Zhang Qian and the Silk road

Looking back in history, China had not had a stable relationship with its neighbors Sometimes, the relationshipwas calm and harmonic. Other times, It was tense and edgy. Of all its neighbors, however, those that dwell north of China were the most threatening. To fend them off, Chinese emperors tried various approaches, such as orcering the construction of the Great Wall of China, waging wars, and giving away money and valuable goods. Interestingly, it was through one of those tactics undertaken by Zhang Qian that led to the establishment of the Silk Road.

Emperor Wu of the Western Han dynasty was a great ruler. Under his reign (141 B.C. - 87 B.C.), the economy was booming and the society was prosperous. Things were great! But Emperor Wu had his concern. He was worried about a nomadic tribe called Xiongnu living in the present-day Mongolia. Every now and then, the Xiongnu peopfe would cross China’s northern border to harass local residents. Their aggressiveness obscured the prosperity that the Chinese had grown to enjoy.

Emperor Wu wanted to address the issue and get rid of the Xiongnu once and for all. But he didnt want to commit his troops without a solid strategy. One day in 138 B.C., he received a very interesting intelligence report. Emperor Wu learned that the Yuezhi people, another nomadic tribe, held a deep grudge against the Xiongnu. Not so long ago, the Xiongnu defeated the Yuezhi and forced them to move westward. He heard that the Yuezhi people wanted to avenge the Xiongnu for the brutal death of their king. Right away, Emperor Wu had an idea. He wanted to build an alliance with the Yuezhl. He wanted to use the allied forces and open two war fronts -- south with China and west with the Yuezhl -- with the Xiongnu. He figured that the Xiongnu could not sustain attacks from both sides and the victory would be a sure thing. To convey his proposal, Emperor Wu needed to send an envoy to the Yuezhl. He asked for a volunteer, and Zhang Qian came forward.

Zhang Qian took about 100 people with him, including a Xiongnu guide named Kanfu. The journey didn’t go quite as planned. En route, the delegation ran into the Xiongnu. Suspicious of Zhang Qian and his men’s intent, the Shanyu (a title the Xiongnu usd for their ruler) refused to let the group go. He detained them and placed them under surveillance. The Shangyu tried to subdue Zhang Qian, so he gave him a Xiongnu wife with whom Zhang Qian had a son. Zhang Qian, by all accounts, had never forgotten his mission. On the surface, he appeared content In his family life. Secretjy, he was waiting for the first chance to escape. That chance, at last, came ten years later!

After Zhang Qian left the Xiongnu, he traveled across several small countries before finally reaching the land of the Yuezhi (near the present- day Uzbekistan). To his disappointment, the new king of the Yuezhi was no longer interested in seeking revenge. He told Zhang Qian that he and his people were happy in their new settlement. He saw no reason to go to war with the Xiongnu. After spending a year or so traveling around the area, Zhang Qian headed back to China. On his way home, he once again was captured by the Xiongnu. Fortunately, his detention this time lasted for only about a year. When the Shanyu died, a power struggle broke out and the country fell into turmoil. Zhang Qian took advantage of the situation and escaped with his Xiongnu wife, son, and the guide Kanfu. They arrived China in 125 B.C. (Some historians maintained that Zhang Qian’s first expedition was from 139 B.C. to 126 B.C.)

Zhang Qian gave Emperor Wu detailed accounts of what he saw. His insights were invaluable. Before Zhang Qian’s historical journey, Chinese emperors had only had scant knowledge of the vast area lying west of China. Now, Emperor Wu got a good grip of the political, economical, and cultural dynamics in that region. He was very happy with Zhang Qian’s report; furthermore, he was very impressed with Zhang Qian’s determination and loyalty.

Zhan Qian’s report was called Silk Road. It was consisted of several principal routes. Furthermore, the routes became the main route for few caravans or merchants traveled the whole distance ftom Chang’an to western Asia. Goods were traded all along the route, and new caravans would be organized to transmit the cargo to the next commercial emporium. Oases, with supplies of food, water, and fresh horses and camels, were vital for the smooth operation of the Silk Road.

The elites of western Asia and Europe were willing to pay substantial sums for Chinese products, such as silk and porcelain, that no other people knew how to produce. Merchants recognized the potential profits to be made from these goods. With that incentive, they gambled on their ability to overcome the numerous obstacles of the route and deliver their cargo intact.