diplomat famed for exploits in Inner Asia

diplomat famed for exploits in Inner Asia

Zhang Qian (about 164-114 BC), Zi Wen, was born in Chenggu County, Hanzhong county (now Chenggu County, Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province). He was an outstanding diplomat, traveler, explorer and pioneer of the Silk Road in Han Dynasty. His hometown is in Bowang village on the Bank of Hanjiang River, 2km south of Chenggu County, Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province.

Zhang Qian is full of pioneering and adventurous spirit. In the second year of Jianyuan (139 BC) of the Western Han Dynasty, at the order of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, he set out from Chang'an, the capital of the Great Han Dynasty, with his father Gan as the guide, and led more than 100 people to the western regions, which opened up the north-south road leading to the western regions in the Han Dynasty, namely the famous "Silk Road". Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty granted him the title of Bo Wang Marquis with military achievements.

Sima Qian praised Zhang Qian's mission to the western regions as "digging the air", which means "opening the road". Zhang Qian made two missions to the western regions, opening up the land transportation between China and Central Asia, West Asia, South Asia and even to Europe. From then on, Chinese people sold silk, tea, lacquerware and other products to the western regions and Central Asia through this channel, and introduced gems, glassware and other products from Europe, West Asia and Central Asia. Zhang Qian is known as "the pioneer of the Silk Road" and "the first Chinese to open his eyes and see the world".

In the third year of the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (114 BC), Zhang Qian died of illness in Chang'an and was buried in his hometown of Hanzhong.

Life of the characters

Early experience

Zhang Qian was born in 164bc, Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty. His early experience is unknown. When Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty Liu Che ascended the throne, he served as a servant named "Lang" in the imperial court. According to historical records, he was "powerful, generous and trusting". That is to say, it has the spirit of perseverance and open mind, and it also has the good quality of treating people with faith. This is an important factor for Zhang Qian to overcome all kinds of unimaginable crises and achieve success in his career.

During the Chu Han war, the Huns took the opportunity to expand their power, controlled the northeast, North and west of China, and established a unified slave owner regime and a powerful military machine. In the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, Xiongnu boldly conquered the western regions and set up servants and Duwei to collect heavy taxes from various countries. Xiongnu also took the western regions as military stronghold and economic backing, often occupied the territory of the Han Dynasty, harassed and plundered the residents of the Central Plains. During the struggle with Xiongnu, the rulers of the Western Han Dynasty gradually realized the importance of the western regions, especially after Emperor Hanwu ascended the throne, they learned from the surrender of Xiongnu that the Dayue family who moved to the West wanted to avenge the Xiongnu, but they decided to communicate with the western regions and wanted to unite with Dayue family to attack Xiongnu and "break the right arm of Xiongnu".

First envoy to the Western Regions

In the second year of Jianyuan (139 BC), Zhang Qian led more than 100 entourage from Chang'an to the western regions, guided by the father of the Huns. Westbound into the Hexi corridor. Since the Yue people moved to the west, this area has been completely controlled by the Huns. When Zhang Qian and his party hurried through the Hexi Corridor, unfortunately they met the Hun cavalry, and they were all captured. The right kings of Xiongnu immediately escorted Zhang Qian and others to the court of Xiongnu (now near Hohhot in Inner Mongolia), where they met Shan Yu (son of Lao Shang Shan Yu).

After learning that Zhang Qian was going to be an envoy to Yue's family, military minister Shan Yu said to Zhang Qian, "Yue's family is in the north of my country. How can Han get there? If I want to make Yue, will Han listen to me? " That is to say, from the standpoint of Xiongnu people, Han envoys were not allowed to go to Yueshi through Xiongnu area. Just as the Han Dynasty would not let the Hun envoys pass through the Han area and go to the Southern Yue State. Zhang Qian and his party were detained and placed under house arrest.

In order to soften Zhang Qian and win him over, the Xiongnu Shan Yu gave up his idea of sending an envoy to the Yueshi, and made all kinds of threats and inducements, but they failed to achieve their goal. Zhang Qian "does not disgrace your life" and "does not lose the Han Festival". He never forgot the sacred mission entrusted to him by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and never wavered in his will and determination to become the envoy of the Han Dynasty. He stayed in Xiongnu for ten years.

In the sixth year of Yuanguang (129 BC), the Hun surveillance gradually relaxed. Zhang Qian took advantage of the Huns' unprepared and led his followers to escape from the Huns' control area. However, during his stay in Xiongnu, the situation in the western regions had changed. Wusun, the enemy of Yueshi, attacked Yueshi in the West with the support and instigation of Xiongnu. The Yueshi people were forced to move westward from the Yili River basin to Guishui area near the Aral Sea, conquered Daxia and built a new home on the new land. Zhang Qian probably understood this situation. After passing through Cheshi, he did not go to the Ili River Basin in the northwest. Instead, he turned to the southwest and entered Yanqi. Then he went westward along the Tarim River, crossed Kuche, Shule and other places, crossed Congling mountains and reached Dawan (now the Fergana Basin in Uzbekistan).

It was a very hard March. On the great Gobi desert, the sand is flying and the heat wave is rolling; the green ridge is as high as the roof, the snow is white, and the cold wind is piercing. There are few people and water resources along the way. In addition, they fled in a hurry, and the material preparation was insufficient. Zhang Qian and his entourage had a hard time. When he had eaten all the dry food, he relied on his good shooting father to shoot animals and chat to satisfy his hunger. Many of the followers died of hunger and thirst on their way, or were buried in Huangsha or ice caves, giving their lives.

