hotan
hotan Lexical Profile
• noun
A major oasis city and prefecture in southwestern Xinjiang, China, located in the Tarim Basin and historically renowned as a critical stop on the southern branch of the Silk Road.
"The merchants traveled to Hotan to trade for its famous nephrite jade and exquisite silk textiles."
An ancient Iranian Saka Buddhist kingdom that existed along the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert until the early second millennium.
"During its peak, Hotan served as a prominent center of Buddhist learning and cross-cultural exchange between India, China, and the Greco-Roman world."
Word Nuance & Usage
The name is frequently spelled 'Khotan' in historical, linguistic, and archaeological contexts when referring to the ancient Buddhist kingdom.
• Rhymes for hotan
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the historical name of the ancient Kingdom of Khotan, with roots tracing back to early Indo-Iranian languages. The modern English spelling typically reflects a transliteration of the Uyghur 'Xoten' or Mandarin 'Hétián'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.