2. During the period of1980, carpet fragments in the late Western Han Dynasty were excavated in the ancient tomb of Loulan, Xinjiang.
3. Carpets of Han Dynasty were unearthed in Kuche County, Xinjiang.
4. The Northern Dynasties carpets were unearthed in the ancient site of bachu county, Xinjiang.
These archaeological cases prove that carpet weaving in Xinjiang has a history of more than 2,000 years. At the same time, Xinjiang carpets have also played an extremely important role in the history of carpet development in China.
Historically, carpets in Xinjiang were often introduced into the Central Plains as tributes and commodities, and this situation was recorded in many ancient books. At present, a large number of Xinjiang high-grade carpets, silk carpets, gold carpets and silver carpets collected by the Weaving and Embroidery Hall of the Palace Museum in Beijing belong to the tribute emperors of Xinjiang in the Qing Dynasty. Chang 'an, the old capital of the Tang Dynasty, had a shop specializing in carpets in the western regions. In the Southern Song Dynasty, a mutual market was established in Gaochang (now Turpan) to trade silk carpets with the northwest region.
With the introduction of Xinjiang carpet into the mainland, its technology also entered the Central Plains, which promoted the rise of the carpet industry in the Central Plains. By the Ming Dynasty, carpets had been widely produced in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. At that time, Mato Ahong, a carpet weaving artist in Xinjiang, was invited by Hui people in Ningxia to teach in Yinchuan, and finally the carpet weaving technology also flowed into Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. Up to now, Mato Ahong's tombstone still stands under the pagoda in Yinchuan City, and people respectfully call it "Mato's ancestor".
The great development of carpet industry in Xinjiang began in the early 20th century. During the Anti-Japanese War, large-scale carpet weaving workshops were set up in Hotan and Luopu. Since 1950s, the people's government convened carpet weavers living in various places to set up the first carpet factory in Hotan, which ushered in the new year of carpet industry in Xinjiang. Subsequently, a number of state-owned and cooperative carpet factories were established in Hotan, Luopu, Sha Feng, Yecheng, Kashgar, Akshabayinguoleng and Urumqi.
Xinjiang carpets not only have a long history, but also have high artistic value. Xinjiang is the only place on the ancient Silk Road. At that time, Chinese and western business travelers had sold Xinjiang carpets to the west, and at the same time brought ancient Persian carpets to Xinjiang, so the carpets of the two countries also influenced each other in weaving technology and decorative patterns. From 16 to 19 century, Xinjiang carpets imported to Europe and America were treasured by many art collectors. Up to now, the Victoria and Arabia Museum in London, England, and the Handicraft and Art Museum in Frankfurt, Germany have collected Xinjiang wool carpets or silk carpets and silk-wool blended carpets as treasures for people to enjoy.
Xinjiang carpets are famous for their long history and superb skills. It is a traditional ethnic handicraft in Xinjiang and one of the main export commodities. Hotan is the hometown of carpets in Xinjiang, also known as oriental carpets. No matter the style, pattern and color, they are full of national characteristics and local styles, and are famous for their excellent raw materials, delicate texture, dense fluff, thin carpet surface and complex patterns. There are many varieties and mottled colors. Ai's styles are mainly Yalu River, Iranian, Chaqima and Aral styles, most of which are symmetrical and neat, with rough lines and strong contrasting colors. According to the purpose, there are carpets, tapestries, mats, prayer carpets, mattresses and so on. Xinjiang carpets are also exquisite works of art and are collected by many art collectors. Up to now, the Victoria and Arabia Museum in London, the Textile Museum in Washington, USA, and the Handicraft Museum in Frankfurt, Germany all collect Xinjiang wool carpets or silk carpets as treasures for people to enjoy.