Cambridge University Press 978-1-108-47395-8 — Rome, China, and the Barbarians Randolph B. Ford Frontmatter More Information
ROME, CHINA, AND THE BARBARIANS
This book addresses a largely untouched historical problem: the fourth to fifth centuries witnessed remarkably similar patterns of foreign invasion, conquest, and political fragmentation in Rome and China. Yet while the Western Roman Empire was never reestab- lished, China was reunified at the end of the sixth century. Following a comparative discussion of earlier historiographical and ethnographic traditions in the classical Greco-Roman and Chinese worlds, the book turns to the late antique/early medieval period, when the Western Roman Empire “fell” and China was reconstituted as a united empire after centuries of foreign conquest and political divi- sion. Analyzing the discourse of ethnic identity in the historical texts of this later period, with original translations by the author, the book explores the extent to which notions of Self and Other, of “barbarian” and “civilized,” help us understand both the transformation of the Roman world as well as the restoration of a unified imperial China.
. currently teaches Roman history at the State University of New York at Albany. He has previously taught Roman history, Rome–China comparative history, and Latin language at the University of Notre Dame. He obtained his doctorate at New York University’s Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, and his research has concentrated on comparative approaches to the study of the Greco-Roman world and ancient China.
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ROME,CHINA,ANDTHE BARBARIANS Ethnographic Traditions and the Transformation of Empires
RANDOLPH B. FORD State University of New York, Albany
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www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/ : ./ © Randolph B. Ford This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published Printed in the United Kingdom by TJ International Ltd, Padstow Cornwall A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data : Ford, Randolph B., – author. : Rome, China, and the barbarians : ethnographic traditions and the transformation of empires / Randolph B. Ford, State University of New York, Albany. : Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York : Cambridge University Press, []| Includes bibliographical references and index. : (print) | (ebook) | (hardback) | (paperback) | (epub) : : History, Ancient–Historiography. | Imperialism–History. | China–Ethnic relations–History–To . | National characteristics, Chinese–History–To .| China–History– B.C.– A.D. | Rome–History–Empire, B.C.– A.D. | Rome–History–Germanic Invasions, rd-th centuries. | Group identity–Rome–History. | National characteristics, Roman. : . (print) | (ebook) | /.–dc LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/ LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/ ---- Hardback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
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In loving memory of Mary Burch Tracy Ford
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Contents
List of Maps page ix Acknowledgments xix A Note to the Reader xx
Introduction Comparative History of Greece-Rome and China Roman Late Antiquity and Early Medieval China: Brief Historical Background Primary Questions and Approaches Ethnography in the Classical Age The Greco-Roman Ethnographic Tradition The Chinese Ethnographic Tradition Explanatory Paradigms in the Greco-Roman and Chinese Traditions Conclusions The Barbarian and Barbarian Antitheses The Term “Barbarian” and Its Chinese Equivalents Views of Barbarians in the Greco-Roman Tradition Views of Barbarian Others in Ancient China Conclusions Ethnography in a Post-Classical Age: The Ethnographic Tradition in the Wars and the Jin shu 晉書 Perpetuation of the Barbarian Antithesis Ethnographic Continuity Ethnographic Paradigms Ethnography and the New Barbarians Conclusions New Emperors and Ethnographic Clothes: The Representation of Barbarian Rulers Barbarian Figures in the Wars Barbarian Figures in the Jin shu Conclusions
vii
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viii Contents The Confluence of Ethnographic Discourse and Political Legitimacy: Rhetorical Arguments on the Legitimacy of Barbarian Kingdoms Political Legitimacy Speeches in Greco-Roman and Chinese Historiography Speeches in the Jin shu Speeches in the Wars Conclusions Conclusion
