Geographical and Economic Studies in the Mahabharata: Upayana Parva c5.23

c5.23

The Yüe-chï first appear in history in Kansu province in the north-west of China, where they had apparently been living for some time. According to Chang Ki'en before they were defeated by the Hiungnu they lived between Tun-huang (now Sha-Chou) and K'i-lien (a hill south-west of Kan-chóu-fu).²¹ A struggle between the Yüe-Chï and the Hiung-nu, the progenitors of the later Huns, culminated in 176 or 174 B.C. in the complete defeat of the Yüe-chï. They were compelled to quit Kan-su and set out on their long journey westward. Part of the horde called by the Chinese Siao-Yüe-Chï, in contrast to the larger body the Ta Yüe-Chï unwilling to hazard and the long journey turned southward and settled into the Tarim Valley.²² The main horde going westward fell on the Wu-sun, killed the king, occupied their grazing ground and were again driven away by the Hiungnu. Still going westward they attacked Sai-Wang some time before 160 B.C., about the lake Issyk-Kul and the plain northward of the Alexandrovsky range and the Sai-Wang fled southward. Their subsequent movement will be examined later on. But in or just before 160 B.C. the Yüe-Chï were again attacked by the son of Wusun King with the help of the Hiung-nu and were driven out of the Sai-Wang country. The main body of the Yüe-Chï again went westward. After 160 B.C. the Yüe-Chï disappear for a generation reappearing shortly before 128 B.C.