Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.18

v2.c13.18

**The route through the Western Regions:** When Zhang Qian received orders from the Han emperor Wudi to travel to the western regions, his mission was to persuade the Dayuezhi (Tokharians) to join hands with the Han dynasty and mount a joint attack on the Xiongnu tribes that were in conflict with the Han. Exploration of a new route, which would open up the way to the western regions, was only a by-product of Zhang Qian’s diplomatic mission. In fact, even before Zhang Qian’s mission, the Han had opened up the route to the western regions but had faced obstruction from the Xiongnu. Hence, controlling the strategically important western regions was a major goal of Emperor Wudi and his successors. This was the origin of what we know of today as the “Silk Road”. During the Han period, the western route was divided into two: the northern route and the southern route. Going west from Dunhuang, out of Yumenguan (Jade Gate) and Yangguan, one would reach Shanshan. The route from Shanshan along the northern rim of the Tarim Basin, passing Yanqi and Guici (Kucha) and crossing the Congling mountains, was the northern route. The other route followed the southern rim of the Tarim Basin. Passing Yutian and Shache before crossing the Congling mountains, this was the southern route. In order to open up the route to the west, the Han dispatched a number of diplomatic envoys. It is recorded in the *Shiji Dawan Liezhuan* that during Zhang Qian’s second visit to the western regions, a deputy envoy was sent to India. Within a single year in the Han period, there were five to 10 envoys sent to the west, among whom some were sent to India. This points to the fact that during those times the passage to the west was quite unhindered.