Zhang Qian
2 min readZhang Qian（164-114 B.C.）was a Chinese explorer and imperial envoy in the 2nd century BCE，during the time of the Han Dynasty.He was the first official diplomat to bring back reliable information about Central Asia to the Chinese imperial court，then under Emperor Wu of Han，and played an important pioneering role in the Chinesecolonisation and conquest of the region now known as Xinjiang.Zhang Qian’s accounts of his explorations of Central Asia are detailed in the early Han historical chronicles（“shi ji”，or“Records of the Great Historian”），compiled by Sima Qian in the lst century BCE.
First Embassy to the West
Zhang Qian was born in Chenggu county，Hanzhong commandery in western China.He entered the capital Chang’an between 140 BCE and 134 BCE as a Gentleman，serving Emperor Wu of Han.At the time the Xiongnu tribes controlled modern Inner Mongolia and dominated much of modern Western Regions.
The Han court despatched Zhang Qian to the Western Regions in 138 BC with a delegation of over one hundred members，including a surrendered Xiongnu guide.Theobjective of Zhang Qian’s first mission was to seek a military alliance with the Greater Yuezhi，in modern Tajikistan.On route he was captured by the Xiongnu and detained for ten years.There he married a Xiongnu wife and gained the trust of the Xiongnu leader.
When Zhang finally made it to Yuezhi lands，he found that they were too settledto want war against the Xiongnu.He spent about one year in Yuezhi and Bactrian territory，documenting their cultures，lifestyles and economy，before returning to China.
Return to China
On his return trip Zhang Qian was again captured by the Xiongnu，who again spared his life because they valued his sense of duty and composure in the face ofdeath.Two years later the Xiongnu leader died and in the midst of chaos Zhang Qian escaped.
Zhang Qian returned in 125 BCE with detailed news for the Emperor，which showed that sophisticated civilizations existed to the West，with which China could advantageously develop relations.The Shiji relates that“the emperor learned of the Dayuan，Daxia，Anxi，and the others，all great states rich in unusual products whose people cultivated the land and made their living in much the same way as the Chinese.A1l these states，he was told，were military weak and prized Han goods and wealth”.
His second expedition was more organised，a trade mission to the Wu-sun people in 119BCE.This was a success and led to trade between China and Persia.
Following Zhang Qian’s embassy and report，commercial relations between China and Central Asia flourished，as many Chinese missions were sent throughout the lst century BCE:”The largest of these embassiest forcing states numbered several hundred persons，while even the smaller parties included over 100 members…In the course of one year anywhere from five to six to over ten parties would be sent out.”
