This paper refines existing interpretations of the epitaphs of Kang Ye and Shi Jun, two Sogdian individuals in the Western Wei period, through a combination of careful textual analysis, institutional comparisons spanning time and region, and iconographic studies. Regarding Kang Ye’s epitaph, it first confirms that the “Datianzhu” was a religious leader involved in certain secular affairs. Subsequently, it argues against the notion that Kang Ye’s father held the title of “Datianzhu” twice, suggesting instead that he initially served as an acting official, necessitating a probationary period, before receiving formal appointment in the sixteenth year of Datong era (550). Turning to Shi Jun’s epitaph, the paper challenges the prevailing narrative that he assumed the position of “Sabao” in Liangzhou after the fifth year of Baoding era (565) in the Northern Zhou period. It deems his advanced age at that time and the syntactical division involving the term “caozhu” as implausible. Instead, the study establishes that Shi Jun became a “Sabao” in the fifth year of Datong era (539) during the Western Wei period, less than five years after he began his service in the “Sabao” institution. Shi Jun stands as the initial exemplar of a “Sabao” appointment during the Western Wei period. By synthesizing the experiences of Kang Ye’s father and Shi Jun’s career progression, this research concludes that, although the Western Wei regime left limited records of Sogdian officials, they exercised great caution during appointments, preferring to formally confer significant positions only after confirming the suitability of the officials’ performance.
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