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31-412: The county seat is in the town of Niya , which is often referred to by the county name (Minfeng) as well. The Niya ruins are located 115 km north of Niya. In the early 20th century, Aurel Stein carried out several expeditions in the area including exploration of the ancient Niya ruins . In 1945, Minfeng Shezhiju ( 民豐設治局 ) was established. In 1947, the area became Minfeng County. In 2012,

62-564: A full proposal to explore, map and study the antiquities of Central Asia as per the recommendations of Hoernle, who personally petitioned both the Government of Punjab and Government of India, lobbying for a quick approval. Within weeks, Stein's proposal was informally approved. In January 1899, Stein received the formal approval and funds for his first expedition. Stein thereafter received approval and support for additional expeditions to Chinese Turkestan , other parts of Tibet and Central Asia where

93-623: A local reading the Shahnama in Turki . During 1901, Stein was responsible for exposing forgeries of Islam Akhun , as well as establishing the details and the authenticity of manuscripts that had been discovered before 1896 in northwest China. Stein's greatest discovery was made at the Mogao Caves , also known as "Caves of the Thousand Buddhas", near Dunhuang in 1907. It was there that he discovered

124-695: A printed copy of the Diamond Sutra , the world's oldest printed text, dating to AD 868, along with 40,000 other scrolls (all removed by gradually winning the confidence and bribing the Taoist caretaker). He took 24 cases of manuscripts and 4 cases of paintings and relics. He was knighted for his efforts, but Chinese nationalists dubbed him a burglar and staged protests against him, although others have seen his actions as at least advancing scholarship. His discovery inspired other French, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese treasure hunters and explorers who also took their toll on

155-660: A relation between the two names. Niya/Minfeng was known in ancient time as Ronglu ( 戎盧 ) during the Han dynasties (206 BC - 222 AD) and, according to the Hanshu Chapter 96A, was said to have had "240 households, 610 individuals with 300 persons able to bear arms" during the Former Han Dynasty (206 BC - 23 AD). It is situated about 115 km north of the modern town of Minfeng. Numerous Buddhist scriptures, sculptures, mummies and other precious archeological finds have been made in

186-586: A tent in the alpine meadow called Mohand Marg which lies at the mouth atop the Sind Valley . Years earlier, working from this idyllic spot he translated Rajatarangini from Sanskrit into English, which had then been published in 1900. A memorial stone was erected in Mohand Marg on 14 September 2017 where Stein used to pitch his tent. The fourth expedition to Central Asia, however, ended in failure. Stein did not publish any account, but others have written of

217-795: Is buried there in the Sherpur Cantonment . Stein, as well as his rivals Sven Hedin , Sir Francis Younghusband and Nikolai Przhevalsky , were active players in the British-Russian struggle for influence in Central Asia, the so-called Great Game . Their explorations were supported by the British and Russian Empires as they filled in the remaining "blank spots" on the maps, providing valuable information and creating " spheres of influence " for archaeological exploration as they did for political influence. The art objects he collected are divided between

248-543: Is labeled so on less detailed maps. An ancient town also called Niya is located 115 km to the north of this modern Niya. The former name for the Niya region was Nina . The word seems to be related to the Greek word nimma ( Greek : νίμμα ), meaning "pure water". During the Han dynasty , the city was known as Jingjue. This word's Chinese characters mean "pure" or "clean", implying

279-601: Is the result of his travels through central Asia during the 1920s and 1930s. Stein discovered manuscripts in the previously lost Tocharian languages of the Tarim Basin at Miran and other oasis towns, and recorded numerous archaeological sites, especially in Iran and Balochistan . When Stein visited Khotan he was able to render in Persian a portion of the Shahnama after he came across

310-694: The 1910 King's Birthday Honours , he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) for his service as Inspector-General of Education and Archaeological Surveyor in the North-West Frontier Province . Two years later, in the 1912 Birthday Honours , he was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) for his service as Superintendent of the Archaeological Department, North-West Frontier Circle. He

