Gumo 姑墨

The state of Gumo 姑墨 (Türkic name Aksu) was located at the northern route of the Silk Road, in the region of modern Aksu 阿克蘇, Xinjiang. The capital city of this state was called Nancheng 南城. It declared its tributary status towards the Han dynasty 漢 (206 BCE-220 CE) in the early 1st centry BCE and was administered by the Protectorate of the Western Territories (xiyu duhufu 西域都護府). Gumo was an important hub on the northern route of the Silk Road and connected Qiuci 龜茲 with Yutian 于闐 in the south and the land of the Wusun 烏孫 in the north. During the reign of the usurper Wang Mang 王莽 (8-23 CE), King Cheng 承 killed the king of the neighbouring state of Wensu 溫宿. During the Northern Wei period 北魏 (386-534) it belonged to the state of Qiuci. In later times, Gumo was also called Asu 阿速 or Moman 末蠻.