The Hexi Corridor was related to “ structural connection ”, “geopolitics ” and “ multiethnic groups ” during the first and second periods of the Tang. Before the An Lushan Rebellion, the Hexi Corridor was a strategic point, which connected the core of the empire with the Western Region. However, its strategy did not work because of the rebellion, while the political structure was also destroyed. Both the whole political structure of the Tang and the function of the Hexi Corridor relied on designated geographical conditions and were restricted by the latter. This is the geopolitical essential aspect. In short, in the geopolitical structure of the Tang , multiethnic groups as opposed to other groups, played an important role. If the political entity could put different peoples under its dominion, would have been a so called “ empire ”, otherwise, if those external peoples were separated from the entity, it would lose the characteristics of an empire.

the Hexi Corridor; structural connection; geopolitics; multiethnic groups