Lands of Asia layouts (Eng) 26.11.21

part ii | states
Bactrian and Parthian coins, + name of the founder of the dynasty, as on Parthian
and, as it now turns out, Kushan coins.
Thus, it is fair to assume that the Khalchayan building was indeed a palace, later
transformed into a temple of deified ancestors. Its principal sculptural compositions
were devoted to the glorification and accession to power of the new Yuezhi dynasty,
the Kushan. The sculpture of the ruler in the reception scene most probably depicts
the founder of the new dynasty, Kushan. The main figures in the Khalchayan
sculpture depict a generalised ethnic Yuezhi type, rather than the representatives of
any particular clan. The sculptural compositions from the Khalchayan palace could
only have been created after this part of Northern Bactria was incorporated into the
Kushan kingdom, which, judging by numismatic data, happened under the reign of
the son of Kujula Kadphises – Wima I Tak(to).
Clearly the Khalchayan sculptures are an integral part of the genesis of dynastic art
of the Kushan state, or the Great Yuezhi state, as it is referred to in ancient Chinese texts.
Other forms of art from the Yuezhi period have yet to be discovered. However,
we can mention the development of terracotta as reflected in some of the types of
terracotta statuettes that have been found.
Ancient art from the territory of Uzbekistan reached its peak of development in
antiquity, the time when the powerful Kushan and Kangju states came into being.
This was a time when cities flourished, with a dense network of them, along
with smaller towns, across the territory of Transoxiana. The Silk Road flourished
too, promoting intellectual and cultural exchange between the East and the West.
Central Asia played the role of both an intermediary and a transmitter of many of
its own cultural achievements, and Sogdian colonies emerged along the length of
the eastern part of the route, all the way to the capital of Han
China, Changan. The economy, based on agriculture, and
crafts developed intensively in parallel with commoditymoney
relations.
All this could not but have an impact on the
development of art. Representational art evolved
and developed rapidly in this period, along with new
forms of art such as three-dimensional, wall-mounted,
monumental clay and plaster, painted sculpture, as can
be seen in the diverse compositions in Khalchayan,
Dalverzintepa, Fayaztepa, Karatepa and Toprak-
Kala. The interiors of many palaces and temples were
decorated with monumental wall-paintings using a rich
palette of colours and a range of secular and religious
Kushan head. Clay. 1st
century BC–1st century AD.
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