Western Xia guardsman, 11th century

The Western Xia or Xi Xia (西夏) was a Tangut-ruled empire which existed from 1038 to 1227 in what are now the northwestern China and southernmost Mongol. The Western Xia occupied the area round the Hexi Corridor, a stretch of the Silk Road, the most important trade route between North China and Central Asia. They made significant achievements in literature, art, music, and architecture. Their extensive stance among the other empires of the Liao, Song, and Jin was attributable to their effective military organizations. However, the empire and their capital Xingqing was completely destroyed by the Mongols in 1227. Most of its written records and architecture were destroyed, so the history of the empire remained obscure until 20th century.

Western Xia developed Tangut script to write their own language - albeit heavily based on Chinese characters. The empire's official name "White High Great Xia State (白高大夏國 in Chinese)" is written in Tangut script on the drawing above.