Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s4.t2: Wang Dayuan
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s4.t2
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Wang Dayuan
v2.c13.s4.t2.1
Wang Dayuan (1311-1350), a civil mariner in the Yuan period, travelled to West Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and other regions. His book *Dao Yi Zhi Lue* contains interesting descriptions of India’s geography and customs.
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Wang Dayuan, from Nanchang, Jiangxi, was intelligent and studious from an early age and very fond of travel. After moving to Quanzhou, he noticed the exotic customs of the many foreign merchants there. Fascinated by them, he decided to travel. In 1330, he started out from Quanzhou by sea, and voyaged to present-day Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, West Asia, North Africa and other countries and regions returning between the summer and autumn of 1334. In 1337, he sailed out from Quanzhou again and travelled through places such as the islands in the southern seas (Southeast Asia), Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf and Red Sea. It is also claimed that he travelled through the Mediterranean and Australia as well while returning in 1339. After that, he began to sort out his notes of his overseas experiences at the request of local officials in Quanzhou and finally finished the book, *Dao Yi Zhi Lue*. According to the records in the authoritative *Annotated Catalogue of the Complete Imperial Library*, “Wang Dayuan’s book was written by himself based on his personal experiences rather than empty talk… And its records of mountains and rivers and of the territory of different countries are the most detailed”.
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With detailed and accurate information, the book is of great importance as a reference for the study of exchanges between the East and West during the Yuan Dynasty and for the history and geography of the Asian and African regions. Books including *Ling Wai Dai Da* of Zhou Qufei and *Zhu Fan Zhi* of Zhao Rushi in the Song period before it, and *Yingya Shenglan* of Ma Huan and *Xingcha Shenglan* of Fei Xin in the Ming period after it, all had a major impact on the history and geography texts of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the middle of the 19ᵗʰ century, Western scholars too began to pay attention to this book and translated it into many languages. It was widely acknowledged that it has made an important contribution to global historical and geographical research.
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The records about India are truthful and accurate. In the book, the description about Pengjiala (Bengal) is “around tall mountains and dense forests, people gather and live here, cultivating for a living and so there is no wild desert land, but only beautiful farmland. There are three harvests every year and all things are cheap... It has a tropical climate and the customs are simple. Men and women wrap their heads with muslin and wear long robes. The official tax is two-tenths of their incomes”. And the description about Fangbai (now in the region of Mumbai) is that “it is situated among gorges and rocks, having bridges to cross over and no fields around. The land is suitable for planting wheat. The weather is warm and customs are simple. People’s faces are long, eyes white and appearance black. They braid their hair like rope and wear long cotton robes. They make salt by distilling sea water and turn cobblestone into charcoal for cooking... areca-nut is the king of fruits”. Wang Dayuan introduced early the concept of the East and West and this concept has been used by later generations. His descriptions of mountains, scenery, and the architecture, clothes, etc., of other lands are of great reference value for the study of different cultures.
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Wang Dayuan