace,_7-8th_century,_National_Museum_of_Antiquities_of_Tajikistan.jpg

https://hulule-hulule-voyage.blogspot.com/2016/11/blog-post_17.html

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bunjikat,_figure_with_pointed_and_crescented_helmet.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bunjikat,KahkahaDushanbe1.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bunjikat_Remus_and_Romulus.jpg

https://uchitelj.livejournal.com/606651.html

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bunjikat,KahkahaDushanbe2.jpg