THE WESTERN REGIONS OF CHINA IN TANG DYNASTY: THE CONVERSION TO THE OTHER AS AN IMAGINARY COMMUNITY

The Western Regions of China, as the result of integral conception of Chinese culture, had been playing a complementary and consultable role for a long time in the value system of oriental culture. Chinese culture reached its peak in Tang Dynasty while then East-Asia civilization whose essence is Chinese culture came into being. Under this circumstance, the Western Regions of China had actually integrated into Chinese culture step by step. The role of the Western Regions of China had been replaced by western part to it, that is, the Western Regions of China had realized its conversion from the other to self. To understand the culture of Western Region is of great significance to the understanding of the present regional culture of Xinjiang and the relationship between oriental culture and western culture.