341-747: The British Museum , the British Library , the Srinagar Museum, and the National Museum, New Delhi . Stein received a number of honours during his career. In 1909, he was awarded the Founder's Medal by the Royal Geographical Society 'for his extensive explorations in Central Asia, and in particular his archaeological work'. In 1909, he was awarded the first Campbell Memorial Gold Medal by

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372-762: The Royal Asiatic Society of Bombay . He was awarded a number of other gold medals: the Gold Medal of the Société de Géographie in 1923; the Grande Médaille d'or of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland in 1932; and the Gold Medal of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1935. In 1934, he was awarded the Huxley Memorial Medal of Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland . In

403-559: The Taklamakan Desert and consists of large areas of sand dunes . The population centers on oases around rivers flowing down from the mountains in the southern part of the county. As of 1997, on average, Minfeng experienced blowing dust or sand on 189 days in a year and visibility below 4,800 meters for more than half of winter and summer as well as for thirty to forty percent of spring. The lowest spring time temperature recorded in Minfeng

434-547: The World Uyghur Congress . In September 2015, residents of the county were reported to be subject to new rules concerning unacceptable given names for Uyghur children. On December 8, 2019, County Communist Party Committee Vice Secretary ( 县委副书记 ) and County Magistrate ( 县长 ) Ëziz Eli ( 艾则孜·艾力 ) penned a criticism of the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act . The northern part of the county is located in

465-755: The Indologist and philologist Rudolf Hoernlé in Vienna at a conference of Orientalists , learning about an ancient mathematical manuscript discovered in Bakhshali ( Peshawar ). In 1887 Stein went to India, where he joined the University of the Punjab as Registrar. Later, between 1888 and 1899, he was the Principal of Oriental College, Lahore . During this time, under his supervision Raghunath Temple Sanskrit Manuscript Library at Jammu

496-559: The Russians and Germans were already taking interest. He made his famous expeditions with the financial support of Punjab government and the British India government. Stein made four major expeditions to Central Asia —in 1900–1901, 1906–1908, 1913–1916 and 1930. He brought to light the hidden treasure of a great civilization which by then was practically lost to the world. One of his significant finds during his first journey during 1900–1901

527-690: The collection. Aurel Stein discovered 5 letters written in Sogdian known as the "Ancient Letters" in an abandoned watchtower near Dunhuang in 1907, dating to the end of the Western Jin dynasty. During his expedition of 1906–1908 while surveying south of the Johnson Line in the Kunlun Mountains , Stein suffered frostbite and lost several toes on his right foot. When he was resting from his extended journeys into Central Asia, he spent most of his time living in

558-667: The county included: Residential communities ( Mandarin Chinese Hanyu Pinyin -derived names ): Villages: The population of Niya Town proper declined between the 2000 and 2010 Census. Aurel Stein Sir Marc Aurel Stein , KCIE , FRAS , FBA ( Hungarian : Stein Márk Aurél ; 26 November 1862 – 26 October 1943) was a Hungarian-born British archaeologist , primarily known for his explorations and archaeological discoveries in Central Asia. He

589-586: The frustrations and rivalries between British and American interests in China, between Harvard's Fogg Museum and the British Museum, and finally, between Paul J. Sachs and Langdon Warner , the two Harvard sponsors of the expedition. Stein was a lifelong bachelor, but was always accompanied by a dog named "Dash" (of which there were seven). He became a British citizen in 1904. He died in Kabul on 26 October 1943 and

620-513: The original inhabitants of the city may have been members of Alexander the Great 's army, settling in the city during Alexander's conquests . In 2015, Lanpalu was added as a residential community . In 2017, Ankang, Xingfu, Tuanjie, Hexie, Guangming and Youyi were established as residential communities. Niya is located on China National Highway 315 , which is the main Ruoqiang - Hotan road along

651-459: The population of Niya (Minfeng) County was Uyghur and 8.91% of the population was Han Chinese. Niya Town Niya ( Uyghur : نىيە ‎ Нийә ; Chinese : 尼雅 ; pinyin : Níyǎ ), is a town in Minfeng County , Hotan Prefecture , Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region , China. It is the county seat of Minfeng County , and therefore is commonly referred to as Minfeng , and

