Lesson 14 "Silk Road" to communicate Chinese and foreign civilizations

Zhang Qian's Passage to the West

During the Han Dynasty, people called the western region west of Yangguan and Yumen Pass in Gansu, which is now Xinjiang and a wider area beyond. At the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty, there were many small states in the Western Region, which were controlled and enslaved by the Xiongnu. For example, the Great Moon Clan, originally located in the Qilian Mountains, was driven westward by the Xiongnu step by step. The Xiongnu constantly attacked the Central Plains from the West, making the Han Dynasty very passive. Recognizing the importance of the western region, Emperor Wu decided to recruit an envoy to the western region to contact the Yuezhi to attack the Xiongnu.

Zhang Qian, originally an official, was determined to share his country's worries and bravely came forward to take on this daunting mission. In 138 B.C., Zhang Qian led his entourage out of Chang'an and set out on a journey to the West. On the way, they were captured by the Xiongnu. In front of the Xiongnu's threats and temptations, Zhang Qian did not yield and "held the Han Festival". He never forgot his mission, and after being detained for more than 10 years, he found an opportunity to escape and continue his journey westward, reaching the Dajuezhi through great difficulties. However, the Great Moon Clan has been moving west for a long time, living in peace and happiness, and no longer want to fight with the Xiongnu, Zhang Qian had to return. He was caught by the Xiongnu on the way back, detained for more than 1 year before he was able to escape and return to Chang'an after a long absence of 13 years. Zhang Qian reported to Emperor Wu what he had seen and heard in the western countries and their desire to communicate with the Han Dynasty, so that the Han Dynasty could learn about the specific situation in the west.

In 119 B.C., Zhang Qian again led a 300-strong delegation with 10,000 head of cattle and sheep, as well as gold, silk and other belongings, and visited many countries in the West, including Wusun. Recognizing the wealth and power of the Han Dynasty, the Western countries also sent envoys to Chang'an, promoting mutual understanding and communication between the Han Dynasty and the Western regions.

Silk Road

Since Zhang Qian opened up the road to the West, messengers from the Han Dynasty and the West began to travel to and from each other, and economic and cultural exchanges between the East and West became more frequent. Merchants carried the silk and other goods of the Han Dynasty from Chang'an through the Western Corridor to Central Asia and West Asia, and then to Europe; they also transported the products and exotic treasures of the West to the Central Plains. This communication between Europe and Asia on land transportation road, is the famous "Silk Road". Through this road, the Han Dynasty silk, lacquer ware and other goods, as well as the opening of ditches, wells, cast iron and other technologies to the West; the West's breeding horses, spices, glass, precious stones, as well as walnuts, grapes, pomegranates, alfalfa and other plants, as well as a variety of musical instruments and songs and dances into China. The Silk Road was a major artery between the East and the West in ancient times, and played a great role in promoting trade and cultural exchanges between China and other countries and regions.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty also vigorously opened up sea transportation, and the Han Dynasty opened up a number of sea routes. Among them, ships from the coast of Shandong could cross the Yellow Sea and reach Korea and Japan. A more important route was from the southeastern coastal ports, southward through the South China Peninsula, around the Malay Peninsula, across the Strait of Malacca, to the coast of the Bay of Bengal, and as far as the southern tip of the Indian Peninsula and Sri Lanka. Chinese silk and other goods were transferred to Europe via this route, which is why it was called the "Maritime Silk Road".

Management of the Western Regions

After Zhang Qian opened the Western Regions, the Western Han Dynasty strengthened its management of the Western Regions. In 60 B.C., the Western Han government set up the Western Region Governor as the highest governor of the Western Region, with jurisdiction over 36 countries in the Western Region, and the governor's office was located in Wuqi City. The Western Region Governor issued orders from the Han Dynasty, dispatched troops, requisitioned food and grass, and exercised effective jurisdiction over the Western Region. The establishment of the Western Region Protector marked the beginning of the formal subordination of the Western Region to the central government, and the vast area east and south of present-day Xinjiang and Lake Balkhash was our territory.

At the end of the Western Han Dynasty, Xiongnu regained control of the Western Regions, and the communication between the Han Dynasty and the Western Regions was interrupted. During the reign of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty, troops were sent to attack the Xiongnu and Ban Chao was sent to the Western Region. Ban Chao overcame many difficulties and made the western countries re-establish contact with the Han Dynasty. He gained the trust of the western countries and stayed in the western region for a long time. During Ban Chao's stay in the western region, he also sent Gan Ying on a mission to the Great Qin (i.e. Roman Empire). Gan Ying was blocked from continuing his journey when he reached Anzhi, but the trip opened up a route to Western Asia. Ban Chao operated the Western region for more than 30 years, and only returned to the Central Plains when he was 71 years old, and died soon after. His son, Ban Yong, succeeded his father and made another mission to the West.（1000words）