Bibliography Index
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Maps
Rome in AD page x Rome in AD xi Rome in AD xii Han dynasty at its greatest extent xiii Northern China in AD xiv Northern China in AD xiv Northern China in AD xv Northern China in AD xv Northern China in AD xvi Särbi-Xianbei Northern Wei dynasty; Chinese Liu Song dynasty xvi Särbi-Xianbei Northern Zhou and Northern Qi dynasties; Chinese Chen dynasty xvii Tang dynasty c. AD xviii
ix
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a e S North c i Sea l t a B
I
N R E FRISII CHAUCI SUEBI I B H GERMANI Londinium Colonia Agrippina CHATTI SARMATIANS Moguntiacum SCYTHIANS MARCOMANNI N Durocortorum Augusta QUADI A Vindelicorum Carnuntum Aquincum E Virunum BASTARNAE IAZYGES ROXOLANI C Lugdunum Pantikapaion Burdigala Sarizegetusa O Mutina Viminacium REGNUM ALANS Cemenelum Ravenna Tomi BOSPORI C Salonae a Narbo Black Sea s p C IBERIA i a I Roma
Perinthus n Capua Thessalonica T Tarraco Misenum Nicomedia ALBANIA Emerita Ancyra Artaxata S e N Augusta ARMENIA Nicopolis a M e d Caralis Mithradatakerta A i t Caesarea ATROPATENE Cordoba e Corinthus Ephesus Tigranokerta L Caesarea r Syracusae Perge Tarsus Edessa Gazaka Carthage r Nisibis T a Arbela Hekatompylos Tingi n Antiochia Ragai Lambaesis e Hatra A a n Gortyna Paphus Ekbatana S e a Ctesiphon PARTHIAN EMPIRE Caesarea Bostra Cyrene Sousa
Alexandria Kharax Persepolis Extent of the Roman Empire in A.D. 120 P e r s Boundary of the Parthian Empire i a n R Land over 1000 metres G e u d l f 0 500 1000 1500 km S e 0 500 1000 miles a
Map Rome in AD
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a e S S T North IC c P i Sea l t a T S B O C N S S X O - S A L O N G T S A H U N R I N O G T Trier I E FRANKS I N R NN LO Paris MA M U R S B A B I G A L A GURS U T Tours A RUGI RD UTRI S K E D S BURGUNDI P I SCLAVENI C Clermont E Milan G ANTAE
O Ravenna Sirmium C Toulouse O BASQUES S Arles S Salonae a T Black Sea s I H R p C T O Serdica IB A V G ER L i O a I Rome I B E O A G T Adrianople Constantinople A n I H U S N T Tarragona I S Thessalonica Nicomedia IA S V S Nicaea Artaxata e N Toledo M e d a A i Lilybaeum Caesarea t e Athens L r Syracuse Nisibis Carthage r Antioch T a Arbela Tingis VANDALS n e Palmyra A a n Ecbatana S MOORS e a Damascus Ctesiphon PERSIAN EMPIRE Susa Cyrene Jerusalem Extent of the Roman Empire in A.D. 500 Alexandria
Boundary of the Persian Empire P e r s Boundaries of Barbarian Kingdoms i a n R Land over 1000 metres G e u d l f 0 500 1000 1500 km S e 0 500 1000 miles a
Map Rome in AD
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a e S S T North IC c P i Sea l t a T S B O C N S S X O - S A O G G L E R S N M A A N N I C O T T R Trier I E B Paris E S N R S K AVARS R S B DS T I G U A N AR RIGURS U TURKS Tours A MB KUT E R LO F I D S G E P SCLAVENI C Clermont Milan Sirmium ANTAE O Ravenna C BASQUES Toulouse Arles Salonae a I Black Sea s p C V Serdica A IB i E ER L S Rome a I I A B U H Constantinople A T Adrianople n S O N T Tarragona I G Thessalonica Nicomedia IA V I S S Nicaea Artaxata e N Toledo M e d a A Lilybaeum Caesarea i t Athens Cordoba e L r Syracuse Nisibis Hippo Carthage r Antioch T a Arbela Tingis n e Palmyra A a n Ecbatana S MOORS e a Damascus Ctesiphon PERSIAN EMPIRE Susa Cyrene Jerusalem Extent of the Roman Empire in A.D. 565 Alexandria
Boundary of the Persian Empire P e r s Boundaries of Barbarian Kingdoms i a n R Land over 1000 metres G e u d l f 0 500 1000 1500 km S e 0 500 1000 miles a
Map Rome in AD
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0 500 1000 1500 2000 km
0525000 750 1000 miles Särbi-Xianbei Wusun Xiongnu
Turfan Wuhuan Kucha
Dunhuang Ji Jiuquan Kashgar Wangxian Taiyuan Hotan Linzi Pingyang Qiang Longxi Anyi Luoyang
Chang’an Xuchang Linhuai Di Yingdu Wu Shu Linqiang Ba Yuzhang Changsha Chenli
Nanhai
Jiaozhi
Map Han dynasty at its greatest extent
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Särbi-Xianbei Murong Särbi-Xianbei
Tabgach Särbi-Xianbei Former Liang Shengle
Tiefu Guzang Xiongnu Former Zhao Tuyuhun Ye
Luoyang Qiang Chang’an Wudu Chouchi Jiankang
Chengdu Chenghan
Eastern Jin
0 250 500 750 km
0 200 400 miles
Map Northern China in AD
Shengle Former Liang
Guzang Ye Tuyuhun Later Zhao
Chang’an Luoyang Qiang Wudu Chouchi Jiankang
Chengdu Chenghan
Eastern Jin
0 250 500 750 km
0 200 400 miles
Map Northern China in AD
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Khitan Rouran
