Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s3.t1.27

v2.c13.s3.t1.27

There are several references to Kashgar in Chinese literature dating back to the former Han period (206 BCE – 9 CE). It was then known in Chinese records as Shule (疏勒). From 2^nd – 10^th century CE, Kashgar emerged as a prominent Buddhist centre. Due to this, it developed links with other major Buddhist centres in the northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It has been noted by scholars that there must have existed a channel of transmission of stupa architecture models from Gandhara, Swat and Kashmir to the regions of eastern Central Asia and such transmission confirms links between Kashgar and northwestern Indian subcontinent.