Chapter 12 Section 5 Land and Sea Transportation between China and the West in the Song Dynasty

The Northern Song Dynasty ended the disputes of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms after the Tang Dynasty, but it was still difficult to get rid of the poor and weak situation of long-term confrontation with the surrounding minority regimes.Standing in a tripartite relationship with the Northern Song regime are Liao and Xixia.In addition, the Uyghurs (that is, Huihe, the ancient name of the Uyghurs, and Uighurs in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties) established three regimes in the Western Regions centered on Gaochang, Kucha, and Khotan.The Liao Dynasty was established by the Khitan ethnic minority in northern my country. It controlled today's Inner Mongolia, the Mongolian People's Republic, the Heilongjiang River Basin, the Liaohe River Basin and parts of North China.The Xixia Kingdom established by another ethnic minority in my country, the Dangxiang, governs the Hetao area of ​​the Yellow River and the Hexi Corridor, and controls the passage to Central Asia.At that time, there was also a Khala Khanate across the east and west of Congling, that is, the Black Khan Dynasty, which was established by a Turkic-speaking nomadic people.After the rise of the Jurchen tribe in the north, the Jin Dynasty established by it destroyed the Liao and Northern Song Dynasties, unified northern China, and formed a confrontation between the Song and Jin Dynasties with the Southern Song Dynasty, which was south of the Yangtze River.

During the Northern Song Dynasty, the Khanate and the Uighurs played an active role in the maintenance and revitalization of the Southern Silk Road.The Khotan Road used to be the main passage for the communication between China and the West.Gaochang Uyghur was the bridge for goods exchange between the Khala Khanate and the inland Song Dynasty.The Kucha Uyghurs and the Gaochang Uyghurs were both intermediaries between Khitan, Central Asia and Persia.Khotan, Gaochang, Kucha, and Uighur all exchanged envoys with the Northern Song Dynasty.The footprints of Uighur merchants often went to Bianliang, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty (now Kaifeng, Henan) and Linhuang Mansion, Shangjing, Liao Kingdom (now Boluo City, southeast of Bahrain Zuoqi, Liaoning).The Liao Kingdom and the Central Asian countries also had regular caravan exchanges, and a market was set up in Shangjing to conduct trade.Cross chain ornaments were found at the site of Shangjing in the Liao Kingdom, which are obviously Christian relics.It can be seen that through the Uighur, Nestorianism also spread to the capital of the Liao Kingdom.After the Liao Kingdom moved westward, it defeated the Seljuk Turks and established its rule in Central Asia. Great country of rivers.It believes in Buddhism and is compatible with Nestorianism, and its reputation has spread to the European Knights of the Crusaders.Even Pope Alexander III wrote to King Xiliao asking for help.Therefore, the name Khitan became the name used by various ethnic groups in Central Asia, and then spread westward to Europe, and some Europeans also called China Khitan.The rule of Xiliao lasted for a century and became an important medium for the exchange and integration of Chinese and Western cultures.

In the early years of the Northern Song Dynasty, a group of 157 people was sent westward to seek Buddhist scriptures in India.It was the monk Xingqin who led the delegation in response to the imperial edict.Xingqin and others went out from Jiezhou (now Wudu County, Gansu Province) to the west, passed through the Dunhuang area, and entered Yiwu, Gaochang, Yanqi, Khotan, Shule and other places.Then cross the snow ridge and reach India.He also visited Nepal before returning home.When Xingqin and others traveled westward, they carried a letter from the emperor of the Song Dynasty to King Dashi.

The mission of the mission, in addition to seeking the Dharma, probably also contained the ambition of exploring the land and silk roads in the early days of the Song Dynasty.But the external environment during the Northern Song Dynasty was too difficult after all.When Xixia controlled the Hexi Corridor, the land traffic between the Song Dynasty and the Western Regions was once interrupted.Although Song Shenzong was restored, he had to detour to the north of Qinghai and enter from Qinzhou (now Tianshui, Gansu).Since then, due to drastic changes in the situation, land transportation has become a very difficult business.

Under such circumstances, sea transportation has increasingly become the main way of communication between China and the West.At the same time, the development and frequency of economic exchanges between China and foreign countries has naturally made sea traffic gradually replace land traffic.After the Song Dynasty, the export of Chinese porcelain became more and more important, and the heavy and fragile porcelain was easily bumped and damaged when transported by land.The situation in the states of Central Asia is very unstable, travel safety is also a problem, and land transport volume is also restricted, which is not conducive to the expansion of international trade.It is estimated that a caravan composed of 30 camels can only carry 9,000 kilograms of cargo, while a sea-going ship can carry 600,000 to 700,000 kilograms, equivalent to more than 2,000 camels.

The government of the Song Dynasty, especially the Southern Song Dynasty, attached great importance to and encouraged overseas trade. In 971, Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty established the Municipal Shipping Department in Guangzhou, and then the Song Dynasty government successively set up municipal shipping departments in Quanzhou, Hangzhou, Mingzhou, Wenzhou, Xiuzhou (now Jiaxing, Zhejiang), Mizhou (now Shandong cities) and other coastal places.During Song Taizong's reign, he sent people to sea with imperial edicts and silk fabrics to attract foreign businessmen to trade in China.Later, many "Fan merchants" (foreign businessmen) settled in China and were called "Fan Ke".Among these foreign businessmen, Arabs are the most.The Song government also designated a lot of land in Guangzhou to set up "Fan Fang", which is exclusively for foreign businessmen and foreigners to live in.There is also a "Fan Chief" position, which is held by foreign businessmen or foreigners.

