National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

66

BRIEF REFERENCES IN LATER WORKS TO THE END OF THE MING DYNASTY.

3. THE SUNG ANNALS.

In how high a degree the Chinese were dependent upon the older conceptions is also proved by a statement from the Annals of the Sung dynasty (960-1279 A. D.), which

is ascribed to an embassy from Khotan I :

Die Gesandtschaft berichtete : Unser Land ist von der kaiserlichen Hauptstadt 9900 li entfernt; im Südwesten grenzt es an den Ts ung-ling2 und ist in 3000 li Entfernung mit dem Lande der Brahmanen (Indien) verbunden. Im Osten ist es den 7'u-fan (Tibetern) benachbart. Im Nordwesten gelangt man nach über 2000 li bis Su-lo (Kashgar). Im Osten der Stadt (Khotan) ist der Fluß des weißen Nephrits (Yurung-kash-darya), im Westen der des grünen Nephrits, noch mehr im Westen der des schwarzen Nephrits (Kara-kash-darya). Ihre Quellen sind im K`un-kang-Gebirge 3, 1300 li westlich von der Haupt-

stadt des Reiches.

4. TRAVELLERS DURING THE MONGOL DYNASTY.

During the dominion of the Mongols the interest in the Ts ung-ling decreased as in Central Asia the centre of gravity of the intercourse was removed farther north to regions beyond the Tien-span. In the period of the Mongol dynasty in China, no special remarks regarding the Ts`ung-ling may be etablished.4 In this connection it is noticeable in what manner the Chinese travellers have spoken of these mountains.

Important is the travel of CH`ANO-CH`UN a 4 who in 1221-24 passed through the whole of Central Asia.5 In 1220 he was invited to CHINGIS KHAN, and, as the conqueror in the meantime started for his campaign in Western Asia, the monk had to follow him. In February 1221 Chang-ch`un left China, and travelled viâ Uliassutai and Urumchi, and along the northern foot of Tien-span to 7ambalik (Bishbalik), thence to Kulja, crossing the rivers Chu and Talas, reaching the city of Sairam, and finally crossing Sir-darya to Samarkand. Early in 1222 he went in search of Chingis Khan who then was in the Hindu-kush. Chang-ch`un therefore had to travel viâ Kesh (Shar-i-sabs), the Iron Gales6 and across Amu-darya. As the conqueror had no time to receive him, he returned to Samarkand, and in the autumn again travelled viâ Balkh to Hindu-hush. Now he was several times received, and, in 1223, accompanied Chingis Khan on his way eastwards. From Tashkent the old man got permission to continue alone the same way he had been coming. Bretschneider says that Chang-ch`un's narrative is much more reasonable, valuable and easier to understand than the tales of RUSBRUK, CARPINI, HAITHON and others of his contemporaries.

I Sung-shih, book 49o, p. 4b, Cf. A. RÉMUSAT, Histoire de la ville des Khotan, Paris 182o, p. 84.

2 RÉMUSAT bringt hier die fehlerhafte Übersetzung «borné au midi par les montagnes Bleues«. A. H.

3   P1 111; vielleicht verschrieben far   K'un-lun, s. unten p. 67. A. H.

4 Cf. E. BRETSCHNEIDER, Mediaeval researches from Eastern Asiatic Sources. Fragments towards the knowledge of the geography and history of Central and Western Asia from the 13th to the 17th century. 2 Vol., London 1887. Newly printed London 1910. — Also his Notes on Chinese mediaeval travellers to the West. Shanghai 1875.

5 Loc. cit., Vol. I, p. 35 et seq.

6 BRETSCHNEIDER identifies this place with the Iron Gates of CLAVIJO, who says, August 25 th 1404, or three days before he reached Kesh «This hill is very high, and there is a pass leading up by a ravine, which looks as if it had been artificially cut, and the hills rise to a great height on either side, and the pass is smooth, and very deep. In the centre of the pass there is a village, and the mountain rises to a great height behind. This pass is called `the gates of iron', and in all the mountain range there is no other pass, so that it guards the land of Samarkand, in the direction of India. These gates of iron produce a large revenue to the lord TIMOUR BEG, for all merchants, who come from India, pass this way.» -- CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, Narrative of the Embassy of Ruy Gonzalez de Clavijo to the court of Timour, at Samarkand, A. D. 1403-6. London MDCCCLIX, p. 121.