The origin of this name is as follows: In early days, the
Tangutans lived in the Central Asian Chin-shan, where they were workers of
iron. They made a model of the Chin-shan, which, in shape, resembled an
iron helmet. Now, in their language, "iron helmet" is Tang-kueeh, hence
the name of the country. To the present day, the Tangutans of the Koko-nor
wear a hat shaped like a pot, high crowned and narrow, rimmed with red
fringe sewn on it, so that it looks like an iron helmet, and this is a
proof of [the accuracy of the derivation].' Although the proof is not very
satisfactory, it is as good as we are often offered by authors with greater
pretension to learning.
"If I remember rightly, Prjevalsky derives the name from two words meaning
'black tents.'" (W. W. Rockhill, China Br. R. As. Soc., XX. pp.
278-279.)
"Chinese authorities tell us that the name [Tangut] was originally borne
by a people living in the Altai', and that the word is Turkish.... The
population of Tangut was a mixture of Tibetans, Turks, Uighurs, Tukuhuns,
Chinese, etc." (Rockhill, Rubruck, p. 150, note. - H. C.)]
Sachiu is SHACHAU, "Sand-district," an outpost of China Proper, at the
eastern verge of the worst part of the Sandy Desert. It is recorded to
have been fortified in the 1st century as a barrier against the Hiongnu.