After arriving in Dawan, Zhang Qian explained to the king of Dawan his mission as an envoy to the moon family and all kinds of experiences along the way. He hoped that Dawan would send someone to see him off. He also said that if he could return to the Han Dynasty in the future, he would give the Emperor a lot of money and reward. Dawan king had long known about the wealth of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and wanted to communicate with Han envoys. However, due to the hindrance of Xiongnu, he failed to realize it. The unexpected arrival of Han Shi made him very happy. Zhang Qian's words even touched his heart. After a warm reception, he sent a guide and interpreter to send Zhang Qian and others to Kangju (now in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan), and the king of Kangju sent someone to send them to Dayue.

Unexpectedly, at this time, because the new territory was very fertile, rich in products, and far away from Xiongnu and Wusun, the danger of foreign enemies' invasion was greatly reduced, and their attitude changed. When Zhang Qian made suggestions to them, they had no intention of revenge on the Huns. In addition, they thought that the Han Dynasty was too far away from Yueshi. If they attacked Xiongnu jointly, they would not be able to help them in danger. Zhang Qian and others stayed in Yueshi for more than a year, but they failed to persuade Yueshi to attack Xiongnu with the alliance of Han Dynasty. During this period, Zhang Qian crossed the Guishui River and went down to Lanshi city in Daxia (now hanwazirabad in Afghanistan). In the first year of Yuanshuo (128 BC), he set out to return to China.

On his way home, Zhang Qian changed his march in order to avoid Xiongnu forces. It is planned to take the "South Road" in the south of Tarim Basin and the north foot of Kunlun Mountain, from Shache, through Khotan (today's Hotan) and Shanshan (today's Ruoqiang), through Qinghai Qiang area, and then return to Han. But unexpectedly, Qiang people had also become vassals of Xiongnu. Zhang Qian and others were captured by Xiongnu cavalry again and detained for more than a year.

At the beginning of the third year of Yuanshuo (126 BC), the Xiongnu had a civil strife for the throne. Zhang Qian took the opportunity to escape to Chang'an with his father. From the second year of Jianyuan (139 BC) of Emperor Wu to the third year of Yuanshuo (126 BC), he returned to the Han Dynasty. There were more than 100 people when they set out, but only Zhang Qian and his father were left when they came back.

Zhang Qian's expedition failed to achieve the goal of establishing an alliance with Da Yueshi to attack Xiongnu, but its actual influence and historical role were a great success. Qin Shihuang built the Great Wall to protect the Central Plains in the north, but its western boundary was no more than Lintao, and the vast western region beyond Yumen was beyond the Chinese political and cultural forces. Zhang Qian's first diplomatic mission to the western regions brought China's influence directly to the west of Congling. Since then, not only the ties between the western regions and the mainland have been strengthened day by day, but also China's direct contacts with Central Asia, West Asia and even southern Europe have been established and close.

Zhang Qian's first mission to the western regions was not only a very dangerous diplomatic trip, but also an effective scientific investigation. Zhang Qian made field investigation and Research on the vast western regions. He not only visited the western regions and Central Asian countries such as Dawan, Kangju, Dayue and Daxia, but also learned about Wusun (south of Balkhash Lake and Yili River Basin), Yancai (north of Caspian Sea and Aral Sea), Sabbath (Persia, today's Iran), Tiaozhi (Dashi, today's Iran) There are a lot of situations in many countries, such as lac area, body poison (also known as Tianzhu, namely India), etc. After returning to Chang'an, Zhang Qian made a detailed report to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, explaining the locations, specialties, population, cities and forces of the East and west of Congling, Central Asia, West Asia, even Sabbath and India. The basic content of this report is Sima Qian's preservation in the biographies of Dawan in historical records. This is the first detailed and reliable record of these areas in China and the world. It is also the most precious material in the world to study the paleogeography and history of these areas and countries.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was very satisfied with the achievements of Zhang Qian's mission to the western regions. He granted Zhang Qian the title of Taizhong doctor and the title of "Fengshi Jun" to his father in the Tang Dynasty in recognition of their achievements.

Two envoys to the Western Regions

In the fourth year of Yuanshou (119 BC), after losing the Hexi Corridor, the Xiongnu retreated to the northwest, relying on the manpower and material resources of the western regions to confront the Western Han Dynasty. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty appointed Zhang Qian as Zhonglang general again. He led more than 300 entourage and carried thousands of gold coins, silk, silk and other properties, including thousands of cattle and sheep. He made his second mission to the western regions. The purpose of this trip was to recruit Wusun, who was in conflict with Xiongnu, to return to his hometown, so as to break Xiongnu's right arm; and to promote national prestige and persuade the western regions to unite with Han Dynasty, making him a foreign minister of Han Dynasty. When Zhang Qian arrived at Wusun, it happened that Wusun was in civil strife, and he failed to persuade Wusun to return to the East. However, Zhang Qian's deputy envoys visited Dawan, Kangju, Dayue and Daxia in Central Asia, which expanded the political influence of the Western Han Dynasty and enhanced mutual understanding. Zhang Qian and his party with Wu sun

Chinese PinYin : Zhang Qian