Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.12

v2.c14.12

Before the Christian Era as recorded, governmental contacts between India and China began no later than 2^nd century BCE. According to *Record of the State of Dawan*, *Shiji* in the 2^nd year of Jian Yuan Era (139 BCE), as decreed by Emperor Wu of Han (ruled from 140-87 BCE), Zhang Qian (unknown-114 BCE) started a diplomatic mission to the Western Regions and returned 13 years later (129 BCE). While in Bactria, he learned of India and thus suggested to the emperor that envoys could go to India via Sichuan and Yunnan in southwestern China. However, such missions failed. In 119 BCE, Zhang Qian commenced his second mission to the Western Regions, and he sent his deputy envoy to India, but no detailed records are available. After the death of Zhang Qian, the Han Dynasty continued to send a number of envoys to India, which was accessible from the Western Region Road but not the Sichuan-Yunnan route. At that time, a diplomatic mission was large in size and might consist of as many as several hundred or at least over 100 members. It would have an envoy and a deputy envoy, and the rest were attendants and retinues. Every year, more than 10 or at least five or six such missions would be sent.