Zhang Qian's Diplomatic Missions to the Western Regions

Zhang Qian's Diplomatic Missions to the Western Regions

In 138 B.C., Zhang Qian, an official in the Western Han Dynasty, was dispatched by Emperor Wu of Han on a diplomatic mission to the Western Regions with a delegation of over one hundred. While travelling westward through the Hexi Corridor, the envoy was captured by the Huns and detained for more than a decade before finally finding a chance to escape. They continued their journey westward to the intended destination. On their way back, they were detained by the Huns once again but escaped again when chaos among the Huns presented the opportunity to get back to Chang'an. During their decade-long stint in the Western Regions, Zhang Qian and members of the delegation documented in detail the political and economic status, geographic locations, folk customs, and cultures of the states there. This provided valuable information for the Han Dynasty to establish a thoroughfare to Central Asia. In 119 B.C., Zhang Qian was sent on a second diplomatic mission to make Wusun and other states in the Western Regions allies. He persuaded the King of Wusun to exchange envoys with Han. During his stay in Wusun, Zhang Qian sent deputies to Central, West, and South Asia. As a result of their painstaking efforts, many states in the Western Regions sent envoys to the Han imperial court.

Commissioned a task of peacemaking and friendship building, Zhang Qian completed his diplomatic journeys to great success against all odds. The two diplomatic missions erected a bridge between the Central Plains and the Western Regions and laid a foundation for the Silk Road across the East and West. He facilitated friendly exchange and cultural communication between ancient China and various states in the Western Regions and enriched the cultural activities of the peoples therein, making great contributions to the progress of human civilization.

張騫出使西域

公元前138年，西漢官員張騫奉漢武帝之命，率領一百多人第一次出使西域。他們西行進入河西走廊，不幸遭到匈奴扣留，經過長達十余年的留居終于尋機逃出，繼續西行直至原定目的地。歸途中，他們又遭匈奴扣押，后趁匈奴內亂逃回長安。張騫一行出使并停留西域十余年，詳細了解了西域各國的政治經濟狀況、地理位置、風土人情，為漢朝開辟通往中亞的交通要道提供了寶貴資料。公元前119年，為聯絡烏孫等西域各國力量，張騫率使團再次出使西域，并促成烏孫國王與漢朝通使。在烏孫停留期間，張騫分別派遣副使到中亞、西亞、南亞廣泛聯絡，相繼吸引西域諸國使者來漢交流。

張騫肩負和平友好使命出使西域，一路艱難坎坷，備受辛勞，完成了卓有成效的外交旅行。他的兩次出使，打破了中原和西域的隔絕狀態，鑿通了橫貫東西的絲綢之路，促進了古代中國和西域各國的友好往來和文化傳播，豐富了各國人民的文化生活，為人類文明進步作出重要貢獻。