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682-454: The region. The remains of more than seventy buildings have been discovered scattered over an area of some 45 km . It was located on the southern branch of the Silk Road . In the early 20th century, Aurel Stein carried out several expeditions in the area including exploration of the ancient Niya ruins . In 1991, a joint Sino-Japanese expedition dug up the ancient city and established that

713-647: The southern edge of the Tarim Basin . It is situated 120 km east of Keriya , and about 330 km west of Qiemo ( Cherchen ). Human habitation in the area is possible because of the Niya River, fed by the snows and glaciers of the Kunlun . Niya is a small town of about 10,000 people with a small market, shops, many restaurants, and a hotel. As of 2018, the county includes ten residential communities and two villages : Residential communities ( Mandarin Chinese Hanyu Pinyin -derived names ): Villages: In 2009,

744-471: The time, had received more artefacts and manuscripts but was concerned about the circumstances of their discovery and their authenticity. He recommended that Stein prepare an expedition proposal and submit it to the Governments of Punjab and India. Stein sent a draft proposal to Hoernle within a month. Hoernle discussed it with Lt Governor of Punjab (British India), who expressed enthusiasm. Stein then submitted

775-511: The township of Yawatongguz (Yawatongguzi) was established. In early 2015, a joint report issued by the Water Conservancy Office of Hotan prefecture and the regional Water Conservancy Department reported that up to 80 percent of the population of the county did not have access to clean drinking water. In June 2015 in the lead-up to Ramadan , a beer festival was held in the county leading to condemnation from Dilxat Raxit, spokesman for

806-481: Was -22°C. The county includes one town and six townships : The economy is primarily based on agriculture and livestock farming. Products of the county include corn, wheat, cotton and sheep wool. Industries in the county include electronics, agriculture technology, food processing, carpets and construction. As of 2015, Out of the 38,492 residents, 34,900 of the county were Uyghur , 3,509 were Han Chinese and 83 were from other ethnic groups. As of 1999, 90.94% of

837-419: Was also a professor at Indian universities. Stein was also an ethnographer, geographer, linguist and surveyor. His collection of books and manuscripts bought from Dunhuang caves is important for the study of the history of Central Asia and the art and literature of Buddhism . He wrote several volumes on his expeditions and discoveries which include Ancient Khotan , Serindia and Innermost Asia . Stein

868-829: Was born to Náthán Stein and Anna Hirschler, a Jewish couple residing in Budapest in the Kingdom of Hungary , Austrian Empire . His parents and his sister retained their Jewish faith but Stein and his brother, Ernst Eduard, were baptised as Lutherans . At home the family spoke German and Hungarian , Stein graduated from a secondary school in Budapest before going on for advanced study at Universities of Vienna , Leipzig and Tübingen . He graduated in Sanskrit and Persian and received his PhD from Tübingen in 1883. In 1884, he went to England to study oriental languages and archaeology. In 1886, Stein met

899-499: Was established which treasures 5000 rare manuscripts. Stein was influenced by Sven Hedin 's 1898 work Through Asia . In June 1898, he sought the help of Hoernle and a collaboration to find and study Central Asian antiquities. Hoernle was enthusiastic as he had already deciphered the Bower Manuscript and Weber Manuscript by then, found these to be respectively the oldest known birch bark and paper manuscripts of ancient India at

930-475: Was made an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) by the University of Oxford in 1909. He was made an honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) by the University of Cambridge in 1910. He was made an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) by the University of St Andrews in 1939. In 1919, Stein became a foreign member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences . In 1921, he was elected Fellow of

961-733: Was the Taklamakan Desert oasis of Dandan Oilik where he was able to uncover a number of relics. During his third expedition in 1913–1916, he excavated at Khara-Khoto . Later he explored in the Pamirs , seeking the site of the now-lost Stone Tower which the 2nd century polymath Claudius Ptolemy had noted as the half-way mark of the Silk Road in his famous treatise Geography . The British Library 's Stein collection of Chinese, Tibetan and Tangut manuscripts, Prakrit wooden tablets, and documents in Khotanese , Uyghur , Sogdian and Eastern Turkic

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