The Kucha River divides the temple in two parts. [Photo by Yu Xiangjun]

Buddhism spread east from the Western Regions of China. The Han-style pagodas in Xinjiang prove that Buddhism, after integrating with Chinese characteristics of China's inland, returned to the Western Regions. This pagoda in Subash, built around the same period as the Tang Dynasty Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (built in 652), is just one example. However, these two pagodas differ in size and function, which confirms that Chinese Buddhism was localized in the Western Regions.

Historical records show that after reunifying the Western Regions during the Tang Dynasty, the country enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity. In 656, the emperor ordered that Kucha be made the seat of the administrative body of the west, aka the Protectorate of General to Pacify the West. Kucha was then more influenced by the Central Plains Buddhism as communication with the inland strengthened. Under this circumstance, the culture and art of Kucha Buddhism, just like the unearthed Han-style pagoda shows, integrated inland elements and developed new features.

In 1903, a Japanese exploration team led by Otani Kozui unearthed a wooden box in Subash and kept it as plunder in Tokyo National Museum. The box, made for preserving Buddhist relics, is decorated with paintings of four naked children playing instruments on the lid and a dancing picture on the side. Three years later, French archeologist Paul Pelliot carried out an excavation here and is believed to have stolen seven exquisite boxes containing Buddhist relics.

Other excavated items include Chinese coins dating from the Han Dynasty (202 BC- AD 220) to the Tang Dynasty, silver coins depicting Khosrow II of the Sassanian Persian Empire, murals, clay sculptures, and wooden slips carved with ancient ethnic characters.