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Sino-Iranica : vol.1 |
AROMATICS-STYRAX BENJOIN 467
An identification of nan-si to which PELLIOT1 first called attention is given in the Chinese-Sanskrit dictionary Fan yi min yi tsi,2 where it is equated with Sanskrit guggula. This term refers to the gum-resin obtained from Boswellia serrata and the produce of Balsamodendron mukul, or Commi phora roxburghii, the bdellion of the Greeks.' Perhaps also other Balsamodendrons are involved; and it should be borne in mind that Balsamodendron and Boswellia are two genera belonging to the same family, Burseraceae or Amyrideae. Pelliot is quite right in assuming that in this manner it is easier to comprehend the name nan-si hian, which seems to be attached to the ancient Chinese name of the Persia of the Arsacides. In fact, we meet on the rocks of Baluchistan two incense-furnishing species, Balsamodendron pubescens and B. mukul,4 observed by the army of Alexander in the deserts of Gedrosia, and collected in great quantity by the Phoenician merchants who accompanied him.'
While it is thus possible that the term nan-si hiait was originally intended to convey the significance "Parthian aromatic," we must not lose sight of the fact that it is not mentioned in the ancient historical documents relative to Parthia (An-si) and Persia (Po-se),— a singular situation, which must furnish food for reflection. The article is pointed out only as a product of Kuca in Turkistan and the Kingdom of Ts `ao
(Jaguda) north of the Ts`un-lifi.s
Aside from the geographical explanation, the Chinese have attempted also a literal etymology of the term. According to Li Si-Cen,
this aromatic "wards off evil and sets at rest all demoniacal
influences A. 15; hence its name. Others, however, say that nan-si is the name of a country." This word-for-word interpretation is decidedly forced and fantastic.
1 T`oung Pao, 1912, p. 480.
2 Ch. 8, p. io b.
3 Cf. T`oung Pao, 1914, p. 6.
4 JORET, Plantes dans l'antiquité, Vol. II, p. 48. The former species is called in Baluéi bayi or bai.
5 Ibid., p. 649.
6 Sui Su, Ch. 83, pp. 5 b, 7 b.
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