"Geographical accounts of the western area", Historical records of the Former Han period. Published in the Qing period. This chapter of the "Hanshu" contains the first appearance of the term "Xiyi" (Western Area), and profiles the kingdoms west of China. Geographically, it describes the area as bounded by high mountains on the north and south, bisected by a river, and measuring more than 6,000 leagues east and west and more than 1,000 leagues north and south. This characterization clearly applies to the Tarim Basin, i.e., Eastern Turkestan. However, the accounts treat not only the kingdoms in this territory but also those in Western Turkestan as well as India and Iran. The Hans gradually made headway in their campaigns against the Xiongnu, and Emperor Wu swiftly established the four outposts of Jiuquan, Wuwei, Zhangye, and Dunhuang in the Hexi corridor, thereby securing the Han's hold on the most vital artery of the Silk Road for the first time. The accounts include the kingdoms of Shanshan, Dayuezhi, and Dayuan (Ferghana). [Read more..]
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