Shengle
Guzang Ye Tuyuhun Former Qin Luoyang Qiang Chang’an
Jiankang
Chengdu
Eastern Jin
0 250 500 750 km
0 200 400 miles
Map Northern China in AD
Khitan Rouran Longcheng Later Yan Western Liang Shengle Pingcheng Jiuquan Northern Liang Northern Wei Zhangye Guzang Southern Guanggu Liang Ye Later Qin Southern Tuyuhun Yan
Luoyang Chang’an Wudu Chouchi Jiankang
Chengdu
Eastern Jin
0 250 500 750 km
0 200 400 miles
Map Northern China in AD
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Khitan Rouran Longcheng Northern Yan Northern Liang Shengle Pingcheng Zhangye Northern Wei Tongwan
Guzang W
e Xiongnu Guanggu s Ye t Southern e Xia r Yan Tuyuhun n
Q
Jincheng i n Luoyang Chang’an Wudu Chouchi Jiankang
Chengdu
Liu Song
0 250 500 750 km
0 200 400 miles
Map Northern China in AD
Rouran Khitan Yiwu Yanqi Huaihuang Goguryeo Shengle Woye Youzhou Xirong Dunhuang Pingcheng Xiaoweifu Northern Wei Liangzhou Bingzhou Tongwan Tuyuhun Jizhou Jincheng Longxi Yongzhou Luoyang Jiankang Yiyang
Shu Kuaiji Jiangxia Ba Tianmen Lui Song Lingling Yunnan Nanhai
Jiaozhi
0 250 500 750 km
0 200 400 miles
Map Särbi-Xianbei Northern Wei dynasty; Chinese Liu Song dynasty
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Khitan Turks Goguryeo
Woye Youzhou Dunhuang
Zhangye Bingzhou Tongwan Jizhou Tuyuhun Ye Jincheng Northern Qi Chang’an Longxi Luoyang Northern Zhou Jiankang
Li an Shu g Kuaiji Jiangxia Ba Tianmen Chen
Lingling
Nanhai
Jiaozhi
0 250 500 750 km
0 200 400 miles
Map Särbi-Xianbei Northern Zhou and Northern Qi dynasties; Chinese Chen dynasty
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0 500 1000 1500 2000 km
0525000 750 1000 miles Western Turks Eastern Turks Khitan Turfan Qarahisar Kucha Goguryeo Dunhuang Jizhou Kashgar Jiuquan Yingzhou Taiyuan Hotan Silla Shanzhou Wei Ba e Tuyuhun k je Tufan Hezhong Bianzhou Luoyang Fengxiang Chang’an Yangzhou Xiangzhou Suzhou Xuan Chengdufu Jianqling
Qianzhou
Hengzhou
Guangzhou
Map Tang dynasty c. AD
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Acknowledgments
There are many scholars and mentors whose teaching and generosity have made this book possible. For my early studies, I would like to thank Nick Doane, John Niles, and especially Kirsten Wolf for their guidance and instruction. For later mentorship, I am most indebted to David Levene and Nicola Di Cosmo, without whose direction this book would not have come into being. Nicola Di Cosmo took the time back in to respond to an unexpected email from an unknown student in an unrelated field and later to advise me as a member of my dissertation committee. David Levene was willing not only to take on the role of advisor to an additional student outside of his own department but also to provide invaluable and generous guidance and support throughout my graduate studies and beyond. I would also like to express my gratitude to David Konstan and Helmut Reimitz, who have both gone far out of their way to open academic doors for me and to provide most helpful direction and feedback on my research. David Konstan in particular has been extremely generous with his time and counsel, for which I am deeply indebted. For their feedback on the manuscript of this book, I would like to thank both the anonymous reviewer and Geoffrey Greatrex, whose comments have greatly improved the quality of the work. I would also like to thank Roger Bagnall, Christopher Baron, Brian Ford, Rania Huntington, Josh Mannis, Eliza- beth and Tadeusz Mazurek, Hildegund Mu¨ller, William Nienhauser, Charles Pazdernik, Walter Pohl, Sören Stark, New York University’s Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, and the University of Notre Dame. Lastly, my gratitude goes to my wife, daughters, father, and brother – my reduced but growing family.
xix
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A Note to the Reader
In the hope of making this book as accessible as possible to non-specialists, a number of small measures have been taken. First, abbreviations of titles of texts have been kept to a bare minimum. Second, Chinese characters will be provided on the first appearance of proper nouns in each chapter; in instances where different Chinese characters have the same Romanized written form, characters will also be provided to avoid ambiguity. Third, dates (or approximate dates) for primary texts have been supplied follow- ing the individual entry headings in the bibliography.
xx
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