Arab merchants came to the East to trade with China, either as a partnership, or as a sole proprietorship with their own ships and cargo.The Arab geographer Ibn Haqar met a wealthy businessman named Abu Bakr Ahmed Sirafi in Basra in 961, and often equipped a ship from his fleet to India Or Chinese cargo ships.He handed over all the cargo to his partners and never asked for compensation.In the Chinese records of the Song Dynasty, some Arab ship owners were also rich and powerful, and often presented ivory, rhino horn, spices and jewelry to the Song Dynasty on behalf of the king.During the period of Song Taizu and Taizong (960-997 A.D.), Arab businessman and ship owner Pu Ximi Pu Yaqian [yi chair] Li and his father and sons contributed gifts several times, including ivory, frankincense, iron, jibei, fan brocade, etc. In the middle of the 11th century, in Guangzhou, there was an Omani named Simabdhara who had lived in China for decades, and he accumulated millions of money [minmin].As the head of the Tibetan army, he was named General Huaihua by the Song Dynasty, and played an important role in Guangzhou as "enlightening the planting and bringing the age to the ladder".He also donated money to sell fields, and vigorously assisted Fuxing County School.When Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty (reigned from 1127 to 1162 A.D.), the Arab merchant Priya paid tribute to 209 large ivory plants and 35 large rhino horn plants.Another Arab businessman, Prosin, built a boat and transported frankincense to Quanzhou at a price of 300,000 yuan.In short, during the 200 years from 968 to 1168, as many as 49 Arab merchants came to China to pay tribute in the name of the Caliphate.Many Arabs have been given the appendix "China" (Sini) after their own names because they have been to China and are familiar with Chinese affairs.For example, Ibrahim bin Ishaq, a Kufa man, was given the name of "China" because of his long-term business in China; Ansari went to China from the Maghreb, and was also named "China"; the famous hadith scholar Abu Amr Hamid was called "China's Hamid".A large number of rich Arab businessmen, scholars and religious figures came to China, which greatly promoted the spread of Muslim civilization in China.For example, the mosques they built in Guangzhou, Quanzhou, and Yangzhou became important centers for spreading Muslim civilization.

In addition to official trade, non-governmental overseas trade also gradually developed.In the Southern Song Dynasty, according to historical records, there were more than 50 countries that did business with the Southern Song Dynasty.There are more than 20 countries where Chinese businessmen go overseas for trade.The Maritime Silk Road connected the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe. In the ever-expanding foreign exchanges, China has a more detailed understanding of Western countries, especially the Arab world.On the basis of predecessors, Zhou Qufei's "Ling Wai Dai Answer" and Zhao Rushi's "Zhu Fan Zhi" in the Song Dynasty widely absorbed information from overseas merchants, sailors and related works, and made great progress in this respect.For example, regarding Egypt, an important country for communication and trade between China and the West, there are quite detailed records in the introduction of the Wusili Kingdom in "Zhu Fan Zhi":

"The people of the country only eat meat cakes, not rice, and the country is very dry. There are 16 prefectures under control, and there are more than 60 journeys on Thursday. When there is rain, the people's farming will be ruined. There are rivers that are extremely clear and sweet, and no one knows the source of the water. Out. Drought every year, the rivers of all countries are reduced, but this water is as usual, the fields are sufficient, farmers use them to cultivate, and the annual rate is the same." We know that the Nile River is the cradle of Egyptian civilization.The periodic flooding of the Nile and the richness of delta farming are here clearly described.

Zhao Rushi also pointed out, "There is also a state named Qiye, which is near this river." The name "Qiye" is the transliteration of Cairo in Arabic. In 973, after the Fatimids conquered Egypt from North Africa, they built a new capital, Cairo (meaning "City of Triumph").After Saladin founded the Ayyubid Dynasty, Egypt's reputation in the Islamic world flourished due to its resistance to the European Crusaders.Egypt has become increasingly prominent as a bridge between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, Asia and Europe.Cairo's reputation has surpassed that of Baghdad. "Zhu Fan Zhi" also reflects this:

Its country is majestic and its land is vast.The folk customs are extravagant and gorgeous, and they are the best among all Fans.The weather is very cold, and the snow is two or three feet thick, so felt blankets are expensive.The name of the capital is Xu Li.According to Zhufan Chong. It is also recorded in the book: The shops are noisy, and all kinds of gold, silver, brocade and so on are gathered.Artisan technology is salty and refined. Zhao Rushi also collected Arabian legends in the book.For example, in the entry of the country of Yagenda, it is recorded that the lighthouse on the famous Farus Island in Alexander, said that the tower can accommodate 20,000 people, and there is a mirror on the top of the tower, which can be seen from a long distance when foreign warships invade Prepare in advance. "In recent years, foreigners have thrown it under the pagoda, and they have been serving as sweepers for several years. People do not doubt it. Suddenly, when they are free, the stolen mirror is thrown into the sea and gone."This story has been described by many Arab writers. In the 13th century, the scholar Latef included it in his "Anecdotes of Egypt" and it was widely circulated. Zhao Rushi's description may be based on this.