International Journal of Korean History (Vol.18 No.1, Feb. 2013) 39 Relations between the Southern Dynasties (Nanchao) and the Xiyu* Cho, Yun Jae (Cho Yunjae)** Introduction Before Nanchao, there had already been frequent exchange of people throughout the Han Dynasty, three Kingdoms and Wei-Jin period. Thus perception towards the Western Regions has been matured. But the frequency and scale of cultural exchange were varied depending on political tuburlence of China. In particular, conflicts between the south and the north during the Nanchao period, had distracted the direct contacts and exchange of goods and people. On the other hand, internal political turmoil within Roman Empire affected the cultural exchange network between the west and east. Relations between the Beichao and the Western Regions were active with a favored geographic environment and shared historical ties1. However, the diplomatic relationship between Nanchao and the Western Regions had never been cut off2. Paths were more diversified by securing west- south route and the southern coast route, facilitating the direct contact with the Western Regions3. Even the cultural exchange between Nanchao and Beichao was more flexible and active than we assume. In particular, ** This work was supported by the Korea Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korean Government (KRF-2009-32A-A00026). ** Assistant Professor, Department of History and Archaeology, Inje University 40 Relations between the Southern Dynasties (Nanchao) and the Xiyu various trade schemes of Nanchao have been underestimated, compared to those of Beichao. The simple biased view to understand Chinese ancient traffic routes led to assumption that interchange between Nanchao and the Western Regions was repressed due to political conflicts between Nanchao and Beichao. Nanchao maintained cultural exchange with the Western Regions via Tuyuhun with a stronghold in Bashu utilizing Yangtze river traffic resource. In addition, it indirectly kept relation with South-East and Southern Asian empires via maritime routes along the East-south coastline. Indirect cultural exchange between Nanchao and the Western Regions through impressions of the western regions embedded in Beichao culture was recognized. Such socio-political situations played a role in leaving the trace of cultural impressions of the Western Regions in the cultural relics of Nanchao. The context and details of relations between Nanchao and the Western Regions was recorded in the text, which provides factual evidence to explain their relations. In this paper, literature and related archaeological records were reviewed and the process of cultural exchange and the attitude of Nanchao towards the Western Regions to reveal a part of west- east cultural exchange. Diplomacy of Nanchao (the Southern Dynasties) toward Western Regions Indirect interchange though the relations with the Northern Dynasties After fall of Western Jin(西晉), the upper class society with a traditional stronghold in the Lo-yang(洛陽), the capital of Jin and its surrounding regions, migrated to the south. Thus Lo-yang lost its position as the cultural core of China. The long-term warfare and frequent invasions of the Northern tribes made Eastern Jin based in the south of Yangtze river, so called as Jiangnan(江南), to be considered as the sole legitimate regime for Han people. Such intensive and constant conflicts among ethnic Cho, Yun Jae 41 groups caused the chaotic state all over China. Despite this complicated political situation, exchange of people and goods, visits between the south and the north had never been ceased. All the regimes in the north attempted to remain in touch with the Eastern Jin during the Five Barbarians and the Sixteen Kingdoms period (Wu Hu; 五胡十六國時期). Later, in Northern Dynasties, one emperor of the Northern Wei, Xiao Wen Di (孝文帝) even tried to adopt Jiangnan culture actively. Such attitudes created new cultural atmosphere in both societies, and also opened up the path for the Western Regions’s exotic culture in the Northern Dynasties (Beichao) to be introduced to the Southern Dynasties, so called Nanchao, later. The direct interchange through so called ‘Henan Circuit (河南道)’, the Southwestern Silkroad The traditional route to the Western Regions passing through Hexi or Gansu Corridor (河西走廊), Yumen (玉門), Yangguan (陽關), was occupied by the Northern Dynasties. Thus Nanchao secured a new route to the Western Regions via Yizhou(益州) by opening the diplomatic relations with several regimes in Liangzhou (諸凉). That is so called ‘Henan Circuit(河南道)4. The Western Region regimes posted delegates for economic benefits and political negotiations to Nanchao under permission of Tuyuhun (土谷 渾). These include Jushi-gaochang (麴氏高昌), Baishi-guic i(白氏龜玆), Hotan (于闐), Gepantuo (葛盤陀), Roulan (柔然)5, Ephtal (壓達), Sogd (粟 特), Sassanian Persia (波斯), Northern India (天竺國), Baitimoju (白題末 局). This served as an opportunity for the Western Regions’ goods to be introduced to Nanchao. Direct and indirect cultural exchanges through Southwestern maritime route. The main sea voyage route between the ancient China and the Western Regions runs through the South Sea and the Indian Ocean6. Along the 42 Relations between the Southern Dynasties (Nanchao) and the Xiyu coast of the Indian Ocean, it sets off via the Mediterranean to get to Europe. That route is so called the ‘Maritime Silk Road’. The exploration of Southwestern sea route was already recorded in Han Shu 漢書- the book of the Han Dynasty. However, it could be traced back to 222 BC. After unification of China by the Chin Dynasty, the conquering expedition on Nanyue Province became intensified and the use of sea route in the Southwestern coast was eased by setting up pro- Chinese colonial regimes such as 閩中郡 (minzhongjun), 南海郡 (nanhaijun), 桂林郡 (guilinjun), 象郡 (xiangjun). Later, the cultural exchange became more intensive and frequent during the Han Dynasty7. Opening up the cultural exchange in the earlier period eventually led to a favourable environment for Nanchao occupying the Jiangnan and Lingnan provinces to have active extravert activities. For Nanchao, cultural exchange with the southern sea region had been continued since the Emperor Wu of Han(漢武帝). Roman and Persian merchants had expanded their market to the Southern Sea and toward inland of China. <Figure 1> Reconstructed Silkroad routes map * Liuyingsheng, 1995, 『Silkroad, vol.maritime』, Zhejiang People's Publishing House Cho, Yun Jae 43 This private trades led to form direct diplomatic relations between Nanchao and the Western Regions. Context of diplomatic relations between Nanchao and the Western Regions. Diplomatic relations between Nanchao and the Western Regions Few contextual evidence about diplomatic relations between Nanchao and the Western Regions are known. It appears that the lack of detailed record must be due to instable political situation of that time8. The articles stating the diplomatic relations between Nanchao and the Western Regions in the historical texts are mostly about delegates posted from the Western Regions to Nanchao. Although there was a few delegates from Nanchao to the Western Regions, which was a rare occasion of sending envoys due to a need for coordinating military affairs. <Table 1> Envoys from the Western Regions to Nanchao Relations (offerings) between the Date Reference Western Regions and Nanchao 439, 元嘉十六年 沮渠高昌 envoy to Nanchao 『魏書』卷一百二·西域傳 『南史』卷二·宋本紀 442, 元嘉十九年 沮渠高昌 envoy to Nanchao 『魏書』卷三十九·李寶傳 443, 元嘉二十年 沮渠高昌 envoy to Nanchao 『宋書』卷五·文帝紀 444, 元嘉二十一年 沮渠高昌 envoy to Nanchao 『資治通鑑』卷一百二十四·宋紀 459, 大明三年 沮渠高昌 envoy to Nanchao 『宋書』卷六·孝武帝本紀 502~519, 天監年間 鞠氏高昌 envoy to Nanchao 『太平廣記』卷八十一·梁四公 535~546, 大同年間 鞠氏高昌 envoy to Nanchao 『南史』卷七十九·夷陌傳 503, 天監二年 白氏龜玆 envoy to Nanchao 『南史』卷六·梁本紀 521, 普通二年 白氏龜玆 envoy to Nanchao(梁) 『南史』卷七十九·夷陌傳 510, 天監九年 于闐 envoy to Nanchao (方物) 『南史』卷七十九·夷陌傳 44 Relations between the Southern Dynasties (Nanchao) and the Xiyu Relations (offerings) between the Date Reference Western Regions and Nanchao 于闐 envoy to Nanchao 514, 天監十三年 『南史』卷七十九·夷陌傳 (波羅波步障) 『南史』卷七十九·夷陌傳 519, 天監十八年 于闐 envoy to Nanchao (琉璃器) 『南史』卷六·梁本紀 541, 大同七年 于闐 envoy to Nanchao (玉佛) 『南史』卷七十九·夷陌傳 546, 梁中大同元年 渴盤陀 envoy to Nanchao (方物) 『南史』卷七十九·夷陌傳 『南史』卷二·宋本紀 442, 元嘉十九年 柔然 envoy to Nanchao (方物) 『宋書』卷五·文帝本紀 『南史』卷二·宋本紀 463, 大明七年 柔然 envoy to Nanchao (方物) 『南齊書』卷五十九·茹茹虐傳 467, 泰始三年 柔然 envoy to Nanchao (方物) 『宋書』卷八·明帝紀 468, 泰始四年 柔然 envoy to Nanchao (方物) 『宋書』卷八·明帝紀 471, 泰始七年 柔然 envoy to Nanchao (方物) 『宋書』卷八·明帝紀 472, 泰豫元年 柔然 envoy to Nanchao (方物) 『宋書』卷九·后廢帝紀 『南齊書』卷五十九·茹茹虐傳 480, 建元元年 柔然 envoy to Nanchao(方物) 『南史』卷四·齊本紀 柔然 envoy to Nanchao (齊), 483~493, 永明年間 (醫員, 工匠, 指南車 demanded 『南齊書』卷五十九·茹茹虐傳 for 南齊 rejected) 515, 天監十四年 柔然 envoy to Nanchao9* 『南史』卷七十九·夷陌傳 516, 天監十五年 柔然 envoy to Nanchao 『梁書』卷二·武帝紀 520, 普通元年 柔然 envoy to Nanchao 『梁書』卷五十四·諸夷傳 528, 大通二年 柔然 envoy to Nanchao 『南史』卷七·梁本紀 529, 中大通二年 柔然 envoy to Nanchao 『南史』卷七·梁本紀 『梁書』卷二·武帝紀 538, 大同四年 柔然 envoy to Nanchao 『南史』卷七·梁本紀 『梁書』卷三·武帝紀 541, 大同七年 柔然 envoy to Nanchao 『南史』卷七·梁本紀 壓達(Ephtal) envoy to Nanchao 516, 天監十五年 『梁書』卷五十四·諸夷傳 (方物) 『梁職貢圖』10* 520, 普通元年 壓達 envoy to Nanchao (貢物) 『南史』卷七·梁本紀 526, 普通七年 壓達 envoy to Nanchao (貢物) 『梁書』卷三·武帝紀 Cho, Yun Jae 45 Relations (offerings) between the Date Reference Western Regions and Nanchao 535, 大同元年 壓達 envoy to Nanchao (貢物) 『梁書』卷三·武帝紀 541, 大同七年 壓達 envoy to Nanchao (貢物) 『梁書』卷三·武帝紀 441, 元嘉十八年 粟特(Sogd) envoy to Nanchao 『南史』卷二·宋本紀 粟特(Sogd) envoy to Nanchao 457~464, 大明年間 『南史』卷二·宋本紀 (火浣布, 獅子, 汗血馬) 波斯(Persia) envoy to Nanchao 530, 中大通二年 『南史』卷七十九·夷陌傳 (佛牙) 533, 中大通五年 波斯(Persia) envoy to Nanchao 『南史』卷七·梁本紀 535, 大同元年