By the ninth century Gaochang was under control of the Turkic Uighurs. Over the next century they moved into the region around Dunhuang. The Chinese loyalist regime of Dunhuang was increasingly isolated, especially after 881 when the Chinese capital was taken by rebels (see cat. no. 188). Just as in the mid-eighth-century, the Chinese turned attention away from the Silk Road to deal with rebels at home. However the practice of local Chinese administrators submitting reports to the court continued, as seen in this report dated 884 from officials at Suzhou (near Dunhuang), dealing with negotiations between the Uighurs and Dunhuang.
Ink on paper
The British Library
Or.8210/S.2589