Legend of Silk Road pioneer lives on

Known to the Chinese as an explorer equal to Columbus, Zhang Qian opened up the Silk Road – the major route that connected the east and west of Asia during the time of the Han dynasty in ancient China. 

The determination that enabled him to cross the desert and overcome numerous difficulties was developed in Hanzhong, Shaanxi province, a strategic location of military importance since ancient times.

A 20-minute drive from the airport in Hanzhong takes you to Chenggu county, where Zhang Qian was born and later buried. 

The main street is named “Zhang Qian road”, and the words “Zhang Qian spirit” can be seen all around the town. 

If you leave the town centre and venture into the countryside, you might see the Zhang Qian Memorial Hall.

A grave covered with a heap of soil can be found at the back of the premises. It is about 5 metres high. An investigation was conducted in 1938 that archaeologically identified the site, from the articles unearthed, as Zhang Qian’s tomb.

Zhang Qian emerged on history’s centre stage a few years after Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty ascended the throne in 141 BC. The emperor was dissatisfied with a long-standing reconciliation policy of paying tribute to the Xiongnu, a northern ethnic group, and decided to send a mission to the Yuezhi, who had been driven from their homes by the Xiongnu, in order to form an alliance with them against Xiongnu.

Cui Jijun, 44, curator of the Zhang Qian Memorial Hall, presumes that Zhang Qian, who was chosen as leader of the mission, was probably around 20 to 25 years old at that time. 

“Considerable physical strength was vital in the harsh journey to the western regions. Emperor Wu preferred to appoint young people,” Cui said.

Zhang Qian and his group of 100 or so were captured by the Xiongnu in the course of their journey to Yuezhi. According to history books, during his 10 years in captivity, Zhang Qian got married and started a family. But he managed to escape to fulfil his duty and headed west, finally finding his way to Yuezhi. Though he was unable to form an alliance, he came into contact with different cultures in central Asia before heading back to Han. Although Zhang Qian was captured by the Xiongnu a second time, he managed to escape and return home. When he was finally able to report the circumstances of the western regions to Emperor Wu, 13 years had already passed since his departure.

Close to the memorial hall is a rural area called Bowang. The title “Lord of Bowang” was given to Zhang Qian when he achieved his feat, and that is how the area was named. I was able to meet descendants of Zhang Qian in this village. A “65th-generation” villager, 60-year-old Zhang Huazhong, told me stories of Zhang Qian’s boyhood that have been handed down in the area. “He is said to have loved swimming” and, “it is said that when he found somebody being bullied, he would protect them”.

 

Spirit of patience

Zhang Qian’s character is described in history books as being “patient and generous, and always trusting”.

Although there is no historical proof of what the people of Bowang told me, I listened with interest. Zhang Lijun, a 39-year-old “67th-generation” villager who worked for the local government told me that he always said to his 11-year-old daughter: “Never fear adversity. You are Zhang Qian’s descendant.”

This June, it was decided that sites associated with the Silk Road through China and Kazakhstan, including Zhang Qian’s tomb, would be registered as World Heritage Sites. The Xi Jinping administration is to propose an economic strategy bearing the Silk Road name.

Once you are exposed to the romantic history of exchanges between the East and the West, the mundane seems so distant. I bowed to the late Zhang Qian and enjoyed the solemn moment.

After returning from his mission to the Yuezhi, Zhang Qian participated in a battle against the Xiongnu. He was once sentenced to death when he was accused of incompetence during a battle. Afterwards, he was appointed as an envoy to central Asia once again and is said to have returned with a good horse. It is said that products such pomegranates, grapes, garlic and cucumbers were brought into China as a result of Zhang Qian’s development of the Silk Road.