Changes and Cultural Choices in Land Tenure Documents in Huihu Script and Chaatai Script

Abstract

The Huihu language and the Chaatai language were the languages used by the Uyghur people in history. A large number of documents, including a large number of contract documents, were recorded and retained by these scripts. Contract documents, as documentary historical materials, more directly recorded the economic life of the feudal society. Not only that, but also reflected many problems in other areas of social life. The land contract documents with different characters in different periods can reflect the potential process of faith change and cultural change, as well as the cultural choice and normal concept of the group used, namely the ancient Uyghur people. This paper will analyze the land contract documents of Uyghur Manichaeism, Buddhism and Islam to discuss the intuitive changes of faith changes to the Uyghur society, as well as the Uyghur people's choices and preferences in faith and culture. By comparing the calendar, names, kinship, transaction contents and other details in the land lease documents of the two languages, this paper summarizes the acceptance degree of the ancient Uyghur people to different religions, and the differences in the process of absorbing and improving themselves from the doctrines and completing the transition.