Taank Kingdom
Taank Kingdom was a confederation based in Punjab, in 6th and 7th centuries. The rulers of the kingdom are only known from sources of chronicles and minted coins.[1]
Taank Kingdom | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| circa 550–circa 700 | |||||||||
 Taank Kingdom shown in violet in the north of the Indian subcontinent circa 700 AD. | |||||||||
| Capital | Lahore | ||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism Buddhism | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | circa 550 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | circa 700 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | Pakistan India | ||||||||
Time Period
It is difficult to determine the accurate time period of the Kingdom. It is known that till mid 6th century, most of the Punjab region was being ruled by Alchon ruler, Mihirakula, as reported by Chinese monk Song Yun in 518 AD.[2] After his death, Alchon Huns lost control of Punjab and were forced to retreat towards Gandhara under the leadership of Toramana II,[3] hence establishing the Taank Kingdom. Similarly, details about the end of the kingdom are also obscure. Buddhist monk Xuanzang described it as a large and prosperous kingdom in 630 AD,[4] which means the kingdom existed at least until mid 7th century. Most probably the Kingdom was annexed by Turk Shahis in 7th century. However, it is known that Lahore was capital of a kingdom, possibly Taank, in the 10th century, independent of Hindu Shahis. In circa 990, Hindu Shah Jayapala was challenged by Raja of Lahore, who wanted to gain control of cities of Nandana and Jailam , but was defeated and Lahore was annexed into Hindu Shahi Kingdom.[5]
Travels of Xuanzang
Location
The most of information about the existence of the kingdom is derived from the travels of Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang, who described it in the following words:
The country of Takka (Taank) is south of Kashmira, extending from the Indus river to its west and Vipasha river to its east. They produce abundant quantities of non-sticky rice and wheat, also gold, brass, iron and other metals.[4]
Culture
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About their religion, he says that they do not believe in Buddhism, and pray in several hundred deva temples. The country has only ten Buddhist monasteries left, although he does mention surviving monasteries in Sagala with hundreds of Buddhist monks, along with its three colossal stupas, each over 200 feet tall, two built by Ashoka.[4]
While describing the capital, Lahore, he says it was “chiefly inhabited by Brahmins”[7] and was a large and prosperous city when he visited the region in 630 CE.[8]
References
- Tod, James (1829). Annals and Antiquities of Rajast'han, Or, The Central and Western Rajpoot States of India. Madras: Higginbotham and Co. 1873. ISBN 9788120603509.
- Chavannes 1903, pp. pp. 381–382, 386. (Adapted from the French and including pinyin romanisations)
- Alram, Michael (2014a). "From the Sasanians to the Huns New Numismatic Evidence from the Hindu Kush". The Numismatic Chronicle. 174: 278. ISSN 0078-2696.
- Li Rongxi (1996), The Great Tang Dynasty Record of the Western Regions, Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai and Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research, Berkeley, pp. 97–100
- Rehman 1976.
- Directorate General of Archaeology. "KATAS RAJ TEMPLES". Government of Punjab.
- Wink, André (1991). Al-Hind:The Making Of The Indo-Islamic World. BRILL. p. 189. ISBN 9004095098.
- Bosworth, C. Edmund (2007). Historic Cities of the Islamic World. Brill. ISBN 978-9047423836. Retrieved 26 December 2017.